UFAW Animal Welfare Student Scholarship (formerly Vacation Scholarship)

 

Through its Animal Welfare Student Scholarships, UFAW aims to encourage students to develop their interests in animal welfare and their abilities for animal welfare research. Applications are welcome from individuals studying at universities or colleges in the British Isles or an overseas institution at which there is a UFAW University Links representative. Students will usually be undertaking courses in the agricultural, biological, psychological, veterinary or zoological sciences.

In these and its other awards, UFAW wishes to promote high quality research that is likely to lead to substantial improvements in animal welfare. UFAW seeks to promote both fundamental research aimed at providing new insight into the subjective mental experiences of animals relevant to their welfare and at understanding their needs and preferences, and also to promote applied research aimed at developing practical solutions to animal welfare problems.

UFAW is concerned with the welfare of farm, companion, laboratory and captive wild animals and with the welfare of free-living wild animals whose welfare is compromised by humans.

The first Vacation Scholarships were awarded in 1983. Since the scheme began there have been some 200 scholars and the range of projects that have been undertaken has been very wide.  In many cases scholars have published papers arising from their work in scientific literature (which we encourage); some have gone on to undertake postgraduate research in aspects of animal welfare. UFAW encourages its past scholars to keep in touch and to remain part of the UFAW team actively promoting animal welfare. For more information about UFAW Vacation Scholarship Awards, including past scholars and their projects, please visit: http://www.ufaw.org.uk/vacationScholarshipawards.php.

 

The vacation scholarships have also been a successful launch pad for a career in animal welfare science, with a number going onto to supervise scholars  themselves, including:

Dr Natalie Waran, Unitec New Zealand (1987 – The use of self-feeding silage systems by dairy cattle);

Dr Alison Hanlon, University College Dublin (1990 – Factors influencing fawn mortality in Phoenix Park);

Dr Deborah Wells, Queen’s University Belfast (1991 – The behaviour of dogs in a USPCA shelter) and

Dr Victoria Melfi, Paignton Zoo/University of Exeter (1997 - A comparative behavioural study of captive & wild troops of crested Sulawesi black macaques: with an integration of conservation and animal welfare).

 

Additionally, many other scholars have gone onto to undertake MSc’s or PhD’s in the field and advance the cause of animal welfare.

 

In recent years, the scholars have also been asked to present their finding at the annual meeting held in universities around the UK. These free-to-all, popular meetings have proved to be very enjoyable and successful occasions, with the scholars reinforcing the impression that animal welfare science attracts the some of the brightest and best.

We very much like to hear what our vacation scholars go on to do after their completing their scholarships and so do our members. Please send us an email letting us know what you are doing now and, perhaps, even a photo of yourself!

 

 

 

Other words of support for the UFAW vacation scholarships:

  • Professor Clive Phillips, University of Queensland -  the scholarships offer ‘a great opportunity for students to focus their study on animal welfare. Keep up the good work!’ 
  • Professor Ian Duncan , University of Guelph ‘I would like to congratulate UFAW ………… and wish you every success with this excellent scholarship scheme in the future.’ 
  • Professor Sandra Edwards, University of Newcastle ‘I ……would like to thank UFAW for their continuing support of these vacation scholarships. I think these are an important way of introducing students to animal welfare research and often stimulate interest which progresses to a longer term career in this area.’

 

Applications

Applications are now closed for 2010.

 A copy of the information leaflet can be downloaded here.

The closing date is 28th February 2010.  Applications are now closed for 2010.

 

Animal Welfare Student Scholarship consist of £170 per week subsistence allowance for the Scholar plus £30 per week to the department for departmental expenses (for up to 8 weeks). Payments are made prior to the commencement of the project by cheques made out to the Scholar and the Department in which the work will be carried out.

             

Closing Date

 

Please note that all applications for the UFAW Animal Welfare Student Scholarships must reach the UFAW office by the 28th February 2010. Applications are now closed for 2010.

 

Further information

 

IFurther information is required please contact UFAW directly via email: scioff@ufaw.org.uk or telephone: +44 (0) 1582 831818. Click here to download a copy of the UFAW Animal Welfare Student Scholarship Information leaflet.

 

 

The final report

On completion of the experimental work, students must write up and submit an original copy of the full report, including an abstract, by 1st November of the same year. Reports should be typed and spiral bound and must be accompanied by at least one photograph or slide of good quality which is relevant to the work and which can be used to illustrate the project in the UFAW News-sheet or Annual Report.

The work carried out by scholars should be regarded as confidential to UFAW unless permission to publish is specifically requested. Copies of any publications arising from the work should be forwarded to UFAW.

Examples of recent vacation scholarships

  • Evaluation of pain and distress associated with equine castration

  • Social housing of chimpanzees: the effects of group size and structure on social behaviour and relationships

  • Effects of light spectrum on the behaviour of fish in laboratory aquaria

  • Investigating the behavioural consequences of positive handling of pre-parturient heifers prior to introduction to a dairy herd

  • Evaluation of the use of a mirror as a form of enrichment for group-housed mice.

 

Where are they now? Some news about past Vacation Scholars

Click here to download a full list of past Vacation Scholarships