Carnegie Undergraduate Vacation Scholarship

he Carnegie Trust was established in 1901 with an aim to provide “funds for improving and extending the opportunities for scientific study and research in the Universities of Scotland”. The Trust is currently one of the largest educational giving charities in Scotland and operates across all academic disciplines, funding student fees, scholarships, bursaries and research grants.

The vacation scholarship scheme can be applied for by students undertaking a degree course at any Scottish University. Applications will be considered from students who have shown exceptional merit and who would like to undertake a programme of independent study or research during the long vacation which is of direct benefit to their academic work.

Deadline

14th February 2025, 5PM

Available to

Undergraduate students who enrolled at a Scottish university, the Glasgow School of Art or the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Approaching their final year of study: year 3 of a 4 year degree, or year 3 or 4 of a 5 year degree On track to achieve a 2:1 or higher Students on intercalated years forming part of a medical degree are also eligible provided they meet the above criteria.  

Eligibility

Applicants must be of any nationality, with the right to live and work in the UK at the time of applying. Students with Limited Leave to Remain, Pre-settled or Settled Status, or a Tier 4 Visa, must be able to prove that they are eligible to work full-time in the UK in the period between May and August.

What is a Vacation Scholarship?

  1. It enables students to gain research experience and skills while undertaking lab work, field work, library or archive visits, interviews, surveys, etc
  2. It aims to encourage students to consider postgraduate studies
  3. It is for new, innovative research projects that would not normally be part of the student’s course
  4. The project must address a specific hypothesis or research question
  5. It may lead to new scientific, academic or intellectual knowledge, a new product, technology, or creative product
  6. It must result in a project poster, provide opportunities to present research findings to others and enable the acquisition or development of specific research skills and/or creative product
  7. The student must design his, or her, own project and write the research proposal
  8. An academic has to provide supervision during the project and advise on the design of the proposal
  9. The scheme provides a weekly stipend based on the Scottish Living Wage

What it isn't

  1. The scholarships can't be used for language study or for participating in summer schools or group expeditions
  2. It does not support work placements or volunteering activities
  3. It can't be part of the student's assessed coursework: e.g. it can't be the same topic as the final year dissertation, although it could address a sub-set of issues or questions that could be expanded into a thesis
  4. It can't be a continuation of an existing project

When

  1. The project can take place any time between May and August
  2. It is full-time, 35 hours a week, for a maximum of 12 weeks and a minimum of 2 weeks (most are typically 6-9 weeks)
  3. The weeks do not necessarily have to be consecutive

Where

  1. The project can be undertaken at the student's institution, a host research organisation, or elsewhere a long as relevant supervision and resources are available
  2. The project can take place anywhere in the world

Applicants should note that proposals will be assesed on;

  • Academic ability
  • Quality
  • Feasibility of the project

Students may be awarded only one Carnegie Vacation Scholarship during their studies.

How to apply

  1. Ask one of your tutors or lecturers if they would be willing to supervise your project and help you with the application
  2. Go to the Trust's website and go through the eligibility questionnaire and - if eligible - follow the link to the online application form

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