Information for ESRC award holders

Renewal letters for the 2008/09 session will be posted around mid-August. If you are intending to go on any fieldwork during the coming academic year please inform Rose Harris p.harris@lse.ac.uk

Postgraduate Funding Guide

For the full terms and conditions of your award and allowances, please refer to Sections 6 to 10 of the ESRC's Postgraduate Funding Guide.

Postgraduate Funding Guide

ESRC related payments are now being administered by Rose Harris in the Financial Support Office in accordance with guidance issued to all higher education institutions who have ESRC sponsored students.

Maintenance stipend

The maintenance stipend is intended to cover all normal living expenses.

Recent changes in the administration of ESRC awards mean that the LSE Financial Support Office is now responsible for dispensing maintenance stipends.

You will receive your maintenance stipend in three equal instalments in the form of a cheque. Cheques will be avaliable for collection from the Student Services Centre. Cheques should be available for collection at the beginning of each term. For 2008/09 the first cheque should be ready for collection in the week beginning 29 September 2008. The second cheque should be ready for collection by 12 January 2009 and the final cheque should be ready for collection by 27 April 2009. 

If you have been given a fees only award you will not be eligible for a maintenance stipend.

Additional allowances

Overseas Fieldwork Expenses

If you are on a full time programme, on the +3 element of your award, and intend to go on field work, you can apply for this additional funding. This can be applied for only once during the period of your ESRC award, but is not available if you are on a fees only award. To apply, please complete the form below and submit it along with a copy of your original research proposal to Rose Harris in the Financial Support Office.

Overseas Fieldwork Form (EOF)

Overseas Institutional Visits

If you intend to visit an overseas institution, and are on the +3 element of your award, you are eligible to apply for up to a 3 month paid extension to your award. Fees only students will be entitled to additional time only. Only one visit can be authorised during the period of your award and no retrospective claims can be considered. To apply, please complete the form below and submit it to Rose Harris in the Financial Support Office.

Overseas Institutional Visits Form (OUV1)

Difficult Language Training

If your research requires you to to acquire or develop a working ability with a difficult language in order to carry out fieldwork or other parts of your research, you may be eligible for additional support. To apply, please complete the form below and submit it to Rose Harris in the Financial Support Office

Difficult Language Training Form (EDL)

Research Training Support Grant

During the +3 element of your award, you will be eligible for a combined Research Training Support Grant (RTSG) and UK Fieldwork Allowance. This also applies to part-time and fees only award holders. Further information about this can be found in Section 6 of the Postgraduate Funding Guide.

If you want to apply for a RTSG, you should contact the Department Manager of your academic department.

Disabled Students Allowance

If you suffer from a health condition which affects your ability to work at a normal pace throughout your research, please contact the LSE Disability Office as you may be eligible for additional funding.

Changes to your study

Changing your supervisor

If you intend to change your supervisor, you should notify the LSE Research Degrees Unit in writing.

Maternity leave

If you become pregnant during the period of your ESRC award, the ESRC will allow up to six months paid maternity leave without the level of your award being reduced. Further details can be found in Section 7.5 of the Postgraduate Funding Guide.

You will need to complete the form below and submit it to the Financial Support Office.

Application form for maternity leave (Word)

Paternity leave

New fathers will be allowed to take a period of unpaid leave at the birth of a new child, up to a maximum of 13 weeks. This leave can be taken at any time within 12 months of the birth of the child, providing it is taken within the period of your ESRC award. This has to be taken as a suspension of your award. Only one suspension period per child can be agreed.

You need to contact the LSE Research Degrees Unit to confirm details about this. Please also inform Rose Harris in the Financial Support Office.

Mode of attendance

You should contact the LSE Research Degrees Unit regarding any changes to your mode of attendance such as interruptions to your study, changing between part time and full time study, and taking Leave of Absence.

Transferring your research

If you wish to transfer your research to a different institution you will need to request prior approval from the ESRC via Rose Harris in the Financial Support Office. Further details about how to do this can be found in Section 8 of the Postgraduate Funding Guide. Please can you contact the LSE Research Degrees Unit to confirm details about this.

Government placements

If you wish to take up a government placement you will need to request prior approval from the ESRC. Further details about how to do this can be found in Section 7 of the Postgraduate Funding Guide. Please can you contact the LSE Research Degrees Unit to confirm details about this.

ESRC Surgeries 2008/09 academic session

We will be offering a couple of Surgery sessions for ESRC award holders and staff with ESRC students at the beginning of the 2008/09 academic session, where you will be able to speak to a member of staff from the Financial Support Office.  No appointment will be necessary, but we recommend that you arrive at least 30 minutes before the end of the surgery to ensure your enquiry can be dealt with. The dates for the Surgeries will be posted here in due course and all relevant departments will be notified.

Transferring your Research

If you wish to transfer your research to a different institution you will need to request prior approval from the ESRC via Rose Harris in the Financial Support Office.  Further details regarding this can be found in section 8.1 of the Postgraduate Funding Guide.

Please note that ESRC Quota Awards belong to the institution and cannot be transferred to another institution.  ESRC Open (Competition) Awards belong to the student and can usually be transferred to another institution with ESRC approval and the agreement of both institutions.

ESRC Thesis Submission Dates

Students holding 1+3 awards should submit within 5 years of commencing the '1' (or 4 years from the commencement of the +3).  Students holding +3 awards must submit within 4 years of the commencement of their award.

Part-time students holding +3 awards must submit within 7 years.  Students holding part-time 1+3 studentships will be required to submit within 9 years.

As such students who have a fixed period at full-time - whatever the length - retain their 7 or 9 year submission date, depending on the status of the award.

All students should though aim to submit by the end of their funded period.  Please see section 9.9 of the Postgraduate Funding Guide.

Extending your submission deadline

If you wish to extend your submission deadline you will need to request prior approval from the ESRC. Further details about how to do this can be found in Section 9 of the Postgraduate Funding Guide. Please can you contact the LSE Research Degrees Unit to confirm details about this.

Renewal of Awards

Please can you ensure that your Annual Progress Report form is returned to the LSE Research Degree Unit before the middle of August to ensure that your renewal for the 2007/08 session can be processed.

Last updated: 31 July 2008

^