Guidelines for Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) Travel Fund
2015-16
AHRC-funded PhD students in the University of Manchester whose AHRC studentship started before
September 2014 can apply for this funding to assist them with expenditure directly related to fieldwork
and/or attendance at conferences. Students whose AHRC studentship started in September 2014 onwards
can access research training support grant from NWC DTP (www.nwcdtp.ac.uk/current-students).
Full award, fees-only, full-time, part-time, and distance-learning studentship award holders are eligible for
this support. Students funded by AHRC research grant (known as Project Studentship) are not eligible for
this fund and should liaise with their project principal investigator or manager about support available
from the research grant. Students with a full award studentship will continue to receive maintenance
payments while abroad provided they have met all their obligations under the Council’s terms and
conditions.
Eligibility criteria
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This fund is provided to support UK or overseas study visits and the costs of attendance at overseas
conferences but it cannot be used to fund attendance at conferences in the UK
The fund can be used to contribute towards the costs of travel, accommodation and other associated
costs that are incurred as a result of the student’s trip
Any funded fieldwork visits must be for the purposes of conducting primary research. All study visits
must be essential for the completion of the student’s thesis/course.
We would not normally expect a student to go on more than one overseas study visit or provide
funding for attendance at more than one overseas conference during the award lifetime. If your
research project requires funding above this level, please contact the Faculty PGR office (see details
below) in the first instance.
We would not normally expect a student to go on an overseas study visit to multiple countries
We would not normally expect a student to go on a UK or overseas study visit in the last three months
of their AHRC studentship period
The duration of a study visit should not normally exceed 12 months
Applications must be made within the funded period of the award. We cannot provide funding in the
Submission Pending (writing-up) period.
We cannot provide funding for study visits and conference attendance that take place before the start
of the AHRC studentship
We expect students to remain in regular contact with their supervisor and the School PGR Office during
their time away, except where it is not possible to do so
Application Process:
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The student must read the guidance notes, complete the application form below and secure an approval
from the supervisor(s)
Faculty Postgraduate Research Office will review applications and send decisions to the students and
supervisory team as soon as possible and no later than 2 weeks from the deadline
On returning from the study visit or conference, students must submit a Certification Form and original
expenses receipts to the Faculty Postgraduate Research Office within one month
Application deadlines:
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31 October 2015
31 January 2016
30 April 2016
30 July 2016
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If you have any questions please contact Anusarin Lowe, PGR Administrator at
anusarin.lowe@manchester.ac.uk
Notes of Guidance: Application for a Study Visit in the UK
The Faculty of Humanities will consider applications for a number of study visits in the UK during
the tenure of your AHRC studentship. Funding is available to contribute toward your travel and
accommodation costs and certain additional expenses. This funding is intended to enable you to
undertake primary research studies (such as fieldwork or archival research) essential to the
completion of your thesis or dissertation. It is not intended to cover the costs of undertaking
preliminary research, attending a training course, or attending a conference in the UK. Research
Preparation Masters’ award holders may be eligible for this funding when they are undertaking
primary research essential to their dissertation.
Applications will be considered only where your supervisor certifies that the study visit is
essential to your research.
Accommodation costs: If accommodation costs are expected to be incurred, our contribution will
be for the actual cost but no more than £30 per night.
Travel costs: As the funds available are limited, we encourage you to travel by the most
economical means possible. If you wish to travel by car and claim mileage, please contact us in
advance for advice. Mileage is normally paid at a rate of 20 pence per mile. We will cover the cost
of a student railcard if the purchase will lead to an overall saving.
Notes for Guidance: Application for a Study Visit Abroad
The Faculty of Humanities will consider an application for one study visit abroad, lasting up to a
maximum of 12 months, during the tenure of an AHRC studentship. The purpose of this visit
should be to carry out primary research, such as archival research or fieldwork that is essential to
the successful completion of your thesis. It cannot take place in the last three months of your
award. This funding is not intended to cover the costs of undertaking preliminary research, or
attending a training course. Research Preparation Master’s award holders may be eligible for
shorter trips; please contact us for further advice.
We cannot fund a visit where it is an integral and compulsory part of the course (ie all students on
the course are required to spend a period of time abroad).
The level of financial support depends to the length of your trip and the destination. Visits under
7-day duration are ineligible. The maximum funding is £500 for a study visit within Europe and
£1,500 for a study visit outside Europe. Awards above these thresholds can be considered in
exceptional circumstances.
We would usually expect you to visit only one country. Only in exceptional circumstances will we
consider requests to visit more than one country in a single visit. In such cases, each visit should
form part of a coherent research plan (eg to examine archival material on a similar topic held in
neighbouring countries).
It is your responsibility to ensure that an appropriate entrance/research visa is obtained before
your overseas study visit commences. If you are required to obtain a visa to enter a country or to
carry out research in that country, a copy of the visa must be forwarded to the Faculty before any
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funds can be released. Failure to obtain an appropriate visa may lead to the withdrawal of any
funds granted for that overseas study visit.
Notes of Guidance: Application to Attend a Conference Abroad
The Faculty of Humanities will consider an application to attend one conference abroad during
the tenure of a postgraduate studentship. A contribution of up to £500 can be made towards the
travel cost, accommodation and conference registration fee. Other costs associated with the
conference may be supported at the discretion of the Faculty. Research Preparation Master’s
Award Holders may be eligible to apply but they will have to demonstrate that attending the
conference will be beneficial to their Master’s research. Please note that funding will not be
provided for students in the writing-up stage.
An application must be submitted to the Faculty office at least two months before the conference
is due to take place. Retrospective applications are not accepted.
You must provide evidence that you will be presenting a paper at the conference. We will not fund
attendance at a conference abroad if you are not presenting a paper. The aim of this scheme is to
give students the opportunity to disseminate their research abroad and it is not designed to
support students who wish to attend courses, schools or to take up internships.
Other forms of presentation equivalent to giving a paper, including those relating to practicebased research, may be considered and will be judged on a case by case basis by the Faculty Office.
Any alternative forms of presentation such as the performance or display of creative outputs must
be delivered in conjunction with some form of critical reflection by the award holder.
Applications will be considered only where your supervisor certifies that the conference is
relevant to your research.
For all applications
The application form must be submitted at least two months before the study visit or conference
is due to take place. Once your application has been assessed, we will write to notify you of the
amount of the funding approved. Payment will be made by bank transfer through the University
student system prior to departure and will be reconciled following the submission of your
receipts. Please make sure that you keep all your original receipts.
Once your application has been approved by the Faculty Office you may not change the dates or
details of the study visit/conference attendance without prior authorisation from the Faculty.
On your return from the study visit you must send a Certification Form (attached) to the Faculty
of Humanities PGR Office. Please attach all receipts or tickets for the travel expenses and any
other costs (such as a library card or museum or archive entrance fee) you incurred. Failure to
return the form may result in a delay in your studentship award payment.
If you do not attend the study visit or conference, any overpayment made by the Faculty must be
returned in full.
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AHRC POSTGRADUATE TRAVEL FUND APPLICATION FORM
Before completing this form please read the accompanying notes of guidance carefully. This form
must be submitted at least TWO months before the study visit / conference is due to take place.
This form can only be completed by AHRC awards holders.
Name( in capitals):
Student ID number:
SECTION 1: For Completion by the Award Holder
Please state the purpose of your study visit/details of the conference:
Please provide details of the expenses and the exact or estimate costs
Expense
Detail
Cost
Total :
I confirm that I have read the accompanying Notes of Guidance and I will undertake to
inform the Faculty of Humanities if the study visit is cancelled or the length of the visit is
reduced. In the event of the study visit being cancelled or reduced, I understand that I will
be required to refund to the Faculty Office any money that has been overpaid.
Signature
Date
PLEASE PASS THIS FORM AND A COPY OF THE NOTES OF GUIDANCE TO YOUR SUPERVISOR
FOR COMPLETION.
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SECTION 2: For completion by the Supervisor
Please state the purpose of the study visit / conference and indicate whether or not satisfactory
completion of the thesis or dissertation is dependent on the trip.
I confirm that I have read the accompanying Notes of Guidance and that the details of the study
visit completed by the award holder are accurate. I will undertake to inform the Faculty of
Humanities if the study visit or conference is cancelled or the length reduced.
Signature
Date
Print Name
Completed form should be returned by email to:
Anusarin Lowe, Faculty of Humanities at anusarin.lowe@manchester.ac.uk
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AHRC POSTGRADUATE TRAVEL FUND CERTIFICATION FORM
Name( in capitals):
Student ID number:
SECTION 1: For Completion by the Award Holder
Expense
Detail
Exact Cost
Total :
Please attach original receipts of all your expenses.
I confirm that I completed a UK/overseas study visit / attended a conference between
(dates): ……………………… and ……………………………..at (location) ………………………………………
I confirm that the expenses claimed were incurred in the course of my approved study
visit/conference, and understand that the Faculty of Humanities is unable to meet costs in excess
of the amount originally approved.
Signed: …………………………………………………………………….. Date: …………………………………
PLEASE PASS THIS FORM TO YOUR SUPERVISOR FOR COMPLETION
SECTION 2: For completion by the Supervisor
I certify that the details given by the award holder in Section 1 are correct.
Signed: …………………………………………………………………….. Date: …………………………………
Print name: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Completed form should be returned by email to:
Anusarin Lowe, Faculty of Humanities at anusarin.lowe@manchester.ac.uk
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