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BSAVA PetSavers and the Animal Welfare Foundation (AWF) will jointly fund a master’s degree by research (MDR) in the field of companion animal welfare. The AWF’s definition of animal welfare is being used here, and please note that proposals related to the welfare of other (non-companion) animals or non-welfare projects will not be considered for funding.
We will fund the following costs up to a maximum in aggregate of £42,000:
- Postgraduate student stipend at BBSRC standard rates (veterinary stipend can be requested)
- Payment of university fees
- Equipment and consumables (up to £10,000 including VAT) depending on the nature of the project.
Applications for funding should be made by prospective academic supervisors of the student. You don’t need to be a qualified veterinary professional to apply, but we expect applicants to have a level of veterinary experience appropriate for the project. Grantees are welcome to apply for funding which either names the prospective research student, or before advertising for a student. The project should be carried out in the UK.
The deadline for this grant call is midnight on 15th October 2025, and you will be notified if your proposal has been shortlisted by the end of November 2025. A final funding decision will be made in spring 2026.
Find dates for all our grant calls on our grant calendar or sign up to receive email notifications when grant calls open.
The acceptance rate for this grant type over the last 10 years is 32%.
How to apply
- Complete the application form below, making sure to fill in the checklist, provide the names and contact details of three reviewers with whom you have no conflicts of interest, and provide truncated CVs for each grant applicant.
- Obtain a letter of support from your head of department or practice principal.
- Obtain, or at the very least apply for, ethical approval for your project and provide supporting evidence of this.
- Complete our terms and conditions (below) by obtaining signatures from the main applicant (supervisor) and an authorised representative of the institution.
- Email all documents to petsaversadmin@bsava.com.
Please note
The use of experimental animals is not permitted in any work funded by BSAVA PetSavers, and this includes work on tissues derived from experimental animals. Visit our Guidance for Applicants page to read our full statement on experimental animals, view eligibility criteria and guidance on designing a robust research project.