Principal's Excellence Fund

A new fund has been launched by Principal Diamond to recognise and encourage academic endeavour by postgraduate students and academic staff.

The Principal’s Excellence Fund is available for postgraduate students and junior academic staff to the grade of lecturer.

This new fund replaces the previous Small Grants Fund and Visiting Scholars Programme.

Grants of up to £500 will be awarded to support an academic project which reflects our strategic priorities as outlined in the new Strategic Plan. A total of £100,000 is being made available for this academic year, £25,000 of which has been secured by the University’s Development Trust.

Requests may be made to support student expeditions or field trips for dissertation purposes, to cover travel to a conference where research is being presented, or to provide support for unplanned and unexpected opportunities for further research through visits or travel. The fund will not be applicable to services such as printing, purchasing supplies, printing/publishing of books, attending courses or paying conference fees.

Applications should be no more than one A4 side in length, state whether the applicant is a postgraduate, or member of staff, and give an explanation and breakdown of what the funds are being sought for.

For applications from staff supporting letters or references are not required, although we may contact Colleges or Schools for further information where necessary. Postgraduate students should arrange for a letter of support.

There will be six funding rounds per year.  Deadlines for receipt of applications are  1st February, 1st April, 1st June, 1st August, 1st October and 1st December. Applications should be sent by email to Mrs June Rhind, june.rhind@abdn.ac.uk.