Vacation Scholarship - Application Form

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Introduction 

To apply for a Carnegie Vacation Scholarship, please complete and submit this online form. The page numbers at the top right will take you to the different sections of the form. You can view the section name by hovering the cursor over a page number.

Completing this form

Fields marked with a * are mandatory, and the form can only be submitted once these have been filled in. 

A full description of the application process and guidance on completing this form can be found in the guide Applying for a Vacation Scholarship. Any queries regarding eligibility should be directed to the Trust by email at: vacation-scholarships@carnegie-trust.org.

How to save your form

PLEASE NOTE: You must save this form before starting your application and after editing it. Failure to do so will result in the loss of any information inputted.

You can save your application at any point by using the 'Save my progress and resume later’ option that appears at the top and bottom of each page. You can save, edit and return to your form as many times as needed before submitting.
  • To save, tick the ‘Save my progress and resume later’ box at the top or bottom of the page.
  • Fill in your email address and a password.
  • Click ‘Save’.
  • A new page will appear giving you the option to ‘Resume this form now’ or ‘Start a new form’.
  • After saving for the first time you will receive a Form Notification email containing a link which you can use to return to your form (if you don't receive this email please check your junk/spam folder).
  • You can also bookmark the page and use this to return to it later.
Continuing a saved form
  • If you have bookmarked the page, to resume your form use this to open the webpage and click on ‘Resume a previously saved form’.
  • Alternately, open the Form Notification email you received and click on the link within.
  • Enter your email address and password when prompted and you will be returned to your application.

Case for Support (research proposal)

As part of the application, you will be asked to upload a Case for Support document (your research proposal) containing a detailed description of your proposed summer research project. The Case for Support must address a clearly specified research question(s) or hypothesis that will engage you in personal research over the period you have stated within your application. The proposed project should give you sufficient scope to develop your ideas, use your initiative and build your research and analytical skills. 

Further details on what should be included in the Case for Support can be found on page 7 of this form and also in the guide Applying for a Vacation Scholarship.

You must write your own Case for Support. If it is judged that you have submitted a Case for Support written by your supervisor, any other person or entirely by generative AI your scholarship application will be disqualified.

The Case for Support must be formatted as follows:
  • Maximum length 2 pages of A4 (including any reference list/bibliography); 
  • Ariel font size 11;
  • Minimum line spacing of 1.15, and; 
  • Minimum 2 centimetre margins on all sides. 
Graphs, tables and/or images may be included within the 2 page limit but the maximum file size for upload purposes cannot exceed 5MB. 

Keep filenames nice and short! Our system will often refuse to upload files with excessively long names.

Please note: The Trust reserves the right to reject applications that do not conform to the above formatting instructions.


Supporting evidence

In addition to the Case for Support you will also need to provide documentary evidence that confirms your eligibility. Depending on how you meet the eligibility criteria these may include:
  • a scan or image of your passport or driver's license.
  • a scan or image of your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) card and a Home Office letter confirming your visa route.
  • a scan or image of the Summary of Attainment page from your SQA Scottish Qualification Certificate; OR a HND certificate; OR a letter from your school or college confirming your period of attendance.
  • your SAAS Award Notice letter for 2025-26.
  • a transcript showing all your marks to date since starting your undergraduate degree (not just the current year!). You can download or extract a full list of your modules & marks to date from your university's student portal. Please ensure the document also clearly displays your name and the year you are currently in. If you transferred from college to university and were granted direct entry into the second or third year of your degree course, you will also need to provide a copy of your HNC/HND record. If you are still waiting on your Semester 1 results for the current academic year, you should still provide your transcript.
Supporting documentation should be uploaded as PDF files or images i.e. JPEGs or PNGs (but not HEICs) you can use photos taken with your phone so long as the text is easily readable.

Endorsement of your application


Your application must be endorsed electronically by the academic member of staff at the Scottish university where you are enrolled who has agreed to act as your project supervisor. 

On the form, you will be asked to provide the name and email address of your proposed supervisor at your university (your 'Home' Supervisor). Once you submit this form, an email will then be sent to this individual with a request for them to complete their portion of the online process before submitting the complete endorsed application. At this point you will no longer be able to access and edit your part of the application (i.e. this form).

Once your supervisor has endorsed the application, it will be automatically transferred to the Trust. However, if your supervisor declines to endorse your application, you will be notified by email. This email will contain comments from your supervisor and a link back to this form which you will then be able to edit and resubmit for approval.

If you plan on undertaking your project at a different research organisation than your university, your Home supervisor will need to confirm the supervisory arrangements in place at the host organisation. This will include supplying the name and contact details of a 'Host supervisor', i.e. the academic/researcher who will oversee your work during the visit. They will also need to upload a letter of support from the Host supervisor. 

Submitting your application


Completed applications must be endorsed by the closing date of 13th February 2026, 5PM.

It is recommended that you submit this form at least 5 working days before the above deadline to allow your supervisor time to complete their part and electronically sign off the application. The Trust cannot process applications that have been saved but not endorsed or submitted.

Once you have submitted your part of the application, you will receive an email confirmation sent to the address you provided on the form. You will also be notified by email when your supervisor has submitted their endorsement. If you do not receive these emails please check your spam/junk folder first before contacting the Trust.

If you experience any technical difficulties during the online application process, contact the Trust by email at: vacation-scholarships@carnegie-trust.org.
Hidden Fields

Your details

Personal details



(if you prefer to use another name that the one used for university)




For example, the name in your photo ID is different to the one used by your university/SAAS, you changed your name by Deed poll and are waiting for a new passport etc.


Contact details





Please include the @ symbol.

Permanent address





Term Time address






Eligibility
Eligibility section previously completed and required documents uploaded.

To be ordinarily resident in Scotland, a person must have made their home in Scotland intending to stay and live here and must have done so before starting university. If you are residing in Scotland to study, but otherwise would be living elsewhere, you are not considered ordinarily resident.




(For example, 10 year long-residency, family route, UK Ancestry, etc.)











Please contact the Trust to confirm your eligibility before proceeding any further with your application: 
On the basis of the answers you have provided you do not appear to be eligible for this scheme.
Please contact the Trust to discuss before proceeding any further with your application: 

Personal background and occupation

Background & Occupation sections previously completed
Personal background
The Trust seeks to support individuals from a low income background whose educational opportunities may have been affected by a number of factors beyond their control. Please check any of the options below that best describe your upbringing and your current circumstances.

The information you provide on this page will not be seen by your prospective supervisor.



Occupation


State your parents or guardians occupation, as well as your own and your partner/spouse's, if applicable. If retired or unemployed list the most recent occupation and the year that retirement/unemployment began.




Finances

Finance sections previously completed
Household income
Applicants must reside in a low-income household. To help us assess your circumstances, enter details of the household income and expenditure at your permanent residence. If you live away from home during term time, you will also need to enter your expenditure details further down under Expenditure at term-time address.

The information you provide on this page will not be seen by your prospective supervisor.

Please enter number with 2 decimal places without the £ symbol (e.g. 100.00)


£

If you are under 25, you will need to provide details of your parents' or guardians' income. This is the gross annual income before tax for the last tax year. Enter £0 if there is no income to report.


£

If you are married, in a civil partnership or co-habiting with a partner, you will need to provide details of their annual income before tax. This is the gross annual income before tax for the last tax year. Enter £0 if there is no income to report.


£

Your income includes any salary, pensions or interest received but not your student loan. This is your gross annual income before tax for the last tax year. Enter £0 if you have no income


£

If you receive any benefits (for example tax credits, universal credits etc.) state the amount here.


£

Enter £0 if you do not receive any financial contribution from a parent or guardian.


£

Enter £0 if you have no student loan. Please note students who applied for their loan through Student Finance England, Student Finance Wales or Student Finance Northern Ireland are not eligible to apply to this scheme as they are not considered to be ordinarily resident in Scotland. If you are studying nursing, midwifery or paramedic science please input your bursary amount here.

£

Enter £0 if you have no savings.
£
Household expenditure at permanent address
Please enter number with 2 decimal places without the £ symbol (e.g. 100.00)

£

Enter £0 if you do not pay any rent.

£

Enter £0 if you do not have a mortgage.

£

Enter £0 if you do not pay any council tax.

£

Enter £0 if you have no costs in this category.

£

Enter £0 if you have no costs in this category.

£

Enter £0 if you have no costs in this category.

£

Enter £0 if you have no costs in this category.

£

Enter £0 if you have no costs in this category.

£

Enter £0 if you have no costs in this category.
Household

Do not include finacially independent house/flatmates. If you have no dependents in your household please input ‘No dependents'.

Personal expenditure over summer vacation
Please enter number with 2 decimal places without the £ symbol (e.g. 100.00)


£

Enter £0 if you have no costs in this category.



£




£

Enter £0 if you have no costs in this category.

£

Enter £0 if you have no costs in this category.
Other addresses


Please enter number with 2 decimal places without the £ symbol (e.g. 100.00)

£

Enter £0 if you do not pay any rent.

£

Enter £0 if you do not pay any council tax.

£

Enter £0 if you have no costs in this category.

£

Enter £0 if you have no costs in this category.

£

Enter £0 if you have no costs in this category.

£

Enter £0 if you have no costs in this category.

Education to date

Secondary education
Add your secondary education in this section. If you attended more than one secondary school, use the 'Add another school' button below to create an additional entry. You can add up to 3 secondary schools




enter in format mm/yyyy

enter in format mm/yyyy

Further education




enter in format mm/yyyy

enter in format mm/yyyy

Current Undergraduate Degree



enter in format mm/yyyy


e.g.: 3rd year




The transcript document has already been uploaded.

Location & Supervision

Location of research

Please provide the full name of the university or research organisation where the research will be conducted. If you are planning to do fieldwork, explain where this fieldwork will take place
Supervision at your home university
Enter the name of the researcher/academic at your university who will supervise your project. If undertaking the project at a different organisation, your supervisor will be asked to confirm the name of the host academic or researcher.






Research summary

Title of the research project 
Research area

Project timetable
Briefly explain each of the main research components/activities that will form part of the project. Indicate the estimated length of each component/activity.  



If you intend to undertake your project on a part-time basis please calculate the equivalent period in full-time, 35 hour working weeks
Research activities


Project summary

Detailed description of the research project

Upload your project proposal (Case for Support document) via the button below.


In the Case for Support you will need to: 

  • explain the issue, problem or topic your project seeks to address
  • describe why this issue, problem or topic is important and needs to be addressed
  • define the specific research question(s) or hypothesis you aim to investigate
  • state how you plan address the issue, problem or topic described: what methodology or techniques will you use, what research activities will you undertake etc.
  • specify how the data, findings or results from the research will be analysed and written up, and;
  • indicate what you plan to do with the findings or conclusions from your research project. For example, will you share these with others and if so how? Will the data be applied or used beyond the end of your project?

NOTE: the Case for Support must be written by you and you will be disqualified if the Trust suspects that it was written by someone else, including your proposed supervisor, or entirely by generative AI.


In relation to formatting, the Case for Support document must:
  • Be no more than 2 pages of A4 in length (including any reference list/bibliography);
  • Be written in Ariel font size 11;
  • Have a minimum line spacing of 1.15, and; 
  • Minimum 2 cm margins on all sides. 
Failure to adhere to the above requirements may result in your application being rejected.

Graphs, tables and/or images may be included within the 2 page limit. The final document should be uploaded in PDF format with a maximum file size of 5MB. 

This document has already been uploaded.

Please keep the file name nice and short! Our system will often refuse to upload files with excessively long names.
Motivation for applying


Declaration and undertakings

Declaration
The Trust ensures its grant schemes and policies are effective by collecting and monitoring information about applicants and award holders. Please review the statements below and confirm you have read and understood them.




Communications from the Trust
The Trust will be in contact with you by e-mail in the course of processing your application and, if successful, as part of the administration of the award.  Please indicate below whether you agree, in addition, to be contacted by the Trust about its other activities, funding opportunities, and latest news.  (You can withdraw from receiving such information at any time by contacting admin@carnegie-trust.org.)





Review & submit your application

Please check your answers carefully before you submit the form
 
Once you click the 'Review your application' button below, you will be taken to a page where you can review your answers.   

If you wish to amend your application, click 'Make a correction'. This will return you to the form so you can make changes. 
 
If you are content with your application click 'Confirm' to submit. Your application will then be sent to your supervisor for endorsement. Please check your inbox for confirmation of receipt. 

If you do not see the 'Review your application' button below your application has already been submitted.
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If you have any questions about this scheme or about the application process, please read the guidelines on the Trust's website