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Guidance Notes for Applications for an SHI Foundation Collaborative
Studentship 2008
Eligibility
Eligible departments would be required to demonstrate that they
had appropriate two-semester postgraduate research methods training
courses in place, but these need not be ESRC-recognised. Students
would not be able to hold an ESRC or MRC award and a Foundation
award simultaneously. Unlike ESRC awards, the SHI Foundation awards
would not be restricted to UK or EU citizens, but awards can only
be held for PhD study in UK universities. Although it is hoped
that departments would be encouraged by the scheme to create full-time
studentships, part-time PhD students would be eligible for half-value
awards spread over an appropriate longer time time-period. Only
studentships involving a medical sociological topic will be eligible.
It is not intended to restrict awards to social science departments:
the Foundation is happy to receive applications from medical and
nursing departments. Departments are free to award the Foundation’s
SHI studentship to a student who already has an MSc in research
methods. In such cases, the Foundation will make a 3-year rather
than a 4-year award available.
Procedure
Applications would be made by the would-be supervisor, as in the ESRC Case Award
scheme, using a similar format to that operating for the case submissions. Successful
applicants would then select a suitable student, using their usual 'equal opportunity'
procedures. The Foundation does not wish to take part in the student selection
process, but does wish to be informed about the eventual recipient of the award.
Submission would be made by 31/1/08 for a decision at the end
of February and a student start at the beginning of October 2008.
The Foundation is willing to accept submissions where the applicant
has also submitted a parallel ESRC Case Award application, on
the understanding that, if the ESRC submission is successful,
then the applicant will withdraw their submission to the Foundation.
But the Foundation also expects that there will be some submissions
on important medical sociological topics which no collaborating
agency was interested in supporting, and that there will be some
submissions from departments not eligible for ESRC Case Awards.
The applications will be processed by a panel of three appointed
by the Foundation trustees and subject to periodic replacement;
at least one member of the panel will be a current trustee. Panel
members will not be eligible for awards, but other members of
the panellist's home department will be eligible (such submissions
would be discussed in the absence of the relevant panellist).
For the assistance of applicants, the panelists have used the
following criteria for judging past awards:
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Does the application meet the purposes of the scheme?
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Are the aims and objectives clear?
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Can the research be achieved in the time-scale suggested
and with the resources offered?
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Are the methods clearly specified and appropriate?
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Will the host institution equip the candidate by providing
suitable training in the area chosen?
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Have ethical considerations been addressed?
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Does the would-be supervisor have the appropriate background?
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Is the research environment suitable?
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Is there going to be enough supervision time by an appropriate
person?
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Is there a suitable level of support in the Department?
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