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, please download and complete this form by Monday 20th May 2024 and email it to ascend@churchofscotland.org.uk 

 

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.

Areas of interest

Areas of interest for the fund:

  • Theology
  • Practical Theology
  • Biblical Studies
  • Church History
  • Leadership Development
  • Church Management
  • Mission

Ministerial Development Review

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.

Closing date for 2024 applications is 20th May 2024 and successful applicants will be contacted by late June 2024.

 

 

Funding Panel

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

Applications for 2024 are now open and will close on the 20th May 2024.

Applications for the Postgraduate Fund are available online only. Applications will be assessed in June 2024 for the coming academic year.

Please note: there is a limited amount of funds per financial year. unfortunately we are not able to fund every application we receive.

Please have all the relevant information ready before making an application – currently the application cannot be saved or edited at a later date. When ready – please apply contacting us directly.

Applications received after the closing date will be considered for the 2025 academic year.

 

 

 

Terms & Conditions

  1. To be eligible for funds you must be serving in a role that is directly supported by Faith Nurture (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 Nurture, 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, 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 Nurture 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 Nurture.
  12. Complaints regarding the fund should be made to Postgraduate Fund Applications, Faith Nurture, 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.