Winchester Student Union Postgraduate Research Fund
Winchester Student Union believes that access to valuable research activities that further students' knowledge is an important part of your academic experience at Winchester, enhancing both wellbeing and learning while at university, and that no student should be prevented from benefitting from these experiences for financial reasons.
What is the fund?
The Postgraduate Research Fund is provided with support from the University of Winchester and managed by Winchester Student Union. The fund aims to facilitate Postgraduate Research students (PGRs) access to research activities that will or have enhance(d) their academic experience.
There are so many benefits to taking part in additional/extra-curricular research events, including the unique opportunity to create connections and network with other postgraduate students and academics. By providing this fund we aim to ensure that the opportunity to join and benefit from these kinds of activity is available to all of our PGR students.
Eligibility - Who can apply?
You are eligible to apply if you are a currently enrolled postgraduate research student at the University of Winchester. All students will be required to fill in an application form.
Each student can apply for funding up to a maximum of £200 for the academic year (ending July 31st 2024). This could be applied for in a single instance, or in smaller amounts across different applications. Winchester Student Union have a restricted amount of money to give out and so even if your application is successful, we can’t guarantee you will receive the full amount you have requested. Please note, activities specified in your application must take place during the current funding year (i.e. between August 2023 and July 2024). Applications for activities outside of this time period will not be considered.
Please note:
Given the timescales involved in processing applications and payments, we strongly recommend that applicants do not incur unsustainable personal expenses in anticipation of reimbursement, and are always mindful of their own financial responsibilities before committing to any event or activity that incurs a monetary cost.
You may make an application prior to the expense, or after the expense has taken place, however, you will not be able to submit an expense claim for reimbursement until after the expense, as you will need to provide proof of purchase.
This PGR fund is not intended as an emergency fund for students in financial difficulty. If you are in need of such support, or financial advice in general, please contact the Student Union Advice Centre by completing an enquiry form online.
What areas can I request support from the fund for?
Examples of what you can apply for support with include (but are not limited to):
- Full or partial cover of costs associated with travelling to and/or attending research events as an attendee or as a speaker. This can be the cost of travel, accommodation, and/or the cost of a ticket to an in-person event, or the cost of a ticket for an online event.
- Full or partial cover of costs associated with inviting keynote speakers to the University of Winchester / Winchester Student Union that will benefit your area of research.
Other activities not outlined above may also be considered for reimbursement, but are less likely to be successful. If you would like to discuss an application prior to submitting it, please contact SU_Education@winchester.ac.uk
Examples of what will not be considered include (but are not limited to) costs for books, IT, and equipment, funding for access to services (transcription, translation, photography, etc.), and conferences or other research-based activities which require overseas travel. Please note, the scope and criteria of the fund are under constant review as we gain a greater understanding of PGR students' needs. We always appreciate speculative emails/applications, and invite any feedback from students on how to enhance this fund.
How to apply:
You can make an application through the online form at the bottom of this page. As part of the process, you will be required to provide the following information:
- Name / Student ID / Course
- The activity you're seeking support for, including dates/locations, where applicable
- How the activity supports your studies
- The amount you intend to claim for
Selection process
The fund will be allocated on a first come, first served basis based on the need outlined in each application. When assessing applications, the panel will consider whether the applicant has provided a clear rationale for applying for support, outlining how the activity enhances their academic experience.
Your application will be received by the Student Union, where a panel of representatives will assess whether it meets the criteria noted above. The panel will typically be made up of a Student Union Officer representative, Student Engagement representative, and a representative from the Doctoral School staff team.
All applicants will receive a decision by email, giving the reason why the application was approved or rejected. We will aim to let applicants know the outcome within 3 weeks of their application, if submitted during term time. (During vacation periods there may be a delay due to Union closure days / staffing). The decision of the panel is final.
Successful applicants will be provided with the confirmed amount that will be allocated to you (this may be different to the amount requested in your application), along with a link to an online expenses claims form. This must be completed post expense and must include proof of purchase, including receipts. All expense claims will be paid by BACS within 14 days of the date the claim is received. Please note that funds cannot be reimbursed without suitable proof of purchase.
Application Form
The panel will review each application on a case-by-case basis. Please note that there is limited funding available, and the application process is competitive. As such, not all applications will be successful and we cannot commit to funding every application, even if eligibility is met. Receiving an award in a previous year does not guarantee that you will receive one again.
Apply Now:
Terms & Conditions:
Winchester Student Union reserves the right to reject any applications made for reimbursement pertaining to any and all of the nominally eligible activities outline above where such activities contravene any policies outlined in our Student Voice & representation Policy and/or the Student Union byelaws, policies, or governing documents.
Winchester Student Union also reserves the right to reject any applications and/or reclaim any monies already paid in the event that such applications are discovered to be fraudulent in nature. This would include, but may not be limited to, misleading or incorrect information in applications, making excessive claims for actual or predicted expenditure, and the use of funds for anything other than the intent stated in the application.
In the event that an abuse is believed to have occurred, the matter will be investigated by the awarding panel. At the discretion of the panel, any student(s) found to have obtained or used funds awarded by the body in a fraudulent manner, may be disbarred from making any future applications to this funding body for their remaining time as a student at the University of Winchester.
