1. The Animal Welfare Foundation
  2. Student Grant Scheme

AWF student grant scheme

Are you keen to learn more about the field of 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? 

Apply soon for a unique opportunity to conduct a short research project, with the chance to present your work at our prestigious Discussion Forum.

Application deadline: midnight, Monday 31st January 2022

Who can apply?

Who can apply?

The scheme is open to undergraduates studying veterinary and animal welfare degrees, but students from other disciplines are also welcome to apply if their project is within scope.

Scope of research project

Scope of research project

We will fund projects on animal welfare topics that are relevant to the veterinary profession and help develop your skills as a reseacher. This year we are also accepting projects which are carried out alongside EMS, as long as they are supervised.

What will the grant cover?

What will the grant cover?

The grants are for intra or extra-curricular projects. We will cover the costs of the project but not overhead costs. Students can claim a stipend for extra-curricular projects.

How do I apply?

How do I apply?

Please make sure that you can fulfil all the grant requirements before applying. You can find our application guidelines and terms & conditions in the documents below. Send your application to enquiries@animalwelfarefoundation.org.uk

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.

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.

A full list of grant requirements can be found on pages 1 and 2 of the Application Form.

Ready to make your application?

Please review our guidelines in the Application Form and check our Terms and Conditions before making your application.

Student Grant Application Form

AWF Terms and Conditions

Return your application form by midnight on Monday 31st January 2022 to enquiries@animalwelfarefoundation.org.uk

  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 have a deep interest in animal welfare and this grant allowed me the opportunity to pursue research on a topic that is important to me.”

    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. Eddie Clutton on the topic of overtreatment

    We’ve been speaking to Eddie Clutton, who is speaking in our Innovation and Overtreatment session at this year’s Discussion Forum. Eddie Clutton is an expert in the field of veterinary anaesthesia and will be debating the motion “Uncontrolled treatment innovations are detrimental to welfare” with Karen Humm. Eddie sees overtreatment as a huge problem, which […]
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  2. Project in a pandemic: what an AWF student grant taught me about research

    The Covid-19 pandemic has changed our lives in many ways, both personally and professionally. Normal routines had to be adapted, and pre-pandemic plans changed. For our 2020 student grant recipients, this was especially true. In this blog, Kerry Long talks us through her experience of carrying out her project ‘Identifying maternal and post-natal effects on […]
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  3. Meet the speakers – Q&A with Jimmy Turnbull

    As the drive for cheap, efficient and environment-sparing livestock agriculture continues to grow, can intensive farming ever be good for both welfare and sustainability? That is just one of the questions we will be asking ourselves at this year’s Discussion Forum. Recently we spoke to Professor Jimmy Turnbull, vet, aquaculture specialist and Discussion Forum speaker, […]
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  4. Funding research for better welfare

    AWF funds five new research projects designed to move the dial on key animal welfare issues.
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  5. BVNA ‘This is Us 2020’

    Calling vet nurses! We are thrilled to announce that AWF will be hosting a debate as part of BVNA’s ‘This is Us 2020’, a two-day online event dedicated to celebrating veterinary nursing. AWF has previously held animal welfare debates at BVNA Fringe and we welcome the opportunity to continue having these important discussions, but with […]
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  6. Completing research in a pandemic – a student’s experience

    Funding student research is an important part of what we do, giving students an insight into the world of research and the opportunity to make a practical difference to animal welfare. In 2019 we granted funding to Sheryl Bradley, an MSc student of International Animal Welfare, Ethics and Law at the University of Edinburgh, for […]
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  7. Meet the speakers – Q&A with Dan Brockman

    At this year’s Discussion Forum we will be debating whether uncontrolled treatment innovations are detrimental to animal welfare. As the range of treatments available to our pets becomes more extensive year on year and often increasingly invasive, we want to ask, can this ever be justified? One of our speakers is Professor Dan Brockman, Director of […]
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  8. Meet the speakers – Q&A with Mike Appleby

    For this year’s AWF Discussion Forum, taking place on Monday 8th June, we have invited a number of farm welfare experts to debate and discuss whether intensive farming can be good for welfare and sustainability. We caught up with Discussion Forum speaker Mike Appleby, a specialist in behaviour, husbandry and welfare of farm animals, to […]
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  9. Despite extensive knowledge, cattle vets are still failing lame cows

    Cattle lameness is still a prevalent issue despite a perceived extensive knowledge base. The need for an open, honest dialogue amongst the veterinary profession on what needs to be done next was why AWF agreed to host a debate on the subject at this year’s BCVA Congress. The motion, ‘Despite extensive scientific knowledge, cattle vets […]
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  10. Cattle vets are still failing lame cows – Post debate Q&A with speakers

    What is your interest/experience in the subject? Nick: I have been active as a lameness researcher and veterinary advisor for over 17 years, and with an interest in lameness since before I qualified over 20 years ago. Sara: I already had an interest in cattle lameness when I graduated as a vet nearly 15 years […]
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