BFWG Charitable Foundation - FOUNDATION GRANTS

Benefit

You will receive a one-off grant of up to about 7,500 EUR (up to GBP 6,500) to cover your living costs for one academic year. The exact amount depends on your financial needs, so not every grant will reach the maximum amount. The money will help with day-to-day costs such as rent, childcare, travel costs and food. It does not cover tuition fees. The grant is provided by ‘Funds for Women Graduates’ (FfWG), a UK-based charity that supports women in the final stages of their PhDs.

Eligibility

• Gender: You are a woman.
• Study phase: You are in the final year of a PhD, DPhil or equivalent research-based or professionally-oriented doctoral programme. Part-time students may apply from their third year onwards.
• Where you study: You are enrolled at a recognised higher education institution in the UK, live there during the funding year and undertake the majority of your studies there.
• Nationality: Applicants of all nationalities are welcome to apply, whether they are from the UK or abroad.
• Age: No age limit.
• Field of study: All topics and areas of research are open.
• Financial need: You can prove that you really need the money and that you will still be able to pay your tuition fees yourself.
• One time only: You have not yet received a grant from the foundation. This grant is awarded only once per person.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted online via the FfWG website. The deadline for applications is 27 March. You must provide the details of two referees (at least one from the academic sector), who will be contacted by email once your application has been submitted. A funding committee will make its decision based on your written application, your stated financial requirements and your references. There will be no interview, and the results will be announced in July.

How realistic are your chances?

The eligibility criteria are narrowly defined: women in the final year of their PhD at a UK university who can demonstrate a genuine financial need. The pool of applicants is therefore smaller than for open scholarships. However, the FfWG expressly points out that it consistently receives more applications than it can fund, meaning that competition remains fierce. What sets applicants apart from others is a clear, well-documented explanation of both their financial hardship and their academic calibre.