Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q. Can I submit my application electronically?
A. Yes - we only accept online applications.
Q. What should I include in my personal statement?
A. Your personal statement is an essential part of the application, but should be no more than 500 words. It should explain your reasons for seeking a grant from the Trust and why you have chosen the course of study in question. It should tell us how long the course will last, whether you have been accepted on to it, the institution in which it is located, and what you hope to gain from it.
Q. How many references do I need and who should supply them?
A. Two references are required. Wherever possible, both references should be from an academic or professional source. References may not be from a family member. Applicants are requested to contact their referees and ask them to submit a reference to the email address supplied in the application form.
Q. Who is eligible to apply?
A. Applicants should be women who have been educated in the UK at secondary or tertiary level, or both, and who wish to pursue further training, education or research in the UK at any appropriate educational establishment. Applicants do not need to have been born in the UK.
Q. What costs can I apply for?
A. Applications will be considered for funding to support a course of study or to support completion of a project, as well as for course fees (in part or whole). For example, funding can be requested for childcare so that a student may complete a course of study, or for travel within the UK for research on a project. Funding is not normally available for undergraduate degrees, PGCEs, legal practice courses, NHS career progression, counselling courses, writing-up time for a PhD, travel outside the UK or attendance at conferences. Please note that it is rare for the Trust to award funding for a postgraduate degree immediately following an undergraduate degree or for a second Master's degree.
Q. How much money can I apply for?
A. Grants between £250 and £1500 are awarded. You may apply for any sum between or including these two figures. The Trust reserves the right to award more or less than the sum applied for.
Q. Can I apply for funding more than once?
A. Yes. The Trust is willing to consider supporting an applicant for more than one year of a programme of education, provided that evidence of satisfactory progress for the previous year(s) for which a grant has been awarded is supplied with the subsequent application. This should be in the form of a brief report from a tutor confirming attendance and an appropriate level of achievement, or a transcript of grades achieved if this is available at the time of application.
Q. How much financial information do I need to submit?
A. You must supply details of income and expected expenditure with your application. You may round figures up to the nearest pound. Full details of your financial circumstances, as well as a budget including expected income, outgoings and any deficit, should be included. Your budget should be viable; a large shortfall requires an explanation. Incomplete financial information may result in an application not being considered for funding.
Q. How will I be notified of the result of my application?
A. If you are successful in your application you will be notified in late July. If you have not heard from the Trust by the end of July, you should assume that your application was unsuccessful. Please note that we are not in a position to give feedback and that the decisions of the Trust are final. Your award is conditional on your acceptance on the course to which your application refers. Funds will not be disbursed unless this confirmation has been received.
Q. If I have special circumstances I wish to be taken into account, how should I include this information?
A. There is a section on the application form for other information you wish to be considered. Information about medical conditions should be supported by an email from your doctor to the address supplied in the application form.
Q. What should I do if I do not take up my place on the course I have applied for?
A. If your application has been successful but you do not take up your place, you should return your award to the Reid Trust. Grants cannot be deferred from one year to another. You can however re-apply in a future round of applications. Your application will be judged accordingly; its success in the second round cannot be guaranteed.
Q. What should I do if I am successful with another grant application, such as a British Academy, AHRC, or ESRC award?
A. If awarded a grant from a body such as the British Academy, AHRC or ESRC which pays your fees in full and awards living expenses, you should return your award to the Reid Trust. If you are awarded a grant that only partially supports your studies (for example, it pays fees but not living expenses), then the Reid Trust grant may be used to contribute towards your other course-related expenses.
Q. How do I report on my progress at the end of the award?
A. A brief report should be emailed to the Trust detailing what has been achieved. This may be, for example, that you have successfully passed your first-year assessments and will be progressing to the second year of a degree programme, or that you have gained a certificate or diploma at the end of your course of study.
Q. Can you confirm that my application arrived on time?
A. After submission of your application, you will receive automatic confirmation that it has arrived safely. However, it is your responsibility to ensure that your application and the supporting references are submitted before the current deadline of Friday 26 May 2023. Please note that applications and references submitted after this deadline will not be taken into consideration.
Q. Can I submit a late application?
A. No – we are a small trust, and we only consider applications that reach us by our deadline.
