Postgraduate Fund

The Postgraduate Fund provides monies for part-time postgraduate studies. Following a deliverance at General Assembly the Forum was able to identify a legacy fund to enable postgraduate funding. This will be managed annually by People & Training Team of Faith Action, with the assessment panel meeting each June.

To apply for 2025 funding, please complete this form by Monday 19th May 2025.

This fund is extremely competitive, please ensure your application is as full and detailed as possible.

Fund Information

Purpose: To enable ministry through part-time postgraduate study.

Fund description: To award grants for part-time postgraduate theological education for those in the recognised ministries of the Church to enable them to study topics which will benefit the work of the Church of Scotland.

Method: Provide funding for tuition fees for part-time postgraduate study including Masters (research and taught) and PhD programmes. Shorter courses may be considered. Only courses undertaken at recognised HE institutions in the UK are considered.

Ministerial Development Conversation

Undertake a Ministerial Development Conversation to full explore your aims and objectives of postgraduate study – book your appointment now by clicking here.

Details

Eligibility

To be eligible for funds you must be serving in a role that is directly supported by Faith Action (stipend or employment contract); locally employed roles can apply as long as they are one of the following roles:

  1. Parish Minister
  2. Assistant Ministers
  3. Presbytery Clerk
  4. Associate Minister
  5. Interim Minister
  6. Transition Minister
  7. Pioneer Minister.

Awards Available

The fund will endeavour to award monies to cover no more than 60% of home tuition fees. Where this is not possible, notification will be sent to applicant with the amount of award available. Written confirmation of acceptance is required should the applicant wish to continue with the application. An invoice from the institution should be sent to Ascend.

Please note: there is a limited amount of funds per financial year.

Study Leave

This fund can work in conjunction with a Study Leave Application. Both require seperate applications and are processed by different board members.

Funds can be combined, i.e. Postgraduate Fund cover fees and Study Leave provide leave-time and possible additional funds.

Note: the Postgraduate Fund does not provide any time away from the parish or funds for pulpit supply or locum cover.

Type of Courses

A range of courses will be considered for funding. The applicant must identify clearly ways in which their studies will have a positive impact for their own ministry and the ministry of the Church of Scotland.

The panel will be interested in a range of subjects including: theology, ethics, biblical studies, leadership, practical theology. This list is not exhaustive and the panel will welcome diverse applications.

The fund will pay for part-time studies only.

Application Dates

The fund considers applications once per year and will only consider applications which a) already have been granted a place and b) for the next start date, i.e. deferred entry will not be considered. Those part-ways through study may apply for fees for the following academic year, i.e. their next year of PhD. This fund gives awards for part-time study.

Application closing date is the 19th May 2025 and successful applicants will be contacted by late June 2025.

 

 

Funding Panel

This Panel contains representatives from 2 academic providers, 2 forum members and a member of Faith Action staff.

Terms & Conditions

  1. To be eligible for funds you must be serving in a role that is directly supported by Faith Action (stipend or employment contract); locally employed roles can apply as long as they are one of the following roles:
    1. Parish Minister
    2. Assistant Ministers
    3. Presbytery Clerk
    4. Associate Minister
    5. Interim Minister
    6. Transition Minister
    7. Pioneer Minister
  2. The fund does not provide any resource for time out of parish; the Fund will not meet the expenses of Pulpit Supply; the successful applicant may use Study Leave for this purpose.
  3. The successful applicant must continue with full responsibility for pastoral and ministerial duties.
  4. An award from this fund (Postgraduate Fund) may be used in conjunction with an award from the Study Leave Scheme (funding and time). Where full tuition fees are not awarded, the applicant can subsidise the remaining balance from Study Leave Scheme. Careful consideration should be given for time required for the duration of the full length of study.
  5. The fees invoice should be sent via email to ascend@churchofscotland.org.uk or via post to Ascend, Faith Action, 121 George Street, Edinburgh, EH2 4YN.
  6. Successful applicants must be will to submit a 1 page annual review document for the duration of the course.
  7. The fund should be notified immediately of any changes to study, e.g. failure to complete; cancelled course, change in Ministerial Registration status etc.
  8. Upon completion of the studies the applicant is required to undertake a Ministerial Development Review (MDC) to enable the next phase of ministerial development. Ministerial Development Conversation – Ascend (churchofscotland.org.uk)
  9. Successful applicants must be willing to write a short report for the use of promotion of the fund. A request for photography may be made by Faith Action for promotional purposes; costs will be met by Ascend.
  10. For those applying with less than 12 months’ service in their current role, a short note should be made in their application to demonstrate their suitability for part-time postgraduate funding.
  11. Any complaints, issues or request for re-consideration should be made to the People & Training Manager, Faith Action.
  12. Complaints regarding the fund should be made to Postgraduate Fund Applications, Faith Action, Church of Scotland, 121 George Street, Edinburgh, EH2 4YN.
  13. Courses must take place in recognised Higher Education institutions in UK.
  14. Monies for fees are only sent to Higher Education Institutions and cannot be paid into personal bank accounts.
  15. The Post Graduate fund can only award funding once per person.