Studentship Grant Scheme 2011
Taught Course Prospectus
The purpose of the scheme is to encourage research in the alcohol field and to improve the quality of service provided for those with drinking problems. These objectives are very much within the aims of the Council.
A small number of Studentships are available for people working in the alcohol field, who wish to acquire appropriate professional qualifications by following a taught course. The Council will make a one-off payment of £1,200 towards the fees for 2011/12 for successful students.
Applications should normally be for studies or courses beginning in the academic year 2011/12. In exceptional circumstances the Council will accept applications to finance existing courses. In such cases the applicant will need to provide a satisfactory progress report from the course tutor or supervisor. The AERC will not fund retrospectively.
The closing date for the submission of applications will 10th May, 2011. The original, fully signed application, accompanied by a copy of the course prospectus must be posted in time to arrive by the closing date. An electronic copy of the complete application is also required by the closing date. Please note that late applications will not be accepted.
When the Studentship Committee has made their deliberations all candidates are advised whether they have been successful. Successful candidates, their supervisors and institutions are required to enter into a formal agreement, which sets out the terms and conditions of the award.
IN ORDER TO QUALIFY:
- The applicant should have been accepted or provisionally accepted for a taught course, normally accredited by a university, leading to a diploma or similar qualification in alcohol-related studies;
- The applicant should normally be working in the alcohol field for a voluntary agency in a paid capacity. Applications will not be accepted from employees of the health service and other statutory agencies. Applications from volunteer workers will be accepted provided that the applicants have an offer of employment in the alcohol field on completion of the course;
- Applications to undertake training in alcohol counselling will only be accepted from applicants who have worked in the alcohol field for a minimum of twelve months;
- The institution and the course, which may be full or part-time, must be acceptable to the Council. The course must be specifically in alcohol (or drug and alcohol) studies or substance misuse. Other courses will not be funded (eg BSc/MSc Psychology), even if there is a component of work on addiction studies or the student intends to write their dissertation on an aspect of alcohol research, etc; and
- The application should be endorsed by the Head of the College or Department responsible for the organisation of the course.
It is not a requirement to be a graduate in order to qualify for an award, but all applicants will need to satisfy the Committee that they have the intellectual capacity to complete the course successfully.
ELIGIBILITY OF STUDENTS FROM OVERSEAS;
The Council is only prepared to consider applications from students from overseas provided that they meet the following criteria:
- they are normally resident in the United Kingdom;
- the applicant Intends to work in the United Kingdom.
The test of determining whether an applicant is normally resident in the United Kingdom follows those used by universities in deciding whether or not a student should pay overseas fees.
STANDARD REQUIREMENTS FOR ARRANGEMENTS OF STUDENTSHIP AWARDS:
Awards are made on the undertaking that institutions, supervisors and students accept and abide by the conditions set out here.
Payment of Awards:
A studentship award is normally administered through the institution in which the applicant is enrolled as a student.
A studentship award begins on the first day of the programme and payment is made to the student via the administering institution from that date.
Reports:
By 30th June, 2012 students are required to provide the Council with a statement of progress supported by a report from their Head of Department/Supervisor.
General:
The Council reserves the right to:
- attach specific conditions to the award of a studentship grant; and
- terminate or vary its conditions at any time.
Postgraduate Research Students Prospectus
The purpose of the scheme is to encourage research in the alcohol field and to improve the quality of service provided for those with drinking problems. These objectives are very much within the aims of the Council.
Up to three students a year will be joint-funded up to £7,000 each per year for three years to undertake research in the alcohol field leading to a PhD. Applicants must have an offer of joint funding from an appropriate organisation, such as the ESRC or a university, before they can apply to the Council.
Applications should normally be for studies or courses beginning in the academic year 2011/12. In exceptional circumstances the Council will accept applications to finance existing courses. In such cases the applicant will need to provide a satisfactory progress report from the course tutor or supervisor. The AERC will not fund retrospectively.
The closing date for the submission of applications will be 10th May, 2010. The original, fully signed application, accompanied by the programme of research must be posted in time to arrive by the closing date. An electronic copy of the complete application (preferably in one document) is also required by the closing date. Please note that late applications will not be accepted.
When the Studentship Committee has made their deliberations all candidates are advised whether they have been successful. Successful candidates, their supervisors and institutions are required to enter into a formal agreement, which sets out the terms and conditions of the award.
IN ORDER TO QUALIFY:
- The applicant should have been accepted for a higher degree by research in alcohol studies up to a maximum period of three years.
- Applicants must have an offer of joint funding.
- The application should be endorsed by the Head of Department in which the student will work.
- The research proposal should be robust and the student networked in with appropriate academic support.
- The student should already have or expect shortly to be awarded a degree at first class or upper second. Applications will also be considered from students who have lesser qualifications but who can provide evidence of their ability to undertake research to the appropriate academic standard. This may be in the form of professional qualifications or experience, for example in the fields of teaching or nursing.
ELIGIBILITY OF STUDENTS FROM OVERSEAS;
The Council is only prepared to consider applications from students from overseas provided that they meet the following criteria:
- they are normally resident in the United Kingdom;
- the applicant intends to work in the United Kingdom.
The test of determining whether an applicant is normally resident in the United Kingdom follows those used by universities in deciding whether or not a student should pay overseas fees.
STANDARD REQUIREMENTS FOR ARRANGEMENTS OF STUDENTSHIP AWARDS:
Awards are made on the undertaking that institutions, supervisors and students accept and abide by the conditions set out here. The following conditions will be included in a formal agreement that successful applicants, their supervisors and grant administrators are required to sign as a final stage in the application process.
Payment of Awards:
- A studentship award is normally administered through the institution in which the applicant is enrolled as a student. Confirmation of any institution’s willingness to accept responsibility for the work to be undertaken and for administering the grant is a pre-condition of any award.
- A studentship award begins on the first day of the programme and payment is made to the student via the administering institution from that date. Subsequent payments are then paid in advance at the beginning of each academic year.
Reporting:
By 30th June, 2012 and 2013 students are required to provide the Council with a statement of progress supported by a report from their Supervisor. This should give an assessment of the student’s progress and state whether the award should be continued. No award will be paid for a second year until the first year’s report has been received and assessed and the same applies for the subsequent year.
End of Award Reports:
At the end of the period of the award students are required to provide the Council with a bound copy of their thesis.
General:
The Council reserves the right to:
- attach specific conditions to the award of a studentship grant; and
- terminate or vary its conditions at any time.