Library Travel Bursaries Scheme

FAQs 2013/14

Who can apply?
Undergraduates about to undertake final year projects/dissertations and Taught
Postgraduates may apply.

How much can I apply for?
Bursaries are capped at 200 maximum per student but we encourage you to apply
for exact amounts where possible. You will be required to provide estimated prices in
your application.

What can I use the money for?
The bursaries can be used to pay for travel (and if necessary, accommodation,
though not food), to enable you to visit other libraries and archives. It can also be
used for temporary membership fees for libraries/archives that charge for access.

Can I use it to fund travel for a field trip, conference or seminar?
No. This bursary is to fund travel to enable you to access information resources held
at other locations/institutions, for example, another library or archive. These
resources should be complementary to your final project/dissertation. Its worth
remembering that many libraries offer walk-in access to their electronic resources as
well check the website before you visit for details of whether this is available.

Do I need my tutors/supervisors permission?
You will need a declaration of support from your tutor or supervisor and they will
need to send the finished application form on or before the deadline to the library
email address for applications

When is the deadline for application?
The deadlines in 2013/14 will be 5pm on:
Friday 29th November
Friday 7th March
Friday 6th June

I have missed the deadline, and it wasnt my fault, will you accept my
application?
Unfortunately we will be unable to consider any late submissions. We would
encourage you to submit in good time as entries will be distributed to the assessors
immediately after the closing date.

What happens if my tutor doesnt forward my application in time?
In such a case, your application will then have to be carried over and considered for
the next round of funding.


When will I know if Ive been successful?
The panel sits 3 weeks after the closure date and decisions will be communicated in
writing as soon as possible thereafter.

When do I get the money?
Once youve completed your travel, submit a claim using the Student Expenses
Claim form, available at:

http://www.exeter.ac.uk/finance/operations/forms/

Return the form with your receipts in an envelope marked Travel bursaries to Afzal
Hasan in the Forum Library. Please ensure your bank details are correct on
MyExeter before submitting the form to us. We will process the forms as quickly as
possible after this.

If I fail in my application can I apply again?
Yes, you may resubmit for the next available deadline date.

Im travelling very soon. Can I have a decision before the closing date?
No. You will have to wait for the decision from the panel. It is up to you whether you
risk travelling without knowledge of the outcome. We advise applying well in
advance. You can always apply again in the next round if you are unsuccessful.

Who will decide who gets a bursary?
A panel of library staff will assess all applications, applying a set marking criteria.
Each application will be double marked before being put forward to a group panel.

Will equal numbers of awards be made to the different Colleges?
There is no quota for each College: awards will be made on merit only. However,
there will be a sum ring-fenced each round for students based in Cornwall to make
the trip to Exeter to use the libraries and archives.

I was awarded funding and now I want to apply for another bursary, is this ok?
Bursaries are limited to one per student, per year, so if you have several trips you
wish to fund in one year, make the case for all the trips in your first application as
you will not be eligible to apply again.

Can I apply to fund a set of trips, for example, I wish to visit an archive several
times over the course of a month, can I apply for the total funding for this all at
once?
Yes. Please detail in your application how many trips you think you will need and
apply all in one go. Bursaries can be refunded to you as expenses after each trip up
to the total amount awarded.

I have been awarded a bursary but my visit plans have changed. Can I transfer
the funding to another visit?
If you have just postponed your visit, you may make your visit at a later date. If the
postponement is likely to be for more than 6 months, please contact us. If you wish
to change your visit destination, please bear in mind that your bursary has been
awarded on the basis of the benefits of a particular visit to you and your course of
study, as well as other quality criteria. Therefore there would need to be a new
assessment of the benefits of the new visit. Each such case will be assessed on
these merits by the Library Liaison Manager, and consequently you may or may not
have to submit an entirely new application. If you have not contacted us or claimed
your bursary reward within 6 months of the offer of funding, the offer will lapse and
you will need to reapply if you wish to be considered again.

How do I submit my application?
You should submit your application in electronic format via your tutor/supervisor.
They will need to complete the declaration on the form and email the application
from their university email address to us at libraryhelp@exeter.ac.uk. You do not
need to scan the form: simply email the form to your tutor/supervisor, asking them to
add their name to the form, then they should email the complete form on to us.