13 November 2012
Financing your postgraduate
studies
Simon Gane (Graduate School Manager)
Types of funding
 AHRC Block Grant studentships
 AHRC project or collaborative studentships
 Joint studentships – Bristol & Exeter
 University of Bristol scholarships
 Faculty scholarships
 Other sources of funding
 Self-funding
 Ongoing funding support for
research/conferences
AHRC block grant studentships
 75 studentships over 5 years
 BGP1 - 5 cohorts – first starting 2009/10
 BGP2 – currently bidding as part of
consortium
2013-14
• revised allocation
• 9 x Doctoral awards
• 1 x Masters award
AHRC studentships
 Mostly tied to specific subjects
 9 x Doctoral (3 yr)
- 1 x Archaeology
- 1 x English
- 1 x Drama
- 1 x History
- 1 x History of Art
- 1 x Italian
NB: Writing up year not funded
 1 x Masters (1 yr)
1 x Open award
- 1 x Music
- 1 x Philosophy
- 1 x Religious studies
AHRC scholarship values (13-14)
 Doctoral competition – all subjects
- Maintenance – F/T £13,590
- Fees – F/T £3,828
 Masters competition
- Maintenance – F/T £9,490
- Fees – F/T £3,628
Eligibility for AHRC studentships
 Open to Home/EU graduates of any university
- Home/EU/dual nat., FT/PT
- Home – fees + maintenance; EU – fees only
 New applications for PG study for those who want to be
considered for AHRC scholarships must be received by 8 Feb
at latest (PGR) and 16 April at latest (PGT)
 To be considered candidates must be in receipt of offer for
PG study AND must have accepted their offer before the
funding application deadline
 Must not have received prior AHRC funding for study at
the same level
 If a current PGR student, must not have completed
more than 18 months of doctoral study
Additional funds available to AHRC students
 Additional funds are available to support AHRC students
(eg for research and conference trips). Whereas these
were previously administered by AHRC this will now be
handled by the University.
 Apply via the GSAH Conference and Research Fund
http://www.bris.ac.uk/arts/gradschool/current/pgconffund/
http://www.bris.ac.uk/arts/gradschool/current/pgresfund/
Other AHRC studentships
 AHRC Studentships linked to project bids by academics
- previously – Philosophy (Structuralism); French
(Charlemagne); Reception (Thucydides); History (Dropping out
of Socialism)
 AHRC Collaborative studentships
- Bristol Zoo, Tate Modern, Arnos Vale Cemetery, Imperial War
Museum, SS Great Britain
 Advertised during year on jobs.ac.uk and GSAH website
 Include maintenance stipend and fees
 Separate application and selection process
Other doctoral studentships
Joint studentships
 3 joint doctoral awards offered by the University of Bristol & the
University of Exeter:
Although students in receipt of these awards will be registered in one or other of the two
institutions, they will be jointly supervised by academics from both institutions. Applicants
for these awards will need to demonstrate how their research proposal links to one of the
following themes:
• Global History
• Medieval Studies
• Drama/Performance
These scholarships will include full tuition fee cover and an annual
maintenance stipend for a maximum of three years (six years part-time).
Deadline: 28 February 2013
Other doctoral studentships
University of Bristol studentships
 4 University of Bristol awards for UK/EU and Overseas students for entry
to Faculty of Arts doctoral programmes commencing in October 2013.
The following awards are available:
2 x UoB full doctoral studentships
These two awards, which are for Home/EU students only, include full fee cover and an annual
maintenance stipend for a maximum of three years (six years part-time).
1 x UoB full doctoral studentship
This award, which is for Overseas students only, includes full fee cover and an annual maintenance
stipend for a maximum of three years (six years part-time).
1 x UoB part doctoral studentship
This award, which is for Overseas students only, includes 50% fee cover and an annual
maintenance stipend, valued at 50% of the normal rate, for a maximum of three years
(six years part-time).
Deadline: 28 February 2013
Faculty of Arts awards
 Faculty Alumni scholarships
All graduates of a University of Bristol BA or BSc registering on a taught postgraduate programme in the
Faculty of Arts as new students are automatically eligible for a Faculty Alumni scholarship valued at 10% of the
full programme Home/EU tuition fee.
 2 x full-fee Masters awards
 These two awards, which are for Home/EU students only, include full fee cover for a maximum
of one year (two years part-time).
 These scholarships will be awarded in open competition across all subject areas.
 Candidates must accept their offer to study at Bristol to be eligible for these awards
 Students in receipt of a Faculty Alumni scholarship can also receive this award
 1 x Alumni doctoral studentship
 This scholarship will be in any discipline represented in the Bristol Faculty of Arts, for a
research project which demonstrates engagement with the forms and functions of the
Arts and Humanities in a public (i.e. non-academic) context.
 This award, which is for Home/EU students only, includes full fee cover and an
annual maintenance stipend for a maximum of three years (six years part-time).
Other Faculty of Arts awards
• School of Humanities Academic Assistant Research scholarships
 3 x 3 yr PhD studentships - £1,000 per year
 100 hours of research/teaching support
 Faculty PGR open award – Quentin Skinner / BIRTHA - £2,500
aimed at projects that are interdisciplinary or students with non-traditional academic
trajectories
open to new Home/EU or Overseas students (F/T or P/T)
 Professor Skinner gave the BIRTHA annual lecture in 2007 and has to date very
kindly given an annual donation towards this bursary.
 Tolkein scholarship
 available to successful applicants to the English Department whose research
project relates to the study of the academic and/or fictional writings of J.R.R. Tolkien
 The total value of the award is £4,500, to be paid in three yearly
instalments of £1,500
 For further information, please contact Professor Ad Putter
(a.d.putter@bristol.ac.uk).
 Deas scholarship
 Read-Tuckwell scholarship
 Duignan scholarship
See web for details and availability
Other scholarships / bursaries
University-wide
 UOB Santander Abbey Masters scholarships
- 5 x £5000 - open to Latin American nationals
- www.bris.ac.uk/studentfunding
 UOB American Alumni PGT scholarships
- 2 x scholarships worth $10,000
- www.bris.ac.uk/studentfunding
 UOB International scholarships
- internal and external funding opportunities
- www.bristol.ac.uk/international/scholarships/
Other scholarships / bursaries
 Other scholarships will be announced in these places:
http://www.bris.ac.uk/arts/gradschool/financial-aid/
http://www.bristol.ac.uk/studentfunding/
http://www.bristol.ac.uk/international/scholarships/
http://www.jobs.ac.uk/
Application deadlines (13-14)
 Doctoral competition – all subjects
- Application date = Thursday 28 February 2013
- Notification date = Friday 8 March 2013
 Masters competition
- Application date = Tuesday 30 April 2013
- Notification date = Friday 10 May 2013
Application process
1. Submit application for the programme
2. Accept offer once received
3. Access online scholarship application form
http://www.bris.ac.uk/arts/gradschool/financialaid/application.html
4. Complete online form and click “Submit”
5. Closing dates – 28 Feb (doctoral), 30 April (masters)
Selection process
 Applicants will be considered for ALL awards for which they are
eligible
 Candidates will be ranked based on their previous and, if an existing
student, current academic performance
 The quality of the research proposal and/or personal statement will
be a factor, particularly for PGR scholarship applications (creative,
innovative, manageable)
 The selection panel will take into account the information submitted
by the candidate on their scholarship application form as well as the
detail provided on his/her application for PG study (submitted via the
University’s online application system)
 Selection will be confirmed by Head of GSAH
Notification of selection
 Successful candidates notified of selection for nomination
 Nominees must accept scholarship offer within 2 days of
notification
 Important to stay in touch
 Reserve candidates notified if original candidate
withdraws
Other sources of funding or info
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Employer sponsorship - national or local
Check with Local Careers Offices
Learned Societies (- eg Institute of Historical Research, Classics)
Armed Forces
Charities or Trusts
University Careers Service
 Information and advice on studentships and bursaries, funding databases/directories (charities
or grant-making trusts), funding for international students, employer funding, loans
 http://www.bris.ac.uk/careers/postgrad/money.asp
 University Careers Service – Jobshop
 Disabled Students allowance
 Rotary Foundation
 Alumni Foundation
(www.bristol.ac.uk/alumni/current-students/foundation/)
Self funding
 Professional and Career Development Loans (PCDL)
• Bank loans for work-related learning – available for taught postgraduate programmes.
• Value between £300 and £10,000 - up to 2 years of learning.
• Skills Funding Agency pays the interest on the loan while you are learning and for one month
afterwards.
• Application authorised by the Student Funding Office not department or faculty.
 Discretionary Learner support (DLS)
• can be used to pay for childcare, accommodation and travel, course materials and equipment,
or other hardship needs
 Part-time work
JobShop advertises vacancies on the website: www.bris.ac.uk/careers/jobshop
 Part-time study
Spread the cost over 2 years for MA, MPhil or 6 years for PhD. Allows for part-time work alongside
studies
 Hall Tutor positions
Reduced accommodation costs – some halls catered
 Student bank accounts (overdraft)
 Access to Learning Fund
Ongoing financial support
 Graduate School Research Fund
Discretionary funding to assist with the cost of research trips required
for the completion of a dissertation. All registered postgraduate
research students within the Faculty of Arts are eligible to apply.
http://www.bris.ac.uk/arts/gradschool/current/pgresfund/
 Graduate School Conference Fund
Discretionary funding to support participation in academic conferences.
All registered students within the Faculty of Arts are eligible to apply.
http://www.bris.ac.uk/arts/gradschool/current/pgconffund/
Application forms on GSAH website – send to
Tora.manchester@bristol.ac.uk
Useful websites
 Graduate School
http://www.bristol.ac.uk/arts/gradschool/financial-aid/
 Student Funding
www.bris.ac.uk/studentfunding/home_pg/
 International Office
http://www.bristol.ac.uk/international/scholarships/
 Arts and Humanities Research Council
www.ahrc.ac.uk/
 Education and Learning
www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/
 Careers Service
www.bris.ac.uk/careers/
 Alumni Foundation
www.bristol.ac.uk/alumni/current-students/foundation/