Frequently asked questions

Where do the funds come from?

The funds come from donors who have opted to support the Chancellor's Fund, together with some unrestricted donations to the University which are not earmarked for specific appeals. This enables the University to direct the funds to areas where they can have a significant effect.

What is the most common amount awarded?

The average award over the last four years has been approximately £6,000. However, awards are fully dependent on the amount available for disbursement and on the number of applications received in the current round.   At the April 2013 meeting of the Advisory Board, 32 applications were considered totalling £325,000 but the amount available for disbursement was £110,000.

What kind of projects has it supported?

A wide range of projects has been supported, recent examples include -

• a public poster exhibition prepared by History honours students - £300
• an extra-curricular student-centred creative practise and professional development fund within the School of Culture and Creative Arts - £7,500
• financial support for undergraduates who wish to participate in the Student Exchange Programme - £10,000
• support for the publishing of ‘Groundings Journal’ which publishes undergraduate academic work in the College of Arts and Social Sciences - £1,500
• a joint application between the School of Psychology and Careers Service to develop an online interview training system - £5,900
• a scale model of a cloud computing data centre allowing hands-on experimentation for teaching and research - £9,000

Click here for further examples of recent awards. 

Please note that the Chancellor’s Fund does not fund any items or projects which a School/Institute or Service should cover in its normal activities and budget.

How often does the Chancellor’s Fund Advisory Board meet to consider applications?

The Advisory Board meet twice a year, normally in April and October to consider the applications in the current round. Applications close approximately four weeks before this date.  All applicants must wait one year before re-applying.

How many applications can a School send in to the Chancellor’s Fund?

A School or Institute may submit more than one application but if they do so, the Head of School or College will be asked to prioritise applications. This does not mean that only one application will be funded.

Can I apply for funding for research projects?

The Chancellor’s Fund does not usually award funds for research projects.  In exceptional circumstances it may provide very limited money to pump-prime some research that falls outwith normal College funding. Applicants would have to display good reason why other more conventional sources of research income were not available.

If you are a member of staff working in one of the MVLS research institutes and are undertaking research into human disease processes, diagnostics, prevention or treatment you should enquire about applying to the Medical Fund under one of the themes listed here: www.gla.ac.uk/about/givingtoglasgow/medicalfund. 

If you would like to discuss this in more detail please contact Rachel Evans, Medical Fund Officer, on 0141 330 3878 or Rachel.Evans@glasgow.ac.uk

What about field trips?

Although it has done so in the past, the Chancellor’s Fund does not award any funds for field trips.

My project is connected to Learning and Teaching – what should I do?

You should ask the Vice-Principal of Learning & Teaching to endorse your application (on page 2 of the application form).  This is to ensure that the application is in harmony with the Learning & Teaching strategy and that something similar is not being done elsewhere in the University.

At what point in my funding quest should I apply to the Chancellor’s Fund?

The Advisory Board members tend to look more favourably upon applications where all other sources of funding have been exhausted and the bid is to close a gap in funding. However, the Chancellor’s Fund will also pump-prime a project or provide support for projects that are difficult to fund from other sources.

Why did the Chancellor’s Fund only support part of my project?

A contribution may be made to your project dependent upon the size of the bid, funds available for disbursement and the view of the Advisory Board members on the likelihood of the remainder of the funding being secured from other sources.  In some cases part funding is given on the condition that the College/school matches the funding.

Can I speak to somebody about my application ahead of submitting it?

Yes, a member of the Development Office team would be delighted to discuss your draft application at any stage.  Please call 0141 330 4951 or email Susanne.Hill@glasgow.ac.uk or Barrie.Bryson@glasgow.ac.uk.