Manchester Doctoral College Post-Graduate Researcher Community Fund

(MDC PGR Community Fund)

The Manchester Doctoral College (MDC) are now accepting applications from post-graduate researchers (PGRs) who are interested in funding to help set up and run their own PGR Community.

What is the MDC PGR Community Fund?

It is an opportunity open to all PGRs to establish and grow a community or network of PGRs from across the institution who are linked in some way e.g. by a research area or a shared characteristic. You can apply for this fund as an individual or a group.

In previous versions of this award we’ve funded

• Postgraduate Research Showcase: A vibrant annual event where PGRs present their work creatively, with prizes awarded across faculties.
• PDS in the Pub: Informal meetups that spark conversation and connection among researchers.
• Anything but Research: Fun, non-academic events that support wellbeing and community building.
• PGR Parents & Carers Network: A supportive space for researchers balancing academic life with caregiving responsibilities.

What are the aims of the MDC PGR Community Fund?

The scheme aims to enrich the PGR experience in 3 ways:

• Wellbeing and health: being a PGR can be challenging. The communities can allow PGRs to take a break from their immediate research spaces and help them to cultivate their interests / passions.
• Inclusivity: the PGR experience can sometimes be isolating, with a lot of the university’s focus on undergraduate students. Meeting PGRs from different departments and backgrounds can be difficult. The MDC PGR Communities will help break down these barriers and increase opportunities for PGRs to meet and socialise.
• Professional Development: to provide PGRs the opportunity to develop their project management, budget management and leadership skills by taking on the role of a MDC PGR Community lead.

How much funding can we apply for?

The maximum is £1000 per group per year

How can we spend the money?

How you spend any funding is largely up to you (see below), but as much details as possible should be included on the application form.   

• Things we can fund: event costs e.g. catering, venue, equipment hire, guest speaker fees/expenses.
• Things we can’t fund: we can’t pay salary costs or costs for PGR time.

How will we receive the funding?

MDC PGR Community Leads are encouraged to ‘Keep it on Campus.’ For internal costs such as University of Manchester venue hire or catering RDRD will be able to organise payment on behalf of the Community

Please note that in some instances it may be necessary for Community leads to make a payment and claim the costs back via an expense claim. But we will work with you to avoid this wherever possible.

Are there any other expectations?

It is expected that MDC PGR Community leads will submit a short report at the end of the funding period. A report template will be provided.

How to Apply to the MDC PGR Community Fund

The MDC PGR Community Fund Guidance Notes can be found here. You must ensure that you read through these notes before applying for the fund.

Please complete the application form here and submit by 1^st April 2026

Please contact amanda.aspinall@manchester.ac.uk, cc pds@manchester.ac.uk

The Manchester Doctoral College (MDC) are now accepting applications from PDS researchers who require funding in order to travel and present their research at national or international conferences.

Who can apply?

If you are currently registered for a doctoral degree at the University of Manchester and in receipt of a PDS award you are eligible to apply. If you are in a submission pending period (writing up period) or have submitted your thesis you are unfortunately unable to apply.

You MUST be presenting a paper or poster at a conference in order to be considered. You should refer to the PDS External Training Fund for funding to attend conferences where you are not presenting.

You can’t apply retrospectively. The conference date must precede the application date.

How much, and what can we apply for?

The PDS Conference Presentation Fund will assist with the costs of travel, conference registration fees and accommodation expenses, and are intended to supplement your own contribution or funds from other sources. 

- You can apply for up to £750.

- You can only successfully claim ONCE under the PDS Conference Fund per academic year.

- You will not be able to claim again within the year if your application does not reach the maximum limit.

How to apply

Applications should be submitted online here 

You can submit your application at any time. All applications will be subject to review by members of MDC and decisions will be communicated within 10 working days. 

 As part of the application, you will be required to:

• Give a full breakdown of all relevant expenses ensuring that they are as accurate as possible (please note that any award made will be based on the estimated costs and if the actual costs incurred are lower than the amount stated, the award will be reduced accordingly).
• Convert costs in a foreign currency to pounds sterling.
• Upload proof of your acceptance to present at the conference.
• Give explicit details of any other funding sources you have applied to and will be using e.g. personal funding, RTSG etc.

All applications will be reviewed by members of the Manchester Doctoral College Strategy Group and funding decisions communicated within 10 working days. 

If successful, how will I receive the funding?

How you receive the funding may vary depending on the nature of the expenses. It is likely though that payment will have to be made via an expense claim. Successful applicants will need to make payments in advance and then reclaim the award amount. Receipts/evidence of personal expenditure will be required. A member of MDC will liaise with you on an individual basis to organise these payments.  

Please Note:

•  Awards can only be made for events that take place before 1st July 2026
• Awards will only be made where the costs can't be covered by other sourses e.g. any Research Training Support Grant (RTSG) available to you. 
• Any awards to successful applicants are not transferable and apply only to the researcher and conference stated on the application.
• Claims against the award must be made before 1st July 2026
• The applicant must be aware of any Export Control considerations that the conference and travelling to the conference may bring up. 

Further information

Please contact amanda.aspinall@mancheter.ac.uk cc pds@manchester.ac.uk

The Manchester Doctoral College (MDC) are now accepting applications from PDS researchers who require funding in order to take advantage of external personal and/or professional development opportunities.

For example, you can apply for funding to attend external training courses/workshops and/or funding to attend conferences and symposia in a networking capacity (if you require funding to attend a conference as a presenter please see the PDS Conference Presentation Fund.

Principles of the scheme:

• All applications must be endorsed by your Supervisor and you will need to confirm their support on the application form.
• The activity must not already be available via University providers such as Researcher Development, My Research Essentials, Research IT, Masood Entrepreneurship Centre, Translation Manchester.
• The activity should be relevant to your current and/or future needs as researcher or to your future career.
• You will need to confirm that the costs can’t be covered by any other internal source such as a Research Training Support Grant (RTSG).
• Applications must be made prior to the start of the activity (retrospective applications can’t be considered).

How much can I apply for?

- You can apply for up to £500 annually. Where costs exceed this amount additional costs must be met from other sources.

- You can only succesfully claim ONCE under the PDS External Development Fund per academic year 

- You will not be able to claim again within the academic year if your application does not reach the maximum limit

When submitting an application, you will be expected to provide explicit details of any other funding sources you have applied to and will be using e.g. personal funding, RTSG etc.

What will the funding cover?

Funding can be used to cover course fees, attendance fees, travel expenses and accommodation costs.

We will not provide funds for items directly related to your project which should be otherwise covered.

How to apply

Please complete the online submission form

You can submit your application at any time. All applications will be subject to review by MDC and decisions communicated within 10 working days.  

If successful, how will I receive the funding?

How you receive the funding may vary depending on the nature of the expenses. It is likely though that payment will have to be made via an expense claim. Successful applicants will need to make payments in advance and then reclaim the award amount. Receipts will be required. A member of MDC will liaise with you on an individual basis to organise these payments. 

Please note we can only make awards for training that will conclude by 1st July 2026

We can only process claims that are made before 1st July 2026 

The applicant must have spoken with their supervisor and understand any Export Control considerations that the external development and travelling to the external development may bring up. Applicants will confirm this on the application form.  

Further information

Please contact amanda.aspinall@manchester.ac.uk cc pds@manchester.ac.uk