SectionsGeneral InformationQ. What is the aim of the Churchill Travelling Fellowships? A. The Fellowships are to enable men and women, from all walks of life and every corner of the UK to acquire knowledge and experience abroad. In the process they gain a better understanding of the lives and cultures of people overseas and, on their return, their expertise is enhanced greatly, as is their effectiveness at work and their contribution to the community. Q. How many applications does the Trust receive each year? A. Depends on the categories, but the average over the past 10 years has been approximately 1,200. Q. How many Fellowships are awarded each year? A. Approximately 100. Before applyingQ. What are the conditions of a Churchill Fellowship? A. Applicants should demonstrate that their project is feasible and worthwhile, and of benefit to their community and the UK on return. Q. Am I eligible to apply? A. You may apply if you are:
Have a look also at our "Who can apply" section. If you are Australian or New Zealander, you might be able to apply to the Australian Trust or the New Zealand Trust. Q. Are any special qualifications required? A. No. Q. What kind of people apply? A. Everyone - no one is excluded as long as they meet the eligibility criteria. Q. Is there any age limit? A. The Trust does not accept applications from people under 18. Q. How long can I stay overseas? A. Grants usually cover a stay overseas of between 4-8 weeks (minimum of 4 weeks). Q. What will my grant cover? A. Your grant covers return airfare, daily living, insurance, travel within the countries being visited and, in exceptional cases, some assistance with home expenses. Q. If I am awarded a Fellowship, how much will my grant be? A. Each individual grant is calculated on the project, destination(s) to be visited and the duration of the Fellowship. Q. Under what circumstances may I not apply? A. Please do not apply for attendance of courses, academic studies, student grants or gap year projects. Also look at our "Who can apply" section. Q. Why can I not apply for a grant to cover the attendance of courses, academic studies, student grants or gap year projects? A. Because the Trust was not set up to fund these projects. Q. May I re-apply should I be turned down? A. Yes, you may re-apply. Q. Why do I have to travel overseas to do my Fellowship? A. Because the Trust was set up specifically to fund overseas projects and not those in the UK (i.e. Great Britain and Northern Ireland). We cannot currently fund Fellowships that only entail travel to other parts of the UK, there needs to be an element of the project that is outside the United Kingdom. However, applications that include both overseas and UK destinations will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Q. Could I travel to the Irish Republic on my Fellowship? A. Yes; but Northern Ireland would not be considered overseas travel as it forms part of the UK. Therefore, the grant would not cover these expenses. Q. Can people resident in Northern Ireland apply? A. Yes: Northern Ireland forms part of the UK. Q. Can people resident in the Channel Islands apply? A. Yes. Q. How many applications can I send in? A. You can send in one application only, either via an online application or a printed application form. You cannot send in applications to more than one category. Q. If I am already a Churchill Fellow, may I re-apply another year? A. No. Q. May I make a joint application? A. No. Fellowships are awarded to individuals not groups, teams or couples. Q. I have an individual project I wish to undertake overseas. What is my next step? A. You must make sure your project fits into one of the categories, read the application guidelines, and then apply online. Q. When are the new categories announced on the internet? A. They are normally announced in May each year. Q. When is the closing date for applications? A. The closing date for applications to travel is normally early October. Check the application/registration page for confirmation. Q. How do I get a hard copy of the application form? A. We encourage online applications but if you would like a hard copy of the application form, please send us a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Q. Can I ask for advice on how to do my application?
A. Unfortunately, we cannot engage in detailed discussions with individuals who are considering applying for a Travelling Fellowship as we receive hundreds of applications. There is some advice included in the applications guidelines. Also, you should take into account that the more travelling a project involves the higher the cost, therefore you should include a clear justification on why travelling to the suggested destinations is required to accomplish the aims of the project. ApplicantsQ. When are applicants informed whether or not they have been short-listed for interview? A. By the last week of November. Q. Will I be asked for references if I am short-listed? A. Yes, we will send you appropriate forms for two referees to fill in and return to us. Q. When do the interviews take place if I am short-listed? A. Throughout the whole of January. Each category is allocated a specific day for interview and interviews last 20 minutes. Short listed applicants must attend. Please check the timetable where interview dates will be posted as they are confirmed. Q. If I am short-listed and can't make the date of my interview, may I come on a different day? A. Sorry but no. The Trust has a very tight interview programme and must interview all short-listed candidates. The particular dates will be posted on the timetable page of this website as they are confirmed but in the meantime we urge all to avoid commitments in January as much as is possible. Q. When will I hear whether I have been awarded a Churchill Fellowship? A. By mid-February. Successful applicantsQ. If I am successful, when can I start my Fellowship? A. Fellows will be expected to begin their travels within a year of being awarded a Fellowship but not before 1 April. If you are awarded a Fellowship you will be issued with clear instructions as to the Trust’s requirements. Q. Can I split the Travelling Fellowship in 2 phases? A. Single phase Fellowships are generally more beneficial as they allow Fellows to maintain momentum and interest, but in order to accommodate Fellows’ personal and work circumstances we are happy to fund two-phased Fellowships, provided that this does not include a return to the same country. Q. Do I have to arrange my own travel insurance? A. No, the Trust will make sure you are properly insured, but in some cases Fellows may feel it more appropriate to arrange their own. Q. What is expected of me when I return from my Fellowship? A. You are expected, on your return, to provide the Trust with a brief press release for your local newspapers and within three months of return send in a report on your Fellowship in order to become a fully-fledged Churchill Fellow. |