Student Grant Scheme

THE 2025 STUDENT GRANT SCHEME IS NOW CLOSED. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS APPLIED. 

Are you keen to learn more about animal welfare and develop your research skills? Do you have an idea for a short research project that could have a practical impact on animal welfare?  AWF is offering funding for undergraduate students to carry out animal welfare research projects during 2025.  Projects can be on any topic or species and must have a clear focus on animal welfare

 

ASSESSMENT

Greater weighting will be given to projects which help develop the student’s understanding of research and animal welfare – Read our definition of animal welfare

We are looking for projects on current animal welfare issues, particularly those that are likely to be relevant to the veterinary profession.  It may be helpful to read the results of our Delphi research project on animal welfare priority issues of managed animals in the UK, as well as the BVA’s priority animal welfare problems.

Applications with a convincing and coherent intent and sound methodology are more likely to be successful. We will also be looking for clear and achievable plans for dissemination of the project’s results.

RESOURCES

FAQS

Past student projects

(To see past awarded student grants only, please filter by ” Fund” and then “Student Grant”)

Q&As with our student researchers

Watch students presenting at the AWF Discussion Forum

Common mistakes when applying

  1. “I feel proud of my research and what this project represents - support for the younger generations to make a difference with research.”

    Abigail Liston, University of Surrey, 'Welfare study using the AWAG to Measure Quality of Life of Breeding macaques'
  2. “I thoroughly enjoyed my experience undertaking this project. Not only did I gain so much valuable experience and skills from this project, but I have discovered a passion for research. ”

    Victoria McCulloch, University of Edinburgh, 'Public perception and poultry production'.
  3. “This project has been an invaluable experience which has improved many of my previous skills and taught me new life skills which will benefit me greatly in my future veterinary career. ”

    Mollie Rudd, University of Liverpool, 'Understanding the role of hormones associated with parturition in the development of lameness in dairy cattle'.

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News

  1. Animal Welfare Foundation launches joint funding with BSAVA PetSavers

    We’ve partnered with BSAVA PetSavers to jointly fund a Master’s Degree by Research in animal welfare. The grant will offer up to £42,000 to cover a postgraduate student stipend at […]
  2. Meet our researcher: Lesley Jessiman

      Lesley Jessiman is a psychologist working with the animal behaviour and welfare team at Scotland Rural University College (SRUC). She is working with Dr Emma Baxter on the AWF-funded […]
  3. Beyond the Box: Animal welfare in pig and poultry confinement systems – Session summary

    On Thursday, 14th November, the AWF hosted an engaging and thought-provoking session at the London Vet Show, exploring the impacts of confinement systems on animal welfare while addressing broader societal, […]
  4. Meet our researcher: Dr Lindsay Henderson

    Dr Lindsay Henderson is a researcher at The Roslin Institute, specialising in avian behaviour, physiology, and welfare. She also serves as the Academic Liaison for the National Avian Research Facility […]
  5. Meet our researchers: Niamh Mahon and Beth Clark

    Niamh Mahon is an environmental social scientist, with an interdisciplinary background, working in the Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences (SEGS) group at the James Hutton Institute. Beth Clark is Lecturer […]
  6. Student to Entrepreneur: Jillian Gordon’s AWF Student Grant Journey 

    In 2018, University of Edinburgh student Jillian Gordon received an AWF student grant to investigate the relationship between dairy cattle grimace expressions and post-mortem dental health. Her project uncovered alarming […]
  7. Meet our student researchers: Chloe Crichton Feddo

    Chloë Crichton is a third-year student in Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of Bristol. She received an AWF student grant for a research project Investigating the cross-species emotional contagion […]
  8. Meet our student researchers: Skye Kenny

    Skye Kenny just graduated from Edinburgh Napier University with a BSc (Hons) in Animal and Conservation Biology. As a nature lover and passionate of all things equine, Skye chose to […]
  9. Meet our researchers: Mary Baxter and Niamh O’Connell

    Mary Baxter is a post-doctoral researcher at Queen’s University Belfast, working in poultry behaviour and welfare. Niamh Elizabeth O’Connell is Professor of Animal Behaviour and Welfare at the School of […]
  10. How you can make a difference while you study through an AWF student grant – Kathryn Owen

    This article was published in Vet Record Careers on 24th September 2022. Read here. I am proud to say that 20 years later than I originally planned, in July 2022, […]