RTSG Top Up Scheme

PhD students undertaking the +3 element of their award are eligible to apply for RTSG Top Up funding, which must be used prior to your funding end date.

The following categories of activities, items and equipment can be supported by RTSG Top Up funds:

• Fieldwork that is conducted in the United Kingdom. Additional funding is available for award-holders undertaking fieldwork outside of the UK (OFE), for which separate arrangements are in place
• Attending conferences, training courses, summers schools and other similar events
• Undertaking language training courses prior to conducting fieldwork
• Reimbursing interpreters, guides, assistants and informants that are assisting an award-holder’s fieldwork
• Meeting the costs of conducting surveys and other data collection exercises, including printing and stationery
• Purchasing small items of equipment and consumables, such as cameras, tape recorders, films and cassettes
• Acquiring books and other materials not available through libraries
• Obtaining laptops and other computer equipment, where this is assessed to be essential to the completion of the award-holder’s PhD and cannot be directly funded by the award-holder’s host department/school or other sources

Students in the Masters year of a 1+3/1+3.5 programme are eligible to request support for one-off costs relating to the following, via the RTSG Top Up scheme:

• Participation and/or attendance at academic conferences
• Attendance at external training events/workshops that will be of benefit in terms of developing research skills and expertise relevant to the PhD

Students making an application to any of the WRDTP’s additional funding schemes will be asked to evidence their adherence to any relevant policies from their institution, by uploading the relevant documentation to the application form. This includes any relevant policies relating to the booking of travel and accommodation.  It is your responsibility to ensure that you adhere to the policies of your institution.  If you are unsure how to evidence this, please email enquiries@wrdtp.ac.uk prior to submitting your application

You must read the guidance above before completing the Google application form.

Students can preview a list of the application form questions by downloading the following file: WRDTP RTSG Top-Up Application Form Preview. An example (demonstrating best practice) of the costings document required as part of the application form (see item 1 below) can be viewed here.

All applications for additional RTSG Top-Up funding must be made in advance by the award-holder using the WRDTP RTSG Top-Up Application form

The form requires the following file uploads. Please use following nomenclature when uploading to the Google Form.

1. WRDTP RTSG Top-Up Costings Upload Template (Section 1) – (STUDENT SURNAME_STUDENT FIRST NAME_HEI_RTSG_TOP UP_COSTINGS)
2. WRDTP RTSG Top Up Supervisor Upload template (Section 2) – (STUDENT SURNAME_STUDENT FIRST NAME_HEI_RTSG_TOP UP_SUPPORTING CASE)
3. Conference acceptance letter/email (STUDENT SURNAME_STUDENT FIRST NAME_HEI_RTSG_TOP UP_CONFERENCE ACCEPTANCE)
4. (If travel is involved) Your institution’s necessary documentation for travel – e.g. approved risk assessment, travel insurance certificate etc (Section 1) – (STUDENT SURNAME_STUDENT FIRST NAME_RTSG_TOP UP_COVID DOCUMENTATION)

Within the Costings Upload Template award-holders are required to detail the amount of funds required and to explain why such funds are requested.  PhD applicants must be able to demonstrate that their standard RTSG has already been spent when applying for additional RTSG Top Up. Retrospective applications for funding will not be considered.

Award-holders must secure the support and authorisation of their main supervisor for their application, who must confirming the student’s need for the funding and that the student is making good progress.

Received applications are checked by the relevant Scholarships Officer to ensure they are eligible for funding, logged and then considered by the AQC. The WRDTP Office will notify the Scholarships Officer when a decision has been made as to their application.  In cases where an application has been declined the reason for such a decision will be outlined in the notification.

*PLEASE NOTE:

If you are seeking funding for travel, we expect the relevant documents (risk assessments, evidence of travel insurance) to be complete and provided at the point of submitting your funding application. Applications without the necessary paperwork will not be reviewed. If you have any questions about this, please email enquiries@wrdtp.ac.uk before submitting your application.*

If you are awarded funding from any of the ESRC schemes you agree to report back to the WRDTP on your experience either on the VIRE Forum, a DTP Matters Newsletter article or by speaking at training sessions/conferences. As a recipient of funding any correspondence or event materials should be appropriately branded, see our Branding Information page in the VIRE for details.

If you have any questions please email enquiries@wrdtp.ac.uk