SALC

Maintenance awards

How will I receive my maintenance stipend from my internally funded, ESRC or AHRC award?

Maintenance awards are paid directly into your bank account via Campus Solutions. Most awards are paid monthly. You must ensure you have input your UK bank account to your record. You do this by going into your MyManchester, choosing the funding portal and selecting the ‘Bank Account Details’ link.

You can view your maintenance award when you log onto self-service, choose campus finances then financial aid. When you log onto this service if you see a button to put on your bank account details please do so as this means that the University does not have these details on your record.

When you log on, if you cannot see your maintenance stipend or if it has not been set up as you expected, you need to let the funding team know as soon as possible on HUMS.doctoralacademy.funding@manchester.ac.uk so that we can sort this out for you. 

Please note that payment of maintenance awards will automatically stop if you have not fully completed registration. Most maintenance awards also stop during periods of approved interruption.

You can find the award payment dates on Student Support website.

I have not received my maintenance payment, what should I do?

You should contact the Student Funding Team in the Student Services Centre in the first instance.

Early thesis submission

For students receiving funding administered/funded by The University of Manchester, please note that funding terminates at the point of thesis submission. Students receiving funding from external bodies should refer to their funder.

Fieldwork bursary

Fieldwork is defined as primary, first hand data collection. You must obtain approval from the Doctoral Academy to undertake fieldwork by submitting the Research fieldwork application form.

Eligibility

  • You must be fully registered on a programme leading to the award of PhD;
  • You must have applied to, or be in the process of applying to, all other plausible sources of financial support;
  • You must have completed all overdue eProg milestones. Milestones must be fully authorised.

If you are sponsored, financial support for fieldwork may also be available from your sponsoring organisation.  For example, ESRC-sponsored students can apply for fieldwork costs through the ESRC NWCDTP. You must access any Research Council funds available to you in the first instance.

Level of fieldwork support

Please note that the Doctoral Academy cannot guarantee full funding, therefore you must choose the most cost-effective options for your trip. Budget permitting, we will at least part fund your trip. Travel and accommodation should be booked via Key Travel (see below for guidance). All other expenses are paid after the fieldwork has taken place and only once appropriate receipts are received.

It is recognised that fieldwork circumstances may vary widely and entail varying costs; each application will be judged on its merits, but a coherent case must be made for realistic fieldwork expenses. Please note the following:

  • telephone charges and food items will not be reimbursed
  • any equipment bought will be retained by the University
  • claims involving participants may be capped
  • we reserve the right to reject claims if sufficient information is not given in the application form

Carer-Related Costs

The Doctoral Academy recognises that many PGR students have caring responsibilities which can affect the ability to conduct fieldwork or similar research-related professional development activities. In light of this, the Doctoral Academy can help to fund carer-related costs. These expenses should be stated as part of the fieldwork bursary application. Possible expenses may include:

  1. The additional costs of taking part in the fieldwork i.e., the costs over and above what you would normally incur as part of your usual childcare or other carer responsibility arrangements.
  2. Day-care expenses at the site of the fieldwork.
  3. Extra day-care expenses at home incurred because fieldwork was being conducted (for example, extra time at nursery, cost of a babysitter/childcare).

How to Apply

Applications for fieldwork support can be submitted at any point in the academic year, however, students should not submit an incomplete application or submit an application without receiving the relevant ethical clearances (if applicable).

Please submit an application via the online form and select ‘Fieldwork Funding’ on Question 7:

Sustainable Travel

The university is committed to sustainable travel, where possible. There is a Sustainable Travel Top-Up Fund available via a separate application form. If your travel costs are more expensive due to selecting a journey with lower carbon emissions, you can apply for this top-up via the Sustainable Travel online form.

NB: If your application for the Sustainable Travel Top Up Fund is accepted, please inform the DA via hums.doctoralacademy.funding@manchester.ac.uk as the Top-Up Fund is not currently managed by the DA Funding Team.

Travel insurance

The University travel policy provides cover for students travelling on business such as fieldwork, conferences etc. and for any travel that is a compulsory element of a university award-bearing degree programme of study. For other travel, you should arrange your own insurance cover. For more information, please see the Insurance Office website.

Liability cover

The University also has other insurance policies in place for protection in relation to public liability. Please see further information and contact the Insurance Office if you have queries.

 

Key Travel Process 

Key Travel is a specialised procurement system the University of Manchester uses to make academic transportation and lodging arrangements much more efficient and easy to arrange. Your profile details, which you only need to input once, will be imperative to any University-funded travel arrangements you need to make during the rest of your time at The University of Manchester.

As a doctoral PGR with scope for conferences and fieldwork, we ask that you now please register with Key Travel by following the information below.

Step 1: Create a login

  • Go to the Key Travel website select ‘New online user’ and enter your university email address and click 'Request new password'.
  • Email Key Travel as soon as possible with your user ID should you have any technical difficulty procuring your login.

Step 2: Create a traveller profile

  • Select 'Create your own profile'
  • Refer to the Key Travel webinar if you are unsure of any details required to create your profile.
  • Please note that the fields relating to 'Redress number' and 'known traveller' relate only to specific travellers to the USA.
  • Please be aware that your preferences, for example, which direction you may prefer to sit on a train, may not be taken into account by all suppliers.
  • Profiles can be viewed and edited by the authorised person(s) only. For example, arrangers will not be able to view your personal information.
  • All profile data is encrypted and stored as per the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR). Information is only used for the purpose of each trip.

All the PG Researchers are activated on Key Travel with Standard access (look not book) and can follow the steps in the attached Getting started with key travel.

After you have created your profile, you are now ready to proceed with a booking once your funding is approved and secured.

Instructions to book

  1. View travel options (flights, hotel, and rail)
  2. Select your preferred travel options and add to basket
  3. View Basket
  4. Share Quote - Once you’re happy to proceed with your selected options, send quote to seedschooloffice@manchester.ac.uk by sharing the quote details. If you need further help, please refer to the full documentation.

NB: Please note, you should obtain approval from the PGR Research and Training Support Grant (RTSG) application process before proceeding with a Key Travel booking.

Postgraduate researchers should contact Key Travel on 0161 819 9797 for price matches if a cheaper quote is available on a different site.

Research support expense claims

You may be able to claim expenses from the PGR Support Awards fund. You should consult the information provided on PGR Support Awards and make an application if appropriate. However, please note that students are encouraged to apply for a PGR Support Award in advance wherever possible.

We cannot guarantee that an application for a PGR Support Award can be granted, so if you decided to pay for a conference and later submit a PGR Support Award application, this is at your own risk.

If you are granted a PGR Support Award and you need to claim back expenses, you need to submit a completed copy of the form below, along with all original receipts (photocopies or scanned copies cannot be accepted).

Completed forms and receipts should be submitted to the Doctoral Academy, CG6 Ground Floor, Ellen Wilkinson Building or by email at Hums.doctoralacademy.funding@manchester.ac.uk.

EPSRC DTP-funded students

For EPSRC DTP-funded students, your research training support grant allocation is indicated in the award letter. To make expense claims from your allocation, please contact your Department administrator in the first instance.

Research Training Support Grant (RTSG) allowances/expenses

The SALC PGR Research & Training Support Grant is available to all SALC PGR students to support research travel and conference expenses. Funds are limited and are awarded competitively. NB: Those students funded by a Research Council or other external funder who already receive a travel allocation must draw on that in the first instance.

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply to the Research Support Fund, you must:

  • be fully registered on a programme leading to the award of PhD;
  • have applied to, or be in the process of applying to, all other plausible sources of financial support;
  • have completed all overdue eProg milestones. Milestones must be fully authorised.

Allowable expenses include:

  • travel from city to city by rail or air
  • local transport within cities at either end
  • conference fees
  • reasonably-incurred accommodation costs

The normal expectation is the fund will be used for travel expenses, but other non-travel expenses will be considered on a case-by-case basis including support for caring responsibilities. The fund cannot be used for subsistence costs. 

Typically, a PGR student can be awarded a maximum of £800 per academic year. There are no fixed deadlines. You can apply to access this fund at any time. The Doctoral Academy cannot guarantee full funding but will at least part-fund your trip at the discretion of the budget holder.

How to apply

Please submit an application via the online form:

Completing this form may require the following material:

  • Supporting statement from your supervisor
  • Travel risk assessment (if applicable – see below for links to risk assessments)
  • Invoice and costings if requesting a procurement of goods
  • Information about suppliers if requesting a procurement of services

All PGRs taking fieldwork leave must also complete the Research fieldwork application form.  

Travel risk assessment

Sustainable travel

The university is committed to sustainable travel, where possible. There is a Sustainable Travel Top-Up Fund available via a separate application form. If your travel costs are more expensive due to selecting a journey with lower carbon emissions, you can apply for this top-up via the Sustainable Travel online form.

NB: If your application for the Sustainable Travel Top Up Fund is accepted, please inform the DA via hums.doctoralacademy.funding@manchester.ac.uk as the Top-Up Fund is not currently managed by the DA Funding Team.

Travel insurance

The University travel policy provides cover for students travelling on business such as fieldwork, conferences etc. and for any travel that is a compulsory element of a university award-bearing degree programme of study. For other travel, you should arrange your own insurance cover. For more information, please see the Insurance Office website.

Liability cover

The University also has other insurance policies in place for protection in relation to public liability. Please see further information and contact the Insurance Office if you have queries.

ESRC and AHRC studentships

AHRC and ESRC funded PGRs

NWCDTP and NWSSDTP-funded PGRs are eligible for funding to support their research as outlined in the studentship offer letter. This includes Research Training Support Grant (RTSG), Overseas Fieldwork Funding (OSFW), Internships, Overseas Institutional Visits (OIV) and Fieldwork and Conference Fund, subject to eligibility. They must therefore apply for such support from NWCDTP or NWSSDTP rather than from the School.

Further information including funding guides and contact details can be found on the Faculty of Humanities intranet:

Research council funded students should direct their queries to their School doctoral programme office in the first instance. 

ESRC NWSSDTP and AHRC NWCDTP doctoral studentships

PGRs in the first year of their doctoral degree may apply for ESRC North West Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership studentship or AHRC North West Consortium Doctoral Training Partnership to fund their second and third years, subject to eligibility.

To find out about the details of the studentships, eligibility criteria and how to apply please visit:

Other funding opportunities

The University of Manchester Living Cost Support Fund

The Living Cost Support Fund is a university scheme that exists thanks to generous donations from alumni and friends who want to ensure that no Manchester student is left struggling. If you are experiencing financial hardship, please apply to us for support.

The fund is open to all students, regardless of level of study or nationality. It is open all year round and can award grants and loans to help you overcome financial hardship or unforeseen expenses.

For information about eligibility criteria and application process, please see Living Cost Support Fund website. 

UK Doctoral Loan

If you’re coming to Manchester this year to begin or continue postgraduate doctoral research, you could qualify for a loan from the UK government. Please see eligibility criteria and how to apply on the website below.