STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF UNIVERSITY POSTGRADUATE RESEARCH BURSARIES AND STUDENTSHIPS
Offer
Research Bursaries, Scholarships, or Studentships, may be offered by Departments, Schools, or Colleges of the University of Lincoln and are tenable under the terms and conditions stated below. The term “Research Bursaries” is used throughout this document to refer generically to all such types of financial support offered to postgraduate research students at the University (including support that consists only of full or partial tuition fees without any associated living expenses support). The offer of a Research Bursary will be made in writing to the Research student by the University.
Eligibility
Holders of Research Bursaries are required to apply and enrol with the University for a research degree and are required to comply with the conditions for such enrolment and registration as set out in the University's Regulations ( the relevant degree programme. Candidates must meet the entry requirements for the relevant programme and submit a Research Proposal with their application.
Duration of Bursary
The duration of the Research Bursary will not normally be for a period of less than one academic year, nor for more than three and a half years(unless otherwise notified). The full expected period of the bursary will be notified to the candidate in the formal offer. However, the performance of all research students is subject to review by Colleges, and students whose performance is deemed unsatisfactory may have their Bursary terminated at any time with three months written notice a termination will be given by their Head of School. The University reserves the right exceptionally to terminate Research Bursaries for reasons other than lack of satisfactory academic performance, e.g. for violation of University Regulations relating to conduct.
Value of the Award
The value of the Bursarywill be as notified to the candidatein the formal offer. The first Bursary payment will be made once the candidate has completed the enrolment process at the University.
Payment of Research Bursaries and Income Tax
Payment of Research Bursaries will be monthly in advance. Section 331 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 normally exempts from income tax, a scholarship or bursary held by a person receiving full time instruction at a university. Research Bursary payments are therefore made by the University without deduction of income tax. However, it remains the student’s responsibility to ascertain their own position regarding both taxation and national insurance contributions. If exceptionally a contract of employment exists then the payments will be treated as taxable income.
Employment - Teaching / Demonstrating/ Research Support
Where included as part of a Bursary, any such work will normally be subject to a contract of employment and payment will be at the current University rates for the type of work undertaken. Research students will be required to undergo appropriate training before undertaking any such activities.
Students who hold a visa which allows them leave in the UK must ensure that they abide by the working conditions as stated on their visa. All students who undertake employment (paid or unpaid) will require a right to work check undertaken by the employer. Students who have breached the conditions of their visa will place their visa and student status at risk.
Holidays
Research Bursary holders are entitled to a maximum of 35 days holiday, excluding statutory holidays, in each 12 month period (bursaries including employment will accrue pro-rata paid holidays as part of these 35 days). Holiday periods must be notified to, and approved in advance, by the supervisor or Director of Studies.
Training
Research Bursary holders will be required to undertake a programme of research related and/or professional skills training in addition to carrying out research for a higher degree. Failure to participate in such training programmes may result in termination of the bursary.
Illness
Bursary holders are required to notify their Supervisor/Director of Studies if they are prevented by illness from following their course of studies. In the case of prolonged illness the student may be advised to interrupt their study. Research Bursaries will not normally be paid during a period of interruption of study. Where there is no prospect of a resumption of study then the bursary will be terminated.In the event of illness, where employment is involved, please refer to your contract terms and conditions for your entitlement to sick pay.
Students on a Tier 4 visa who are absent for less than 5 days due to illness should self-certificate for this period. If the illness lasts for more than 5 days and the Tier 4 visa student cannot study during this period, they will need to apply for authorised absence by completing the request form and submitting medical evidence at:
If the period of absence affects the student’s ability to complete their course before the visa expiry date and they will require another visa to remain in the UK to complete, the student will need to consider interruption of study as this level of absence will not be authorised. For further information, students should refer to the Authorised Absence Policy located on the Secretariat website at:
Immigration advice is published by the University’s International Advice Team (they are the only staff within the University who are able to legally offer immigration advice). The International Advice Team hold a drop-in service Monday to Friday from 12pm to 2pm and are based in the Student Support Centre on the ground floor of the Minerva Building.
Maternity / Paternity Payments for Holders of Research Bursaries
Following the University’s commitment to equality, diversity and equal opportunities in relation to research students. Research Bursary students are entitled to maternity or paternity leave under the University’s Regulations and must complete the Interruption of Studies process. In most cases payment of the Bursary while on a period of Maternity will be paid for up to 4 months at their standard Bursary rate. This may mean that the duration of the overall bursary is extended by up to four months at the end.
For students who hold a Tier 4 visa, a period of maternity or paternity leave can be granted but this is dependent on whether the student can complete their course of study by their visa expiry date. Students who wish to request maternity or paternity leave will need to apply for authorised absence by completing the request form and submit evidence at:
If the period of absence affects the student’s ability to complete their course before the visa expiry date and they will require another visa to remain in the UK to complete, the student will need to consider interruption of study as this level of absence will not be authorised. For further information, students should refer to the Authorised Absence Policy located on the Secretariat website at:
Paternity leave is granted for up to 2 weeks. This leave is paid at their standard bursary rate. In most cases this will mean that the duration of the overall bursary is extended by 2 weeks at the end.
For Bursaries which include employment, please contact the HR department for further information.
Intellectual Property Rights
The copyright and all other intellectual property rights which may exist in the results of research undertaken by the Student and all other materials created by the Student in the course of their studies with the University (the “Student IP”) shall be the property of the University and to the extent not deemed to be the property of the University are hereby assigned by the Student to the University, except where specifically agreed otherwise by the University in writing.
General information about Intellectual Property can be obtained by contacting the Research and Enterprise Office at the University of Lincoln.
Publishing Research Results
It is expected that the results of research work undertaken by the holders of Research Bursaries will be published and that publication will normally be in conjunction with the supervisors and with their permission. Where the work to be published is the result of collaboration with research workers in addition to the student and supervisors, publication will be in conjunction with all partners in the work in accordance with normal academic practice.
Note: Any or all of the above terms and conditions may be subject to amendment at any time. Whilst the University will make reasonable effort to inform Research Bursary holders of such changes it will remain the student’s responsibility to ensure that he/she is familiar with the current terms, regulations and visa conditions.
Glossary
Apply –Candidates will need to apply to a Research programme through the University’s online application system.
Bursary –Financial aid given to a student.
Enrolment - Enrolment is an agreement between the University and the student under which the University provides a programme of studies and makes available academic services and facilities associated with that programme of study. The student, in completing the requested enrolment process, agrees to certain obligations including the payment of fees for the provision of academic services and facilities associated with the programme of study.
The enrolment process may incorporate agreement with the University’s online privacy statement, the completion and signing of an enrolment form or scanning an existing student ID card at a designated location on campus (re-enrolment). This list is not exhaustive and a student’s enrolment is not complete until authorised by a designated member of staff of the University.
Right to Work check – The University will check relevant documents to ensure eligibility to live and work in the UK as part of pre-employment and ongoing checks as required. For further information please refer to the Employing Overseas Workers –Immigration Policy and Procedure. Further information can found here
Financial Sponsor – A sponsor is a third party that undertakes to pay any part of a fee owed to the University by a student. Only undertakings engaged in the private or public sectors are acceptable as sponsors to the University. This includes the Student Loan Company.
An individual who is a member of the student’s family is not acceptable as a sponsor.
It is the responsibility of the student to provide evidence of a sponsor that is prepared to pay fees, or part of a fee, on behalf of that student.
Visa Sponsor – The University of Lincoln is on the Register of Tier 4 sponsors.
If a student is from a visa national country then they will need to apply for a visa from the British High Commission or Embassy in their country of residence.The University will act as the Sponsor for the Tier 4 (Study) visa. Tier 4 visa holders will have work restrictions attached.
Studentship –A financial package that is advertised for candidates to apply and participate in specific projects.
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