National Student Policy Trust

Funding the next generation of student policy research.

The NSPT is being established to provide bursaries, training and grants to student-led think tanks at universities across the UK — so students can produce rigorous, non-partisan research, freely available to all.

Support our mission How we fund research

Registration with the Charity Commission pending

What we fund

Two ways we fund, one way we help

We support student think tanks financially in exactly two ways: bursaries to students at our Chapters, and grants to think tanks for specific activities. Both flow through a registered students' union. Advice is free to everyone.

Training Access Bursaries

For members of our Chapters. Need-assessed bursaries, paid through the students' union from a ring-fenced account at fixed published rates, so students who could not otherwise afford the time can take part in our Training Programme.

Think Tank Grants

For any eligible student think tank, Chapter or not. Grants for a specific educational activity — a conference, a speaker series, open-access publication — paid into the society's union-held account under a short grant letter.

The Training Programme

Delivered to Chapters. Structured, expert-led modules in research methods, data analysis, evidence appraisal and policy writing that volunteer-run think tanks do not otherwise have. Bursaries are part of it.

Free advice for any think tank

Setting up a think tank, running one well, publishing, and making a strong Chapter application. Free to Chapters and non-Chapters alike, with no funding attached.

How it works

From a single gift to public research

Funds are always channelled through the students' union as a restricted fund, keeping the money accountable and the research independent.

  1. Donor A philanthropic gift, checked under our Donations Acceptance Policy. The donor's identity stays confidential.
  2. The Trust Assesses every grant against published criteria — never directing research.
  3. Students' union Holds and disburses the money as a ring-fenced restricted fund.
  4. Student think tank Bursaries, training and grants reach the students.
  5. Public research Non-partisan analysis, published freely for everyone.

Why you can trust us

Independence, built into the model

The guardrails below are not marketing — they are drawn from our constitution and governing policies.

Non-partisan by design

We only fund balanced, evidence-based research. Policy recommendations that follow from the evidence are welcome; partisan campaigning is not.

Operational independence

We never direct a think tank's research or conclusions. Students are actively consulted about bursary conditions.

Donor confidentiality

We accept support from any lawful source, refuse any condition on research, and never tell think tanks who funds them — so research is produced blind to its funders.

Transparency

An Annual Transparency Report sets out the funds we receive and the educational impact they achieve.

Our approach

Prove the model, then grow it

The Trust launches by developing and testing its grant-making model with its first Chapter, designated under the published criteria once the Trust is registered and a Funding Agreement is signed, before expanding to student think tanks at universities across the United Kingdom.

How a think tank becomes a Chapter
  • Now Registration and first Chapter
  • Next Universities across the UK

Support the next generation of student policy research.

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