Funding Opportunities

Are you planning an activity such as a networking event or hosting a guest speaker? Perhaps you are thinking about attending a conference or a professional development programme to help develop your career. Or are you planning your dissertation/thesis and seeking support with supporting research costs?

The Student Development Office has some funding to help with the costs of organising and attending these types of activities. You can apply for funding to support a range of activities including:

Dissertation and Fieldwork Research
Placement-Based Dissertations
Personal Development
Student-led Initiatives

Please review all of the details and guidance for the fund you are applying to carefully before submitting your application.

You may reach out to ssps.student-development@ed.ac.uk with any questions.

Which Fund Should I Apply For?

Dissertation and Fieldwork Research

Open to all undergraduate and postgraduate taught students.

This funding could be put towards associated costs for dissertation research or fieldwork such as travel, accommodation, or reimbursement for research costs.

PGR Research Support Fund

Open to all postgraduate research students.

This funding could be put towards associated costs for research or fieldwork such as travel, accommodation, or reimbursement for research costs, as well as presenting at a conference or taking part in an external development workshop or event.

Placement-Based Dissertations

Open to postgraduate taught students on selected programmes.

This funding could be put towards associated costs for placement-based learning such as travel, accommodation, or reimbursement for research costs.

Personal Development Fund

Open to all undergraduate and postgraduate taught students.

This funding could be put towards attending a conference, taking part in an external development workshop or event, or facilitating collaboration and networking opportunities.

Student Initiative Fund

Open to all undergraduate, postgraduate taught and research students.

This funding could be put towards setting up a conference, hosting a speaker, holding a writing retreat, organising an event, or facilitating collaboration and networking.

SPS Widening Participation Fund

Open to all students within the School of Social and Political Science.

The fund aims to remove the financial barriers that some students face in taking part in sport, society, cohort and other community building activities.

Guidance and Important Information

Funding applications are open throughout the academic year. While every application is considered funding is not guaranteed. Applications are reviewed every two weeks during the semester time, and at least once a month outwith the semester times.

Please review all details of the fund you are applying to carefully before submitting your application.

Applications must be made in advance of any activity and as early as possible, retrospective applications will not be considered.
Applications including travel and events must be received two weeks in advance.
You should not submit multiple applications for the same request.
Please make applications as detailed as possible.
The amount requested section should be itemised and as detailed as possible.
The funding provided may not cover all costs associated with your activity.

Deadlines

Please note all funding opportunities closed for this academic year.

Travel

All travel requests must be accompanied by a Travel Risk Assessment and booked through Diversity Travel.
This is in accordance with the University of Edinburgh Sustainable Travel Policy (more guidance on this process will be provided after the application is approved).
Please note we cannot fund or recommend using Airbnb accommodation.
Risk assessments must be submitted for approval at least 2 weeks prior to travel.
Always await risk assessment approval before you travel.

How To Apply

Select below which fund you wish to apply to, and read the additional guidance and specifications prior to applying.