External Funding Opportunities

Royal Academy of Engineering Travel Grant Scheme. This funds up to 50% of the cost of travel overseas to attend a conference or undertake a study visit. Applications may be made at any time of year, and should allow at least six weeks before the proposed date of travel.

The Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland Carnegie Research Grants. Applicants must be graduates of a Scottish University. Application deadlines: 15 January, 15 May and 15 October annually. This scheme does not fund conference attendance.

Frontier is a non-profit conservation and development organisation dedicated to safeguarding biodiversity and building sustainable livelihoods for marginalised communities in the world’s poorest countries. They offer subsidised opportunties for PhD students to conduct fieldwork towards their dissertations whilst helping with conservation projects. Most suitable for students in FECCI working in areas of sustainable technologies.

The Foundation for Canadian Studies in the UK supports scholars travelling in either direction for collaborative work between Canadian and British universities. Awards are normally less than £1000 and are not given for conference attendance. Deadlines are 31st January, May and October each year.

FECCI Travel Grants

The Faculty has allocated a travel budget for its research students as part of research training resources.

The Faculty travel budget is designated in support of your Personal Development activities, so in approving applications to travel, we will want to see confirmation of how the proposed trip fits in with your Personal Development planning. Usually, conference attendance will not be funded by FECCI, Schools have resources of this purpose. However, add-on activities planned in conjunction with a conference will qualify. If you are unsure about whether something you would like to do can be funded, talk it over with m.smyth@napier.ac.uk.

Eligibility

All research students are eligible, whatever their stage of study.
Normally, an individual will not be funded for more than one trip in any twelve month period.

We envisage that most trips will be within the UK at a cost of £500 or less, but more expensive trips can be considered if a strong case is made. Bids for more expensive trips are more likely to succeed later in the academic year if funds are still available. Follow the application process below.

Note that we will consider applications from Napier research students who are domiciled away from Edinburgh and wish to travel here to take part in personal development activities. There is a separate procedure for travel to Edinburgh. 

Applications will be considered and approved as they arrive. It is possible that funds are exhausted midway through the year, or that they are underused. We will let you know from time to time what the status of the account is.

It is also possible to negotiate a contribution from the FECCI travel fund, towards a more expensive trip where most of the funding is coming from other sources. If you want to do this, contact m.smyth@napier.ac.uk for advice and/or complete the FECCI travel form for part-funding and submit it to Simona Simeone, Rm C98, Merchiston.

Application Process

Where FECCI is the sole source of funding, or the main source of funding the following procedure applies. Try to identify travel opportunities and apply to go as early as you can, leaving sufficient time for internal approval processes.

1.  Complete the University’s Staff Travel Form   If you cannot access the University’s Intranet, request a copy of this form from s.simeone@napier.ac.uk.

The folder number to use on the form is N490-03
In row 14 (proposed benefits of trip) provide a paragraph to explain the proposed benefits of the trip.

2.  Attach a copy of the event details; estimates of travel costs; extract from your PDR folder (p23, 24 or 25) to show how this trip matches your personal development objectives.

3.  If you need to discuss an advance payment; how travel arrangements/costs might be shared between you and the Faculty credit card holder; other aspects of how to complete the form, contact Faculty Finance Administrator s.simeone@napier.ac.uk.

4.  Print the Staff travel form, date and sign it. Send it together with the required attachments to: Simona Simeone, Rm C98, Merchiston Campus.

During the trip

You are covered by The University's Group Travel Insurance. Take the Policy Number (10602986) and emergency telephone number ( +44 (0)20 8762 8326) with you.

 Make sure you keep VAT receipts for all expenditure. The University will not reimburse you without receipts.

After the trip

1.  Promptly on your return, complete the claim form (FIN 3) that is a tab in the same spreadsheet as your Staff Travel Form. You should have had a trip number allocated automatically (or emailed to you).

2.  Print, date and sign this form.  Send it together with all relevant receipts to Simona Simeone, Rm C98, Merchiston Campus.

3.  For students using the PDR scheme, update your PDR folder to record attendance at this event and provide a short appraisal of the experience in the reflective log.