Criteria for projects
To be awarded funding, projects must demonstrate that they will enhance the student experience across the wider student community, benefitting current and future generations of students
The Panel will consider supporting initiatives in the following areas:
- Projects that will benefit Stirling as a whole and the wider community, or which promote the reputation of Stirling to the benefit of all, or that enhance the student experience.
- The provision of equipment (which benefits multiple students).
- Student-led extra-curricular academic activities or projects.
- Club or society projects that will enhance the experience of students.
- Projects which require an initial outlay, provided that any recurrent costs can be met by the Faculty/Department concerned.
- Projects that involve fundraising events or initiatives as long as they adhere to the Code of Fundraising Practice, ensuring ethical and responsible management of
donor funds. However, projects seeking grants to host fundraising events for sensitive or potentially divisive causes, such as international conflicts or political campaigns, will not be considered.
The Panel will not consider:
- Projects that commit the Panel to recurrent funding.
- Items of regular equipment such as general office furnishings, etc.
- Equipment or initiatives that only benefit one student.
- Catering, staff and/or capital or building costs.
- Applications from individuals for scholarship, tuition fees, bursaries or prizes, or trips abroad that benefit only one student.
- Funding for trips that are part of a module already included in the faculty's curriculum, such as a mandatory field trip for a course.
However, the panel may consider applications for trips (local or abroad) if:
- The trip demonstrates clear and significant benefits to the University community. For example, a student-led research expedition that culminates in a public lecture or seminar series,
sharing valuable findings with the University. Trips with limited or unclear impact, such as recreational retreats or activities that primarily serve individual interests without broader engagement, will not be funded. Funding for travel abroad or locally to participate in competitions, tournaments, or games, such as a sports event or a debate competition, will not be considered.
Projects are strongly encouraged to demonstrate clear evidence of partial financial support from other sources, as this reflects a strong commitment to the project's success and shared responsibility. For example, if a trip has been partially funded through student society fundraising activities, this illustrates a collaborative effort toward achieving the project’s goals.
Conditions of receiving funding
Successful applicants must:
- Provide a clear and structured breakdown of the budget required.
- Be enrolled in the current academic year and have a plan to spend the funds before you cease to be a student (student applicants only).
- Acknowledge the award on social media using the hashtags @StirAlumni #StirlingFund with information and updates about your project, and by promoting the project with the Stirling Fund
icons which will be sent to successful recipients. - Provide written feedback (a written report with a minimum of three high-quality images and quotations) on the success of the project and how the award has assisted you by the date agreed
as part of your acceptance of the award. Please send this to alumni@stir.ac.uk. These reports and any other materials will be used in future publicity of the Stirling Fund and for reporting back to the donors, and are an essential condition of funding - Ensure that expenditure plans and timelines are clearly outlined. Typically, funds should be spent within 12 months, with the release of funding based on the agreed financial schedule. If this
timeline is not met and no extension is arranged, the panel may withhold funding to ensure that sufficient resources remain available for future applicants.