AMBS

How will I receive my maintenance stipend from my internally funded, ESRC or AHRC award?

Maintenance awards are paid directly into your bank account via Campus Solutions. Most awards are paid monthly. You must ensure you have input your UK bank account to your record. You do this by going into your MyManchester, choosing the funding portal and selecting the ‘Bank Account Details’ link.

• Guidance on adding your details so you can receive maintenance awards

You can view your maintenance award when you log onto self-service, choose campus finances then financial aid. When you log onto this service if you see a button to put on your bank account details please do so as this means that the University does not have these details on your record.

When you log on, if you cannot see your maintenance stipend or if it has not been set up as you expected, you need to let the funding team know as soon as possible on HUMS.doctoralacademy.funding@manchester.ac.uk so that we can sort this out for you. 

Please note that payment of maintenance awards will automatically stop if you have not fully completed registration. Most maintenance awards also stop during periods of approved interruption.

You can find the award payment dates on Student Support website.

• Student Support award payment dates

I have not received my maintenance payment, what should I do?

You should contact the Student Funding Team in the Student Services Centre in the first instance.

• Student Funding Team

Early thesis submission

For students receiving funding administered/funded by The University of Manchester, please note that funding terminates at the point of thesis submission. Students receiving funding from external bodies should refer to their funder.

Fieldwork Bursaries are not offered by AMBS. 

However, for PGRs funded by Research Councils and other external funding providers, you will often have a separate support grant that should be accessed in the first instance:

• ESRC-funded PGRs

ESRC-funded PGRs eligible to apply for Research Training Support Grant (RTSG) and other financial support including Overseas Fieldwork Funding (OFF) and Overseas Institutional Visit (OIV). Please refer to NWSSDTP website.

• AHRC-funded PGRs

For AHRC NWCDTP-funded students, funding to help with skills training, placements, attending events, conferences, or going on fieldwork is available by application. Please refer to the NWCDTP website: NWCDTP funding for current students

Exceptional Funding 

PGRs are also advised to coordinate with their supervisors at the start of their programme on how best to use the RTSG allowance. If, however, your RTSG allowance has depleted, you can apply for the Exceptional Funding grant for additional funds.

These awards are restricted to a maximum of £800 per year per application and are only awarded in exceptional circumstances.

If you need to apply for the Exceptional Funding grant, please contact HUMS.DoctoralAcademy.Funding@manchester.ac.uk in the first instance to obtain the separate form.

Key Travel Process 

Key Travel is a specialised procurement system the University of Manchester uses to make academic transportation and lodging arrangements much more efficient and easy to arrange. Your profile details, which you only need to input once, will be imperative to any University-funded travel arrangements you need to make during the rest of your time at The University of Manchester.

As a doctoral PGR with scope for conferences and fieldwork, we ask that you now please register with Key Travel by following the information below.

Step 1: Create a login

• Go to the Key Travel website select ‘New online user’ and enter your university email address and click 'Request new password'.
• Email Key Travel as soon as possible with your user ID should you have any technical difficulty procuring your login.

Step 2: Create a traveller profile

• Select 'Create your own profile'
• Refer to the Key Travel webinar if you are unsure of any details required to create your profile.
• Please note that the fields relating to 'Redress number' and 'known traveller' relate only to specific travellers to the USA.
• Please be aware that your preferences, for example, which direction you may prefer to sit on a train, may not be taken into account by all suppliers.
• Profiles can be viewed and edited by the authorised person(s) only. For example, arrangers will not be able to view your personal information.
• All profile data is encrypted and stored as per the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR). Information is only used for the purpose of each trip.

All the PG Researchers are activated on Key Travel with Standard access (look not book) and can follow the steps in the attached Getting started with key travel.

After you have created your profile, you are now ready to proceed with a booking once your funding is approved and secured.

Instructions to book

1. View travel options (flights, hotel, and rail)
2. Select your preferred travel options and add to basket
3. View Basket
4. Share Quote - Once you’re happy to proceed with your selected options, send quote to pgr-operations-ambs@manchester.ac.uk by sharing the quote details. If you need further help, please refer to the full documentation.

NB: Please note, you should obtain approval from the PGR Research and Training Support Grant (RTSG) application process before proceeding with a Key Travel booking.

Please contact Key Travel directly on 0161 819 9797 for price matches if a cheaper quote is available on a different site.

You may be able to claim expenses from the PGR Support Awards fund. You should consult the information provided on PGR Support Awards and make an application if appropriate. However, please note that students are encouraged to apply for a PGR Support Award in advance wherever possible.

We cannot guarantee that an application for a PGR Support Award can be granted, so if you decided to pay for a conference and later submit a PGR Support Award application, this is at your own risk.

If you are granted a PGR Support Award and you need to claim back expenses, you need to submit a completed copy of the form below, along with all original receipts (photocopies or scanned copies cannot be accepted).

Completed forms and receipts should be submitted to the Doctoral Academy, CG6 Ground Floor, Ellen Wilkinson Building or by email at Hums.doctoralacademy.funding@manchester.ac.uk.

• PR7 Non-Staff Expenses Claim Form

EPSRC DTP-funded students

For EPSRC DTP-funded students, your research training support grant allocation is indicated in the award letter. To make expense claims from your allocation, please contact your Department administrator in the first instance.

The AMBS Doctoral Research Support Allowance (DRSA) is available to all AMBS PGR students (excepting those funded by Research Councils & other external funders) for academic-related expenditure. 

Eligible costs include:

• Flights and rail travel costs
• Accommodation
• Fees & membership cost for conferences and symposiums
• Attendance at summer schools or advanced research training courses
• Fieldwork costs for travel, accommodation, materials and other resources
• Data collection
• Visa costs related to research activities
• Equipment and resources relevant to your research.

Please note, this fund is not normally granted for subsistence costs.

All AMBS PGR students are allocated a total of £3000 throughout your programme of study. It is your responsibility to track the amount remaining in your DRSA, but if you are unsure you can email HUMS.DoctoralAcademy.Funding@manchester.ac.uk to check your current balance.

How to apply

Fill out this online application form to access your DRSA allowance:

• PGR Research and Training Support Grant Proforma

Completing this form may require the following material:

• Supporting statement from your supervisor
• Travel risk assessment (if applicable – see below for links to risk assessments)
• Invoice and costings if requesting a procurement of goods
• Information about suppliers if requesting a procurement of services

All PGRs taking fieldwork leave must also complete the Research fieldwork application form.

Review process

All uses of the DRSA will be considered by the budget holder and the PGR Director for approval. If your application is granted, all flight and accommodation bookings must be made via Key Travel, the University’s travel procurement partner (see drop-down menu below for further guidance). Exceptions can be made if certain accommodations are unavailable via Key Travel.

If your application contains a procurement (a purchase of goods or services) please ensure you have fully costed the purchase and, if applicable, obtained an invoice before proceeding with the application. For more information on the procurement process, contact pgr-operations-ambs@manchester.ac.uk.

The AMBS DRSA is managed by the Doctoral Academy Funding Team. For further information and guidance, contact HUMS.DoctoralAcademy.Funding@manchester.ac.uk in the first instance.

If you have depleted your DRSA and require further funds for essential research purposes, you may be eligible for the Exceptional Funding scheme. See ‘Other funding opportunities’ below for further information.

Travel risk assessment

• Travel Risk Assessment Flow Chart
• Risk Assessment for Short-Term Business Travel (e.g. Conferences) in the UK
• Risk Assessment for Fieldwork Travel in the UK
• Risk Assessment for Short-Term Business Travel (e.g. Conferences) Overseas – Low/Moderate Risk Countries
• Risk Assessment for Fieldwork Travel Overseas – Low/Moderate-Risk Countries
• Risk Assessment for Business and/or Fieldwork Travel in High-Risk Countries

Sustainable travel

The university is committed to sustainable travel, where possible. There is a Sustainable Travel Top-Up Fund available via a separate application form. If your travel costs are more expensive due to selecting a journey with lower carbon emissions, you can apply for this top-up via the Sustainable Travel online form.

NB: If your application for the Sustainable Travel Top Up Fund is accepted, please inform the DA via hums.doctoralacademy.funding@manchester.ac.uk as the Top-Up Fund is not currently managed by the DA Funding Team.

Travel insurance

The University travel policy provides cover for students travelling on business such as fieldwork, conferences etc. and for any travel that is a compulsory element of a university award-bearing degree programme of study. For other travel, you should arrange your own insurance cover. For more information, please see the Insurance Office website.

• Travel insurance 

Liability cover

The University also has other insurance policies in place for protection in relation to public liability. Please see further information and contact the Insurance Office if you have queries.

• Insurance office 

AHRC and ESRC funded PGRs

NWCDTP and NWSSDTP-funded PGRs are eligible for funding to support their research as outlined in the studentship offer letter. This includes Research Training Support Grant (RTSG), Overseas Fieldwork Funding (OSFW), Internships, Overseas Institutional Visits (OIV) and Fieldwork and Conference Fund, subject to eligibility. They must therefore apply for such support from NWCDTP or NWSSDTP rather than from the School.

• AHRC NWCDTP
• ESRC NWSSDTP

Further information including funding guides and contact details can be found on the Faculty of Humanities intranet:

• Faculty of Humanities intranet

Research council funded students should direct their queries to their School doctoral programme office in the first instance. 

ESRC NWSSDTP and AHRC NWCDTP doctoral studentships

PGRs in the first year of their doctoral degree may apply for ESRC North West Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership studentship or AHRC North West Consortium Doctoral Training Partnership to fund their second and third years, subject to eligibility.

To find out about the details of the studentships, eligibility criteria and how to apply please visit:

• ESRC North West Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership
• AHRC North West Consortium Doctoral Training Partnership

AMBS Exceptional Support Funding Applications

The Alliance Manchester Business School believes it is important to support the development of postgraduate researchers (PGRs) and recognise their ongoing achievements. The Exceptional Fund Application is intended for use by PGR students who have exhausted their Doctoral Research Support Allowance (DRSA) but require further funding support for attending conferences, expanding fieldwork or completing essential training. PGRs should endeavour to remain within the budget of their DRSAs, however exceptional additional costs can be considered via this funding competition.

Exceptional funding will only be awarded to applicants who can demonstrate a clear and significant need for the funds. This may include:

• Presentation at a conference, symposium or training course of key significance to a PGR’s final stages of research and/or career development
• Contribution to the costs of fieldwork where costs have exceeded the original fieldwork budget due to unforeseen circumstances
• Contribution to the costs of data collection where the acquisition of data is central to the success of the PGRs thesis
• Assistance with costs relating to a PGR’s research endeavours that arose due to unforeseen circumstances

Normally, a maximum of £1,000 will be awarded on the Exceptional Funding scheme in support of the activities noted above. PGRs can apply multiple times to this award until the maximum of £1,000 is reached. Approval of the use of the fund is at the discretion of the PGR Director and will only be awarded to those who can clearly indicate the need for the award. 

Applications for amounts exceeding £1,000 can be made, particularly in relation to costs associated with data collection, however clear and comprehensive justification must be provided and the final decision rests with the budget holder. Due to budget limitations, it may not be possible to support all applications for Exceptional Funding.

• Exceptional Funding Application Form

UK Doctoral Loan

If you’re coming to Manchester this year to begin or continue postgraduate doctoral research, you could qualify for a loan from the UK government.

Please see the eligibility criteria and how to apply on the website below.

• Postgraduate loans for doctoral students