The Stapley Trust - The Stapley Trust

The Stapley Trust grant

You will receive a annual grant of about EUR 1,260 (approximately £650 to £1,500) for one academic year. This will cover your tuition fees and living costs. You must reapply each year: full-time students can receive up to a total of 3 grants, and part-time students up to 6. The funding comes from the Sir Richard Stapley Educational Trust, a UK charity founded in 1919. It supports postgraduate and second-degree students who demonstrate good academic performance but are unable to finance their studies entirely themselves.

Who can apply

• Degree so far: You hold a British bachelor’s degree at ‘First Class’ or ‘Upper Second Class’ level (2:1) – or are well on the way to obtaining one – as well as a Master’s or PhD degree, or equivalent professional experience.
• What you study: A Master’s, PhD or MPhil degree, a postgraduate certificate or diploma, or a second Bachelor’s degree (often in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, architecture or engineering). The subject of study is irrelevant.
• Where you study: At a British university or a similar British institution. Overseas branches and distance learning programmes based outside the UK do not count.
• Where you live: You live in the UK and intend to remain there for the duration of the course. Applicants of any nationality may apply, provided this requirement is met.
• Course length: Your academic year begins in the funding year and lasts for at least 8 months.
• Financial need: There is a funding shortfall for the year for which you are submitting the application.
• Degree from abroad: If you obtained your degree outside the United Kingdom and have not yet received any funding, your UK higher education institution must confirm that it is equivalent to a UK ‘First Class’ degree, 2:1, a Master’s degree or a PhD.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted via the online form on the Foundation’s website. The application period runs once a year for exactly 24 hours and begins on 5 January at 10 am. There will be no interview; the decision will be made solely on the basis of your application.

How realistic are your chances?

In the last round, over 900 applications were received within the short timeframe of 24 hours, and as funding is limited, competition is fierce. Your best chance of success is a clear, well-documented application: outstanding academic achievements combined with a specific funding shortfall. Have everything ready before the form goes live, as late applications will not be accepted once the 24 hours have elapsed.