Additional Funding Opportunities
As a student funded by the South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership (SCDTP), you may be eligible to apply for a number of additional funding opportunities to support the development of your research and study skills. These funds are designed to help you engage fully with the academic demands of your PhD, such as through fieldwork, specialist training, or participation in conferences.
While some additional funding streams are available year-round, others have specific application windows or deadlines throughout the year. Please check each additional funding’s details carefully and plan ahead where possible.
Please also note that funding must be spent within your active funding period—this means it cannot be accessed before your official start date, nor after your tuition fee-paying period or thesis submission date (whichever comes first).
Please note that:
- All funding is subject to prior approval by the SCDTP.
- Retrospective claims will not be accepted under any circumstances.
- International travel cannot be funded if the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advises against travel to the destination.
- All students must first discuss their funding plans with their supervisor before applying, to ensure the proposed activity is academically appropriate and aligns with your research.
Supporting research, training, and collaboration beyond the core award
①
Research Training Support Grant (RTSG) 🡥
Supports essential research expenses such as UK fieldwork, conferences, training courses, and small equipment.
②
Enhanced Student Training Fund (ESTF) 🡥
Provides funding for specialist training courses not available through the DTP or host institution.
③
Funds activities that increase the reach and real-world impact of students’ research beyond academia.
④
Overseas Institutional Visit (OIV)🡥
Supports short-term visits to international institutions for collaboration or specialist training.
⑤
Overseas Visit Bursaries (OVB) 🡥
Offers financial support for brief overseas research visits that enhance students’ doctoral work.
⑥
Funds extended fieldwork conducted outside the UK that is essential to students’ research.
⑦
Supports work placements that allow students to apply their research skills in a professional context.
⑧
Interdisciplinary Collaboration Event Fund (ICEF) 🡥
Provides funding to organise events that promote interdisciplinary exchange among researchers.
⑨
Student-led Training Fund (SLTF) 🡥
Enables students to create and deliver training events open to the wider DTP cohort.
⑩
Overseas Conference Fund (OCF) 🡥
Additional support for students who no longer have access to RTSG to present at their first international conference.
Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA)
If you’re an SCDTP-funded student, you may be eligible for the Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA).
This is for students who have a disability, long-term health condition, mental health condition, or specific learning difficulty.
DSA helps cover additional study-related costs such as assistive technology, specialist equipment, or learning support.
How to apply 🡢
University of Brighton
University of Chichester
University of Portsmouth
University of Southampton
To begin the application process, students are advised to contact the Disability Support Team at their registered university. The university’s team will provide guidance on available assistance, assess individual needs, and help coordinate the DSA application.
View the relevant DSA contact details using the linked tab.
General Eligibility for Additional Funding
