The intention is to allow AHRC DTP doctoral students to set up and run conferences and symposia, gaining valuable transferable skills in the process. It is expected that successful bids will not be for more than £2,000 per conference.

Bids should be submitted by the lead, AHRC funded doctoral student co-ordinating the conference. We expect at least three AHRC funded doctoral students (including the lead organiser) to take part in organising the event. Before submitting this form, please ensure you have discussed the proposal with your supervisor and that it has been approved by them and your academic Degree Committee Secretary.

The bididng for 2020 is now open. Follow this link to the online application form.

Guidelines for AHRC DTP funding for student-led colloquia, conferences, etc

This funding is provided from the Cohort Development Fund, which is intended to support innovative training and development activities for the wider cohort of AHRC-funded students. The AHRC allows for considerable freedom of action in the use of the CDF, but insists that costs should be reasonable. Activities should be focussed on and give priority to AHRC-funded students (from within or across cohorts), but the AHRC encourages activities to be opened to other postgraduate students as well. The funding is intended to enable student-led and student-focussed events, not to subsidise senior academic research conferences.

Bids should therefore:

• be led by at least three AHRC-funded doctoral students
• list all the student organisers (not just the AHRC-funded students)
• prioritise AHRC DTP students in terms of beneficiaries of the event
• explain the postgraduate focus of the event (e.g. by favouring postgraduate speakers)
• explain how the event promotes AHRC cohort development or training
• provide a properly costed and complete budget for the event
• include details of any other income or source of funding expected or applied for
• include details of any attendance fees

Bids should also take account of the following advice:

• AHRC funding can cover the travel and accommodation expenses of visiting speakers (normally only for keynote or major speakers), but not appearance fees or honoraria
• reasonable travel and accommodation expenses (if any) for postgraduate students may be eligible but must be justified
• proposed bursaries (if any) for persons attending should be explained and justified
• attendance fees, if any, should not discriminate unfairly
• catering costs are eligible for support, but should not be extravagant
• bids do not have to be inter- or cross-disciplinary, though such bids are welcomed
• bids which are intended to be inter- or cross-disciplinary should make this explicit, and the AHRC organisers of such events should represent diverse disciplines
• bids may include elements of wider impact and outreach (welcomed, but not required)

Students intending to bid for this funding are advised to consult the AHRC Doctoral Training Facilitator, Dr Alistair Swiffen (ahrcdtp@admin.cam.ac.uk).

Organisers must submit a report within two weeks of the completion of the event or conference. This report should comprise the final budget or balance sheet, the conference programme, and a paragraph or so summing up what the conference achieved.