Nuffield COVID-19 Studentship Extensions

Eligibility

• DPhil students currently funded by an Oxford scholarship (in partnership with the College).
• Students who started their DPhil degree in October 2020 and whose studentship funding officially ends in September 2022.
• Students who have not received a studentship extension by another funding body (e.g. ESRC).

Criteria for evaluation

Applicants should:

1. 1. Show that their DPhil progress was delayed significantly as a result of the pandemic; reasons for the delay may include (but are not limited to):
      • Reduced access to research facilities including libraries and archives;
      • Inability to undertake essential fieldwork or to adjust the research project to obviate the need for fieldwork;
      • Delays in accessing data/research information due to Covid-19 closures or restrictions;
      • Negative impacts on health (including mental health) and working environment due to changes in living/study arrangements;
      • Health issues following a Covid-19 infection;
      • Reduced capacity to work because of caring responsibilities, or redirection to other work;
      • Specific personal circumstances that prevent students from mitigating the effects of the pandemic on their project (for example, in case of disability or long-term illness, caring responsibilities etc);
      • Travel disruption.
   2. Indicate any steps they have taken or are considering that may mitigate the impact of the pandemic on their DPhil progress; such steps may include, but are not limited to:
      • bringing forward analytical or theoretical work while it was not possible to access research materials, facilities or fieldwork sites,
      • rescoping or redesigning the project, or gaining access to alternative resources.
      • The University does not expect students to make up for lost time by working excessive hours or foregoing leave.
   3. Note if they have applied for and received similar Covid-19 disruption funding from other sources, whether Oxford-based or external.

How to apply

The call for applications opens on 7 MARCH 2022 with a deadline of 6 MAY 2022. Applicants will be asked to complete an online application form providing information on 1. and 2. above. Applicants who have already prepared a disruption log (as per the University guidance in 2020) are welcome to share this as part of their application. Supporting statements by the applicants’ University supervisors are required; these should comment on progress to date and the effect of the pandemic-related disruption. Applicants should ask their supervisors to submit their statements directly to academic.admin@nuffield.ox.ac.uk by 6 MAY 2022.

Application Form

Assessment

A committee comprising of three academic Fellows (one from each subject group) and the Senior Tutor will consider applications and decide on whether an extension is justified.

Notes

1. This scheme follows broadly the terms of the University Covid Scholarship Extensions Fund (CSEF): extensions will be awarded for a period of weeks or months and cover maintenance costs paid at the standard UKRI level (ca. £1,300 per month) for fully-funded students, and pro-rata for those whose scholarship provides a partial living costs award.
2. It is expected that extension requests approved are likely to be for up to six months, although applications for longer extensions may be considered in exceptional cases.
3. Any University Continuation Charges that fall within the period of the extension will also be covered.
4. Students whose funding is part of joint scholarship scheme with the University (e.g. ESRC, Clarendon etc) should note that any extension granted by the College through this scheme affects the college-side of their scholarship only. For example, if a student with a joint Clarendon-Nuffield scholarship is awarded a Nuffield Covid Studentship Extension of 6 months, this does not mean that their Clarendon-side of their scholarship has also been extended (therefore, they may not necessarily have access to any Clarendon-specific benefits during their extension).
5. All eligible students are strongly encouraged to discuss any questions they may have about this scheme and the application process with the Senior Tutor.

 Questions on Application Form

SECTION A: Personal Details

• Name:
• Course/Subject:
• Oxford Scholarship currently held:
• Other research-related funding currently held:
• University Supervisor’s Name:
• Have you applied for any other Covid-related funding to support your DPhil or address Covid-related disruption to your research?
•  (If yes to above) What kind of support have you received (or are expecting to receive)?

SECTION B: Reason(s) for requesting an extension

• Please give details of how your research plans have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, including when and why you were unable to work at full capacity and the amount of time lost (in weeks/months). This could also include disruption to your future plans for access to research materials, facilities, or fieldwork sites. Please feel free to submit your University log of disruption (if you have one) to assist with this section (you will not be disadvantaged if you do not have a log).
• What do you estimate the overall delay to your project (in months, rounded to the nearest half-month) to be, as a direct result of the Covid-19 pandemic after taking into account any academic mitigation put in place?

 SECTION C: Steps taken to mitigate the impact of Covid-19 disruption

• Please outline below any steps you have taken or are considering that may mitigate the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on your research. Such steps may include, but are not limited to: bringing forward analytical or theoretical work while it was not possible to access research materials, facilities or fieldwork sites; rescoping or redesigning the project, or gaining access to alternative resources. Note that students are not expected to make up for lost time by working excessive hours or foregoing leave.
• If you were not able to adapt your project or mitigate the impact of the pandemic for specific reasons, please give details of these - for example if you have a disability or long-term illness, are neurodivergent, or have caring responsibilities.