Apply

Become a Chapter, or apply for a grant

We fund student think tanks in two ways only: Training Access Bursaries for the members of our Chapters, and Think Tank Grants for a specific activity, open to any eligible think tank. Both flow through the think tank's students' union. Advice is free to everyone.

The forms

Choose the right form

Every application is assessed against the published criteria in our Grant-Making Policy, whoever proposed it. If you are not sure which form applies, start with the Expression of Interest and we will guide you.

Think tank: Expression of Interest For a student think tank or policy research society that wants to become a Chapter, so that its members can receive Training Access Bursaries. Stage 1. Start Stage 1 Students' union: Chapter Application For the union that a think tank is affiliated with, completed at Stage 2 by an authorised officer. Needed before a think tank becomes a Chapter; not needed for a grant. Complete the Chapter Application Think Tank Grant application For any eligible student think tank, Chapter or not, applying for a grant for a specific educational activity. Countersigned by the students' union that holds the society's account. Apply for a grant Annual renewal For a Chapter renewing its Funding Agreement for the next academic year. Renew a Chapter

How it works

Becoming a Chapter: six stages

A Chapter is a think tank for which we have signed a Funding Agreement with its students' union. That agreement is what allows bursaries to be paid, and the Training Programme, of which the bursaries are part, is delivered to Chapters. We aim to complete Stages 1 to 5 within one academic term so that a Chapter designated in one term can run its first bursary round in the next. A think tank that wants a grant for a specific activity does not need to become a Chapter: use the grant application below.

  1. Expression of Interest (think tank)

    The think tank tells us about its activities, membership, governance and published research, and which kinds of support it is interested in. Anyone can start this: the think tank, its union, or the Trust itself.

  2. Chapter Application (students' union)

    We ask the union to confirm its charitable status, that it will hold Trust funds as restricted funds and pay the students we confirm as eligible, that it will confirm enrolment on request, and that it will sign the Funding Agreement. We approach the union as soon as we receive an Expression of Interest, because union approval is usually the longest step.

  3. Eligibility and due diligence

    We verify the union's charitable or exempt status, review the think tank's published research for public availability and balance, screen against the UK sanctions list, and collate any declared conflicts of interest.

  4. Trustees' decision

    The trustees decide whether to designate the think tank as a Chapter and, if so, the first year's grants: how many Training Access Bursaries to fund and any Think Tank Grant, each against the published criteria in the Grant-Making Policy. Reasons are recorded.

  5. Funding Agreement (Chapter designation)

    A written agreement between the Trust and the students' union that designates the think tank as a Chapter, with schedules covering bursary criteria and rates, the Training Programme the Trust delivers, any Think Tank Grant, and data sharing. No money moves before it is signed.

  6. First bursary round

    Students who are members of the Chapter apply to the Trust's Bursary Assessment Panel against our published financial-need criteria. The Trust sends the union the list of eligible students and their rates, transfers the funds to the union's ring-fenced account, and the union pays the bursaries.

Not sure where to start?

Send the Expression of Interest and we will approach your union with you.

Start an Expression of Interest Read the eligibility criteria