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

President’s Doctoral Scholar Conference Travel Funds

Guidance Notes 2026/2027

Purpose of the Fund

The President’s Doctoral Scholar Conference Travel Fund supports President’s Doctoral Scholars to attend national or international conferences where they will present their research.

Funding is intended to contribute towards the costs of:

• travel to and from the conference venue;
• conference registration fees; and
• accommodation expenses.

The fund is designed to supplement the applicant’s own contribution or funding secured from other sources. Applicants can request up to £750 towards the cost of attending the conference.

This fund will provide PDS researchers with the opportunity to:

• refine their research by exposing it to national and international peer review by presenting a paper or poster at a conference
• network and interact with some of the best researchers in their field

1.     Criteria for Awards

To be eligible for funding, applicants must meet the following criteria at the time of attending the conference:

• PDS status: applicants must be registered for a doctoral degree at The University of Manchester and be in receipt of a President’s Doctoral Scholar award.
• Submission pending period: researchers are not eligible if they are in the submission pending, or writing-up, period at either the application date or the conference date.
• One award per academic year: researchers may receive no more than one award from the PDS Conference Travel Fund in a single academic year, from September to August.
• Conference presentation requirement: funding will only be considered for PDS researchers who are presenting a paper or poster at a conference. Researchers seeking support to attend a conference without presenting should refer to the PDS Development Fund.
• Non-transferable awards: awards apply only to the researcher and conference named in the application. Funding cannot be transferred to another researcher or conference, and costs linked to alternative conferences or researchers will not be reimbursed.
• Export Control considerations: applicants must discuss the conference with their supervisor and understand any Export Control considerations associated with the conference or related travel. Applicants will be asked to confirm this on the application form.

2.     Levels of Support

• Maximum award: applicants may request up to £750 towards eligible conference costs.
• Unused balance: if an award is made for less than the maximum amount, applicants cannot submit a further request for the remaining balance.

3.     Estimating Costs and Contributions

• Cost breakdown: applicants must provide a full breakdown of all relevant estimated expenses. Estimates should be based on reasonably priced accommodation and travel fares.
• Foreign currency: where costs are listed in a foreign currency, applicants must state the exchange rate used and convert the costs into pounds sterling.
• Accuracy of estimates: applicants should make their estimates as accurate as possible, as awards are based on the costs provided in the application.
• Changes to actual costs: if the actual costs are lower than the estimated costs, the award will be reduced accordingly. If the actual costs exceed the amount awarded, the award will not be increased.

4.     Application Procedure

• How to apply: applications must be submitted using the online application form:

https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/08wzZY0uAb

• Allowable expenses: funding may be used for travel to and from the conference venue, conference fees, and accommodation.
• Costs not covered: the fund does not cover subsistence costs, including food and drink.
• Application timing: retrospective applications will not be accepted under any circumstances. The conference must take place after the relevant application.
• Evidence required: funding will remain provisional until the researcher provides evidence that they are attending the conference and presenting a paper or poster. This evidence must be uploaded as part of the application.
• Amount awarded: applicants should state the total amount of funding requested. The final award may be lower than the amount requested.

5.     Assessment of Applications

• Application review: all applications will be checked and approved by the RDRD
• Assessment criteria: applications will be assessed against the award criteria and will not be means tested.
• Applicant responsibility: applicants are responsible for ensuring that the application form is fully completed and that all information provided is accurate.

6.     Successful Applicants

• Notification and claiming process: successful applicants will be notified by email and advised how to claim the funding.
• Receipts required: applicants must submit receipts for claimed costs before funding can be released.
• Payment after attendance: funding cannot be paid in advance of attending the conference.
• Unable to take up an award: applicants who are unable to take up an award should inform the RDRD Team at pds@manchester.ac.uk as soon as possible after receiving notification of the award.
• Claims deadline: all claims must be submitted as soon as possible after the event. Claims submitted more than three months after the event will not be reimbursed.

7.     Further Information

For further information please contact the RDRD Team at pds@manchester.ac.uk

President’s Doctoral Scholar External Development Fund

Guidance Notes 2026/2027

Purpose of the Fund

The President’s Doctoral Scholar (PDS) External Development Fund supports PDS researchers to take part in external development opportunities that enhance their personal and professional development. This may include external training, workshops, symposiums or other development activities that are not specific requirements of the doctoral programme.

Funding is intended to contribute towards the costs of:

• external training or workshops;
• conference attendance where the researcher is not presenting a paper or poster;
• symposium attendance; and
• other external development activities that support the researcher’s development.

Applicants can request up to £500 towards eligible costs. The fund is designed to supplement the applicant’s own contribution or funding secured from other sources.

Criteria for Awards

To be eligible for funding, applicants must meet the following criteria at the time of attending the development event:

• PDS status: applicants must be registered for a doctoral degree at The University of Manchester and be in receipt of a President’s Doctoral Scholar award.
• Activity scope: funding does not cover training or development activities that can reasonably be judged as integral to the completion of the applicant’s doctoral project or training provided internally by the University of Manchester.
• Submission pending period: researchers are not eligible if they are in the submission pending, or writing-up, period at either the application date or the event date.
• One award per academic year: researchers may receive no more than one award from the PDS External Development Fund in a single academic year, from September to August.
• Conference presentation route: researchers who have been accepted to present a paper or poster at a conference should refer to the PDS Conference Travel Fund.
• Non-transferable awards: awards apply only to the researcher and development event named in the application. Funding cannot be transferred to another researcher or event, and costs linked to alternative events or researchers will not be reimbursed.
• Export Control considerations: applicants must discuss the external development activity with their supervisor and understand any Export Control considerations associated with the activity or related travel. Applicants will be asked to confirm this on the application form.

Levels of Support

• Maximum award: applicants may request up to £500 towards eligible external development costs.
• Unused balance: if an award is made for less than the maximum amount, applicants cannot submit a further request for the remaining balance.

Estimating Costs and Contributions

• Cost breakdown: applicants must provide a full breakdown of all relevant estimated expenses. Estimates should be based on reasonably priced accommodation, travel fares and any eligible registration or attendance costs.
• Foreign currency: where costs are listed in a foreign currency, applicants must state the exchange rate used and convert the costs into pounds sterling.
• Accuracy of estimates: applicants should make their estimates as accurate as possible, as awards are based on the costs provided in the application.
• Changes to actual costs: if the actual costs are lower than the estimated costs, the award will be reduced accordingly. If the actual costs exceed the amount awarded, the award will not be increased.

Application Procedure

• How to apply: applications must be submitted using the online application form
• Allowable expenses: funding may be used for travel to and from the development activity, registration or attendance fees, and accommodation.
• Costs not covered: the fund does not cover subsistence costs, including food and drink.
• Application timing: retrospective applications will not be accepted under any circumstances. The development activity must take place after the application is made.
• Amount awarded: applicants should state the total amount of funding requested. The final award may be lower than the amount requested.

Assessment of Applications

• Application review: all applications will be checked and approved by the Research Development Research Degrees (RDRD) team.
• Assessment criteria: applications will be assessed against the award criteria and will not be means tested.
• Applicant responsibility: applicants are responsible for ensuring that the application form is fully completed and that all information provided is accurate.

Successful Applicants

• Notification and claiming process: successful applicants will be notified by email and advised how to claim the funding.
• Receipts required: successful applicants must submit receipts for claimed costs before funding can be released.
• Payment after attendance: funding cannot be paid in advance of attending the development activity.
• Unable to take up an award: applicants who are unable to take up an award should inform the RDRD Team at pds@manchester.ac.uk as soon as possible after receiving notification of the award.
• Claims deadline: all claims must be submitted as soon as possible after the event. Claims submitted more than three months after the event will not be reimbursed.

Further Information

For further information please contact the RDRD Team at pds@manchester.ac.uk.