Self-defined projects

If you wish to apply for a self-defined project, you will independently devise the project parameters, based on your research interests, and gain the support of an academic member of staff from the University of St Andrews who is willing to supervise you.

Your supervisor must complete the Laidlaw Supervisor reference form - laidlaw-supervisor-reference-form (Word).

It is possible to have more than one supervisor (in these instances there will typically be a lead supervisor and a secondary co-supervisor; it is also possible to work for a team of three or more co-supervisors). It is advisable to seek out more than one supervisor if there isn’t an academic member of staff at St Andrews who, based on their areas of expertise, is able to singlehandedly provide sufficient guidance on all areas of you proposed research project. 

Any permanent academic staff member at the University can serve as a Laidlaw research supervisor, although postgraduate students are not eligible. 

Laidlaw research projects are usually supervised by someone from the University of St Andrews. If you have been unable to find a suitable supervisor at St Andrews, there is the possibility of being a visiting scholar at another institution as part of the summer research project. This is arranged on a case-by-case basis and is typically only approved on an exceptional basis when no other alternatives are available at St Andrews (and assuming all relevant logistics can be approved by both universities). 

The university that you would be visiting must be a part of the Laidlaw Programme as well. Depending on where you go and depending on your personal circumstance, you may then be required to stay in St Andrews in the second summer of the programme to complete your Leadership-in-Action project locally while also attending weekly events alongside next year’s cohort of Laidlaw Scholars. Individual requirements can be confirmed upon enquiry with the St Andrews Laidlaw team. 

If you are considering supervision at another Laidlaw University, please reach out to laidlaw@st-andrews.ac.uk as early as possible (well before you submit your application) to discuss your situation before reaching out to any other University.