Awards support activity in the following broad categories:

• High cost training in areas of strategic need such as quantitative/data science skills, interdisciplinary skills, or in-vivo training. Courses can be online or in-person.

• Exceptional training opportunities - such as a lab/research placement, or an internship (e.g. in policy or science communication, publishing, etc), or training in new advanced research skills.

• Industrial training - opportunities to receive training within industry or at the interdisciplinary interface.

• Transition awards: taken between submission and viva to support the transition from PhD to first employment or post-doc position. Please see below for more information on this category.

You can read case studies of different uses of flexible funding in the DiMeN blog.

All MRC-funded students registered at the Universities of Sheffield, Leeds, Newcastle, York, and Liverpool can apply to the fund. This includes DTP students, MRC iCASE students, MRC Unit, Institute, Centre, or Partnership students, and MRC Clinical Research Training Fellows.

Successful applicants should provide a brief report acknowledging MRC support and the impact of the award within three months of undertaking the opportunity. Failure to submit a post-award report will make you ineligible to apply for future flexible funding grants. If you have already received flexible funding, you must submit a report before being considered for any additional awards.

We will not consider applications for the following: ​​​

• Extending existing studentships to delay thesis submission. ​

• Funding standard experimental costs such as consumables or equipment - these should come from your RTSG

• Conference fees and travel expenses - these should come from your RTSG/travel budget.

The average total flexible funding claimed per student across the whole of their PhD is £3,000. We accept applications up to £5,000 and these may be awarded in exceptional circumstances.

Read the guidance information on this page and fill in the application form here. Applications are reviewed by academic members of the DiMeN Management Board who take a range of factors into consideration, including relevance to DTP strategic aims, accurate and reasonable costings, and the impact of the proposed activity. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis and reviewed by our panel within 4 weeks of submission, however this can change during busier periods and we may ask you for supplementary information before making a decision. Please not that applications for transition awards require supplementary attachments.

• Summarise your PhD project and explain how the activity relates to your project and training, with clearly stated objectives for this specific opportunity.

• A detailed budget with realistic costs

• A timeline if appropriate

• Clear justification of the impact of the award and how the opportunity will benefit and advance your training and development.

• A supporting statement from your supervisor. Please include this in the application, not as a separate follow up email as this will delay processing.

• Applications for overseas opportunities must justify why this is the best opportunity and cannot be completed in the UK.

Students who want to undertake an internship or placement within their PhD will need to take a Leave of Absence/Interruption of Studies to do this. This 'stops the clock' on your PhD for the duration of the placement - usually a maximum of three months. It also stops your stipend and your flexible supplement application should include allowance to cover this at the existing rate. Please discuss thoroughly with your supervisors before making an application, and follow the procedures for applying for a pause in studies with your own institution. The panel awards on the assumption that your faculty supports this request.

Funding is not awarded as payment into your bank account, it needs to be claimed back from DiMeN. Purchases e.g. course fees, accommodation bookings, can be made on your behalf by your host institution who will then claim back from DiMeN.

Transition awards are a type of flexible supplement award specially to fund career development opportunities for final year students post submission. Activity should take place after thesis submission but within your four year funded period. They are awarded to outstanding students to increase competitiveness for the next stage of your career.

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Funding may be used to learn a new technique, become skilled in novel equipment, develop a new avenue of research beyond your PhD project, attend overseas laboratory visits or an internship/placement after thesis submission.

The funds should NOT be used to:​

• Extend existing studentships to complete your thesis, delay its submission, or bridge the time period between PhD and your next position

• Provide additional time to primarily focus on writing papers for publication. However, this activity can be included as part of the award (see below)

Transition Awards fall into two categories:

1. Academic Development - Apply for funding to develop additional skills, prepare fellowship applications, or complete a research placement. Funding will not be awarded to solely support writing papers, however this activity can be included as an important component of your wider academic career aspirations. The Transition Award would cover stipend at your existing rate for up to three months and any travel/accommodation costs for research placements elsewhere.

2. Career Development Internships - For those interested in a non-academic career or working with a non-academic partner, funding is available to undertake an internship with an external organisation. Internship opportunities should be secured, and a letter of support obtained from the host, before submitting your application. Funding can cover stipend payments at your existing rate for up to four months, plus travel and accommodation costs for placements elsewhere.

Use the same application form as a regular flexible supplement application. Include a timeline, career plan or project proposal to clearly demonstrate how you would use this time effectively to increase your competitiveness. You will also need to attach supplementary information in a separate email to dimen.dtp@sheffield.ac.uk:

• A statement from your supervisor

• Up-to-date CV

• Letters of support from any external partners, or research placement hosts

• Applications must be made at least two months prior to thesis submission.

• Awards will only be made on timely thesis submission, within the MRC funded period - this includes any COVID extension period, and must not delay your viva. Evidence of timely submission is needed before any funds are released.

• You need to be a registered student to receive funds. After submitting your thesis you will remain registered until awarded.

• The supervisory team’s approval is required prior to applying.

The assessment panel is looking for applications designed to positively influence your employability, directly relate to your career development plans and with specific goals. For academic development awards, this may include named fellowship application deadlines or defined postdoc aspirations, with skill development activities to match. While paper writing cannot be the sole purpose of an award, publication outputs are recognised as valuable assets and planned publications should be highlighted, indicating which journals you are aiming for and how close the work is to paper submission.

Placements and skills development activities beyond your current supervisor’s lab/team are encouraged. For internships, clearly indicate the reason for your choice of host organisation and outline how the placement will benefit your career. A letter of support from the host is required and please include any broader development activities you have engaged with throughout your PhD that may have influenced your decision to pursue this career direction. All applications should include costings, including stipend and estimates for any travel and accommodation costs.

Only MRC students in their last year of PhD or close to thesis submission are eligible to apply. All MRC-funded students registered at the Universities of Sheffield, Leeds, Liverpool, Newcastle, or York, which includes: Core DiMeN DTP students, MRC industrial CASE students, National Productivity Investment Fund studentships, MRC Unit, Institute, Centre or Partnership students and MRC Clinical Research Training Fellows.

Internships can take place in a range of sectors to support your career beyond academia - for example in scientific publishing, industry, science communication, policy, the NHS or teaching/training. You will usually arrange the internship opportunity independently, with support from your local careers service, knowledge exchange teams, or DiMeN as appropriate.

Funds supporting attendance at conferences will not usually be considered. Financial support for overseas trips that contribute to your career development will be considered, for example, skills training or data generation with novel techniques/equipment not available during your PhD. However, you should justify in your application why an equivalent opportunity could not be supported within the UK. You will also need to adhere to institutional regulations regarding international travel.

No - the transition awards are not an extension of your PhD and funding will only be awarded post-thesis submission. Your thesis should be submitted within your MRC-funded period - please refer to your local University administration teams to clarify your funding end date. Confirmation from your host institution of timely thesis submission is required before funding will be released.