APPLICATION FOR FUNDING: UNIVERSITY PhD
STUDENTSHIP SCHEME 2013-14
Please send your completed application form to
Prof. A. J. Young
a.j.young@ljmu.ac.uk
Aims
The main aim of the scheme will be to grow the number of the PhD studentships across LJMU in
support of the Strategic Plan objectives (2012-17). This will be done in a way that, above all,
ensures the excellence of the research undertaken, and makes maximum use of the available
University funds by levering new external funding.
The Scheme
 The University budget for this scheme in 2013-14 is £100k.
 We wish to support studentships in any discipline in LJMU where excellent research is being
performed. All Schools are therefore eligible to apply for funding (including cross-school,
interdisciplinary, projects) where alignment of the studentship with the REF2014 submission is
clearly evident. There are no school / faculty allocations – the scheme aims to support
excellent research wherever it exists.
 The quality of the research project proposal will be the overriding selection factor (see below).
 Applications can be submitted either with or without an identified student candidate. Applications
submitted with a named candidate must be able to demonstrate that the named candidate is of the
highest caliber. In all other cases successful applicants must ensure that a rigorous selection
process is used to recruit outstanding candidates.
 The scheme is intended to attract new matched funding from external sources, with the scheme
paying up to a maximum of 50% of the overall cost. Appropriate external sources include (but are
not limited to) funding from industry, public sector (e.g., NHS) or other HEIs (the expectation would
be that the PhD student enrolls at LJMU, except where a Dual PhD arrangement is in place). Use of
internal School or Faculty funds or the use of overheads on externally-funded projects are not
eligible as match.
 Support for self-funded studentships in the form of payment of tuition fees and a contribution
towards project running costs will also be considered. Where this is likely to be sought please
contact either Prof. Andy Young (a.j.young@ljmu.ac.uk) or Dr. Sue Spiers (s.spiers@ljmu.ac.uk) in
the first instance to check eligibility. In the case of self-funded studentships it would be expected that
a high quality research proposal and an outstanding candidate be in place prior to an application for
funding being made.
 This scheme is designed to support projects that are led by academics (acting as Director of
Studies) who at a relatively early stage in their research career or following career breaks. This
should be complimented by an experienced supervisory team in order to ensure the successful
delivery of the project.
 The scheme is based on fully funding fees (£3,732) and a stipend of £13,726 for up to 3.5 years for
FT students or 7 years for PT students (pro-rata), i.e., inclusive of 6 months of writing-up (12 months
in the case of PT students). This is consistent with the best practice in the sector as identified by JM
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Consulting (HEFCE, 2013) and is expected to lead to continuing improvements in LJMU’s PhD
completion rates.
 A reasonable contribution towards the running costs of the proposed project may also be
requested so long as they can be fully justified as necessary to the successful delivery of the project.
Note that all LJMU research students are eligible to apply separately for funds to assist in the
delivery of oral presentations at national or international conferences (these are advertised regularly
throughout the year).
 Funding in subsequent years is dependent upon satisfactory academic progress (e.g., transfer
report, annual reports).
 The scheme is primarily intended to support EU/Home students, whose appointment will attract
additional funding from HEFCE in the form of RDP (Research Degree Programme) income. This
scheme will not normally support students who do not qualify for RDP income. Please contact Prof.
Andy Young (Research & Innovation Services) if you are unsure of the RDP status. Exceptionally,
International PhD candidates may be considered but the expectation is that the level of external
match funding provided is much greater than 50% of the total cost.
 The selection process will be managed via the Graduate School with oversight of the scheme
provided by the University Research & Scholarship Committee.
 There is no closing date for the scheme and applications will be considered on a rolling basis
Selection Criteria
 Quality of the proposed project (including the potential for non-academic impact)
 Quality of the named student candidate (if not known at time of application the studentship will be
advertised and the student subsequently appointed via standard LJMU procedures)
 Level of commitment (financial, in-kind support and supervision expertise) from the external
organisation
 School track record in successful PhD completions.
 Value for money (including the ability to generate HEFCE RDP funding)
If you are interested in applying for funding under this scheme please contact Prof. Andy
Young in the first instance for a discussion.
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Title of research topic / thesis
Applicant (Director of Studies)
Name
Faculty /
School
E-mail
address
Details of
major
research
outputs
since 2008
Details of
how the
proposed
studentship
aligns with
the
applicants
own
research
interests
MPhil
PhD
Number of
successful
supervisions
Number of
current
supervisions
The Candidate (if applicable)
Name
E-mail
address
3
Current
position
Qualifications
/ Relevant
Experience
Fee status
(Home/EU or
International)
Please attach a copy of the CV of the proposed student candidate (if known)
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PROPOSED RESEARCH PROGRAMME (max 2 sides A4; Arial 11 point font, including key
references)
Please give a description of the proposed research project as set below.
 Background
 Detailed Plan of Investigation (including methodology/approach)
 Details of how the study will contribute to the discipline in question including the potential impact of
any outcomes
 Timetable covering the full period of study (3.5 years) including expected date of completion,
 Expected Deliverables, e.g., publications, conference presentations
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EXPECTED START DATE (Should be before 31st July 2014)
SUPERVISORY ARRANGEMENTS
In accordance with LJMU Research Degree Regulations, a research student shall have at least two
and up to three supervisors (please refer to the Regulations to ensure compliance with regards to
supervisory experience of the team: http://www.ljmu.ac.uk/RGSO/62172.htm). Supervisory
arrangements can be used to recognise the collaborative or interdisciplinary nature of the proposed
research programme through the involvement of colleagues in business, industry or other strands of
the public sector, especially as this scheme seeks to match external funds. If this is the case, please
amend the affiliation sections of the table/s below as appropriate. Please note that the Director of
Studies should be a member of LJMU staff.
Please confirm below that the supervisory team has sufficient supervisory experience:
I confirm that that the supervisory team has a
combined experience of supervising three or more
candidates to successful completion at PhD level.
Yes
No
Supervisor 2
Name
School
Faculty
E-mail address
Details of 4 major
publications since
Jan 2008
MPhil
PhD
Number of successful
supervisions
Number of current
supervisions
Supervisor 3
Name
School
Faculty
E-mail address
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Details of 4 major
publications since
Jan 2008
MPhil
PhD
Number of successful
supervisions
Number of current
supervisions
TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT PLANS FOR THE STUDENT
Describe the activities and the support to be provided (excluding the research itself), that will be
used to develop the potential of the student in line with the Researcher Development Framework
(see http://ljmu.ac.uk/RGSO/98579.htm)
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RESOURCES
Please specify details of the external financial resources that have been secured to support this
project. A minimum of 50% cash match from new external sources is expected.
This scheme will seek to fund a proportion of the combined cost of the studentship stipend (£13,750
for 2013-14), tuition fee and/or to cover the peripheral costs of supporting the student i.e. researchrelated consumables or travel costs. Note that the student will be eligible to apply for funding from
the existing LJMU PGR travel fund
Please clearly specify funds coming from the external source(s) and funds requested from
the University for each year of the proposed project:
Year One:
Stipend
Fees
Consumables / running costs
Travel & subsistence (conference attendance – please specify)
Please repeat for subsequent years…
Please attach a formal letter of support / grant award letter from the external organisation confirming
the level and duration of support for this project.
SIGNATURES
Supervisor 1 (Director of Studies)
Signature
Date
Supervisor 2
Signature
Date
Supervisor 3
Signature
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Date
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