Doctoral Funding - Terms & Conditions | Waldorf Learning Foundation
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Doctoral Funding - Terms & Conditions

Waldorf Learning Foundation offers an annual contribution towards doctoral research to support the development of creative, holistic and regenerative education. These terms outline the expectations, responsibilities and conditions associated with the award to ensure transparency, academic integrity and responsible stewardship of charitable funding.

Eligibility

Applicants must:

  • Be enrolled as either a part-time or full-time doctoral student
  • Have had their research proposal formally accepted
  • Be in the second, third or fourth year of doctoral study
  • Be undertaking research at a UK university listed on the Office for Students register

Candidates from any academic discipline are welcome to apply, provided their research demonstrates clear and relevant educational impact.

Nature of the Award

The contribution comprises:
£2,500 towards doctoral fees, alongside a £250 travel allowance. The award is a fixed contribution, recognising that universities apply fee guidance individually. This funding is intended to support the continuation of doctoral research and is not equivalent to a doctoral studentship.

Selection and Discretion

Awards are made based on how well eligible candidates demonstrate that their research progresses the development of creative, holistic and regenerative education.

All awards are made at the discretion of Waldorf Learning Foundation, and the charity reserves the right not to make an award in any given year.

Application Requirements

Applicants are required to submit:

  • An up-to-date CV
  • A letter of application
  • Evidence of ethical approval
  • Research project approval
  • Confirmation of university registration
  • Details of any current research funding
  • An anticipated timeline for completion of the doctorate

Ethical Conduct

Recipients are expected to conduct their research in line with:

  • The ethical standards of their host university
  • The guidelines of the British Educational Research Association
  • United Kingdom law and regulatory frameworks

Formal ethical approval must be maintained for the duration of the funded period. While this contribution is not a doctoral studentship, the ethical and responsible research principles outlined by UK Research and Innovation provide a guiding context for the award.

Acknowledgement of Funding

Recipients are required to acknowledge the support of Waldorf Learning Foundation in any publications, presentations or outputs arising from the research.
This acknowledgement must:

  • State the charity’s name in full
  • Include the charity’s standard colour logo
  • Appear across relevant formats, including journal articles, posters and presentations

Acknowledgement supports transparency, demonstrates research impact and fulfils contribution obligations.

Recipient Responsibilities

By accepting the award, recipients agree to:

  • Produce termly reports, which could be repurposed for the charity’s social media.
  • Continue their research in accordance with approved ethical standards
  • Maintain accurate academic and institutional registration
  • Uphold recognised standards of responsible research conduct

Failure to meet these expectations may result in the withdrawal of funding.

Changes to Research Status

Recipients must notify Waldorf Learning Foundation promptly of any significant changes to their research, enrolment status or ethical approval that may affect the funded work.

Fraudulent applications

WLF reserves the right to withdraw awarded doctorate funds from anyone who is found to have misled WLF about any aspect of their eligibility and to seek repayment of any monies already paid. In such cases, WLF may seek to recover any money paid as a debt in the county court (in which case it may also seek to recover additional sums such as interest, court fees and legal costs).

Data Protection

Refer to our web pages for details about our Privacy Policy
Data may be used by the Doctoral Funding Award Panel and Waldorf Learning Foundation’s administration team in the allocation of funding.

Waldorf Learning Foundation reserves the right to contact the candidate in the future to assess what impact the funding has had on their research path. This is to provide us with news stories and to support applications to other funding bodies.

Contact
For questions regarding these terms or the doctoral funding contribution, please contact us at: [email protected]