SHR TRUST POSTGRADUATE BURSARY SCHEME

Application form for Postgraduate Students and Independent Researchers

The Scottish Historical Review Trust aims to promote research and publication in the field of Scottish History. Besides responsibility for the scholarly journal, the Scottish Historical Review, and the Scottish Historical Review Monograph Series, the Trust seeks to support research on any subject relating to Scottish History by means of a limited number of bursaries of up to £1,000 on an annual basis.

Applicants should complete the following application form and provide a synopsis (of no more than 1,000 words) of the research to be supported by the Trust, outlining its significance and contribution to the field. The summary should be accompanied by a supporting reference from a supervisor or an appropriate academic referee. The Trustees will offer a single award or series of smaller awards, to be announced annually in mid-May. Submissions are to be lodged with the Secretary of the Trust at the following address no later than 30 March 2018.

Dr Scott Spurlock,

School of Critical Studies,

University of Glasgow,
Glasgow,

G12 8QQ.

Email:

Applications can be madeto cover all or part of the costs for any of the following purposes in relation to your research:

  • Research travel and accommodation costs
  • Digitisation and microfilm costs
  • Conference attendance and participation
  • Any other research costs deemed reasonable (please contact Dr Spurlock with your proposal prior to applying to see if it is eligible)

Please complete ALL sections and attach separate sheets where necessary (see attached ‘Notes of Guidance’ for further details.

SECTION 1

  1. Postgraduate or Independent Scholar (delete as appropriate)

Name:

  1. Complete the relevant section below

Complete either B1 for Postgraduate applicants or B2 for Independent scholars. The unused option may be deleted.

B1. For postgraduates

Degree:

Year of Study:Full time/Part time (delete as appropriate)

University e-mail address:

Title of research topic/thesis

Describe briefly how your overall degree is funded (if applicable):

B2. For independent scholars

Current employment:

Previous employment history (past three years):

Education:

E-mail address:

SECTION 2

Describe the project for which you require funding, with reference to the specific research questions you will be asking and the objectives you hope to accomplish. (Description should be no more than 300 words; further details can be provided in the synopsis of your research.)

What is the projected outcome of the proposed activity (thesis chapter, completion of an area of research, data collection, publication, etc.)?

What are the publication prospects?

(NB: It is not necessary to plan publication in order to receive funding.) (delete as appropriate)

Immediate publication planned

Publication likely in the short term

Publication likely in the long term

Publication of the material is unlikely

Not applicable

Dates during which project/activity will be pursued:

Financial details: Please provide a fully itemisedbudget, costing the items for which the award is sought and substantiating the costs in relation to the research project. Please attach separate sheet if necessary.

TOTAL: £

Other funding bodies approached and the outcome if known:

If you do not receive the funding sought here, will you pursue this element of your research? Why or why not (briefly)?

Have you received a previous award from the SHR Trust?YES/ NO (delete as appropriate)

If YES, please provide details and attach a copy of your end of award report

(Note: further applications will not be permitted unless a report is submitted for previous awards.):

Have you applied for an award previously but not received one?YES/ NO (delete as appropriate)

If YES, please provide details of this:

Signed: Date:

PLEASE PASS THIS FORM, ALONG WITH YOUR SYNOPSIS, TO YOUR SUPERVISOR TO COMPLETE AND RETURN TO DR SPURLOCK

SECTION 3

SHR TRUST BURSARY SCHEME –REFERENCE

TO BE COMPLETED BY THE SUPERVISOR OR SCHOLARLY REFEREE

CONFIDENTIAL

Does the budget seem reasonable? YES / NO (delete as appropriate)

FOR POSTGRADUATE APPLICATIONS

How does the proposed project/activity relate to the student’s research progress? (Please attach separate sheet if necessary)

How essential is the project to the completion of the degree? (delete as appropriate)

Essential to the completion of the degree

Important to the completion of the degree

Non-essential, but will provide excellent opportunities to develop an aspect of research or of research skills

Useful, but not related to the degree project

Not essential, either to the degree project or to the development of other aspects of conducting research

FOR ALL APPLICATIONS

What is the scholarly value of the project (if appropriate)? (delete as appropriate)

Viable, well-conceived, original piece of research

Of scholarly value, though not leading to an immediately finished product

Represents the initial stages of a project with good potential

Solid workmanship which will be of use in student's learning process

Lacking sophisticated development at this time but possibly of use in the future

Poorly conceived, non-viable project

To the best of your knowledge, what is the likelihood of publication? (delete as appropriate)

definite / possible / none / n/a

Please indicate your degree of support for this application. (delete as appropriate)

highly recommend / recommend / do not recommend

Any further comments? (Please continue on a separate sheet if necessary):

Signed: Date:

Name in capitals:

PLEASE SUBMIT THIS APPLICATION TO DR SPURLOCK DIRECTLY BY 31 MARCH

PART 3

Notes of Guidance

This is a competitive process and the final decision is at the discretion of the Trustees. Awardsfrom the SHR Trust Bursary Scheme are intended to provide assistance with the support costs of individual research. The Award may cover, for example, attending a conference to present a research paper; research trip travel and accommodation (for example, archival visit, fieldwork, etc); photocopying. Amounts will not exceed £1000. Applicants should note that the Trustees will not provide any feedback on the proposals submitted for this scheme, and the Trustees retain the right not to make an award.

A successful application will be fully complete, word processed, and include the following elements:

  1. a clear demonstration that the proposed project is in the field of Scottish History and will enhance the discipline;
  2. a coherent, clear and full statement of aims and objectives;
  3. a persuasive rationale for the timeliness of the activity;
  4. a budget that includes a breakdown of costs, total costs, and total amount requested, and which shows value for money – for example, are the travel and accommodation costs reasonable and the best value?
  5. a clear sense of the outcome of the project for which research support is sought.
  6. information on whether or not other internal (e.g. the applicant’s own university) or external funding bodies (e.g. Carnegie, AHRC) have been or will be approached if appropriate (if this is not appropriate, please state why), and a report of the outcome of the application.

Reasons for rejection include but are not limited to:

  1. lack of support from the supervisor or inadequate explanation of the relevance of the activity to the student's research;
  2. unacceptable cost items (e.g. equipment/hardware, travel to their home university for supervision), or costs deemed excessive for the nature and scope of the project (eg first class train tickets, overly expensive accommodation, etc);
  3. lack of confirmation that appropriate funding bodies have been approached;
  4. failure to report on a previous SHRT award;
  5. late or incomplete application.

It is a condition of the award that the successful applicant will submita short report to the Trustwithin 4 weeks of the completion of the funded activity.

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