The number of nominations is subject to a quota. To be considered, prospective PhD students must be selected as candidates by one of the Scottish universities and have their nomination approved before their application pack is submitted to the Trust by their nominator. Applications received without the required institutional approval will not be accepted. A student can only be nominated by one university and multiple nominations for the same student are not permissible.
The Trust also administers the Caledonian PhD Scholarships on behalf of the RSEScotland Foundation (RSESF). Two awards are made each year under the Caledonian Scholarship banner. The Scholarships are awarded and held under identical conditions as the Carnegie Scholarships and are under the charge and control of the Trustees of the RSESF, who retain the power to alter the rules and to change the purpose and destination of the Scholarships.
The Henry Dryerre scholarship which supports students wishing to undertake a PhD in medical or veterinary physiology is offered every three years. The scheme is administered in the same way as the Carnegie/Caledonian scholarships. It will next be offered in 2017.
Eligibility Criteria
Eligibility and Nomination
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A First-Class Honours degree from a Scottish university is a pre-requisite for consideration for Scholarships. Alongside existing graduates, final year undergraduate students expecting to achieve a First-Class Honours degree are also eligible for nomination. In faculties which do not award Honours, e.g. Medicine, the equivalent standard will be expected.
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A student who has already commenced study for a research degree (MPhil, PhD or equivalent) is not eligible.
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The candidate must be nominated by the prospective supervisor of the PhD project and can only be nominated for a Carnegie or Caledonian PhD Scholarship by one university.
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The number of nominations per Scottish university is subject to a quota (announced annually by the Trust). Each university must select its preferred candidates, according to its quota, in sufficient time to permit submission of the completed forms ahead of the Trust’s deadline. The quota for nominations for 2015 is available under the appropriate tab above.
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Completed nomination forms for the selected candidates must be submitted online to the Trust by 28th February, 5:00pm. The awards are announced at the end of May each year. Nomination and Institutional Statement of Support forms are available from the nominated university contact listed in this document.
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As part of the nomination, the prospective supervisor must submit an Institutional Statement of Support Form completed by the relevant Departmental/School: Head, Deputy Head, Research Director, Postgraduate Studies Director or Dean. The form must also include the signature of a university representative who can confirm the nomination is for one of its chosen candidates.
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Nominators and Nominees are under an obligation to inform the Trust without delay of any changes to the circumstances of the Nominee, including any awards received and/or examination results obtained after the nomination has been submitted.
Tenure
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Carnegie/Caledonian Scholarships are awarded for the support of full-time research studies leading to a doctorate at a Scottish university.
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A Scholarship is not tenable in conjunction with a Government-funded Research Studentship, a Research Council award, or any comparable scholarship.
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Scholarships are normally awarded for 36 months (3 years). The tenure period may be extended to a maximum of 42 months, but only when a case for such an extension has been made at the time of nomination and approved by the Trust as part of the award. An extended project duration will require confirmation by the University that the tuition fees for the final 6 month period will be waived (the Trust will pay only the other elements of the scholarship pro-rata).
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Scholars are expected to devote their whole time to the purpose for which the Scholarship was awarded.
Annual Progress Report
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Scholars and Supervisors are required to send, by 15th August of each year of tenure, an annual report to the Trust, using the form that will be emailed to them in advance. The form is composed of Part 1, to be completed by the Scholar, and Part 2, to be completed by the Supervisor. In case of delay, payment of the Scholar’s stipend will be withheld until these reports are received.
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The Trust’s Advisers, experts in the relevant field, will assess the Scholar’s progress on the basis of the reports and will make formal recommendations to the Trust. Unsatisfactory progress may lead to the withdrawal of the Scholarship.
Offered Benefits
Stipend
The annual value of a Scholarship is £15,700 and normally rises in line with awards funded by Research Councils. Payment of the Scholarship stipends will be made monthly, in advance, and will normally start on 1st October in each year.
Tuition fees
In addition, the Trust meets the cost of tuition fees payable by Scholars to their universities and/or colleges up to the RCUK rate of £3,996.
Research expenses and costs
The Trust will help cover special expenses incurred by Scholars in connection with their research, subject to confirmation by their Supervisor (£1000 per year). Eligible costs include small items of equipment, travel, accommodation and subsistence when conducting research or presenting at a conference or workshop.
During their tenure, Scholars are also eligible to apply for a Carnegie Research Incentive Grant. These grants are awarded to cover travel, accommodation, and subsistence expenses encountered for research, field expenses, library visits or consultation, but they cannot be used for attendance at conferences. Please, see the Research Incentive Grants section of this website for more information.
Income from teaching or other bursaries
Scholars may retain, in any one year, up to a maximum of £3,000 derived from bursaries or prizes, and may also retain fees from teaching or demonstrating, up to a maximum of £3,500. All income exceeding £6,500 from these sources taken together will be deducted in full. Income from other sources will be ignored.
