Here are a few questions which are not answered on other pages of this site.
Should referee opinions or commendations be submitted at the same time as a bursary application?
Usually no. Out of respect for referees and their time and effort, we do not ask them to write at the point where an application is first submitted.
Requests for early references should only be made where the Trust might have difficulty in making contact, for instance if referees are likely to be travelling.
Where does the trust operate?
We support study in the United Kingdom. Operating under English and Welsh charity law, we support study mainly in those countries. We are not registered with the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, but that would not prevent us awarding a minor part of our funds for study in Scotland.
Who can apply?
Anyone of Estonian stock (including someone born in the UK with at least one fairly recent Estonian forebear) who is studying at undergraduate or postgraduate level, or equivalent, in the UK.
Which subjects qualify for support?
Our official objects state that support should be in subjects where skill and knowledge is beneficial to the Estonian public and/or to the Estonian diaspora. It is a matter for discussion among trustees how subjects are judged for the Trust's own purposes (though technological areas such as agriculture or forestry would be clear examples), and to what extent decisions will also be guided by prospect of benefit to the Estonian interest through helping the development of outstanding applicants.
You may still apply even if feeling uncertain whether the Trust would approve your subject.
Does it matter if the course of study is already under way?
No, it does not matter. Especially in the case of undergraduate courses it is natural that most of our awards go for study or training already under way, because our awards will depend on unconditional acceptance on the specified course of study.
Usually we operate an October round of award-decisions and another (smaller) round in the Spring, and it is the Spring round that is more likely to involve uncertainties about course-acceptance.
Can I re-apply for a bursary if I already have received some support from the Trust?
Yes. It is uncertain how, if at all, the trustees would take account of a history of previous support; but there is nothing to stop re-applying. However you should not apply for more than one bursary in the same year (usually we operate two rounds of award-decisions per year).
Will I be informed of the outcome of an application, even if it is a rejection?
Yes. Timing of the information is not readily predictable, depending among other things on the dates of the trustee meetings at which awards are decided and on process of contacting referees.
How would an award be paid?
Awards are paid by bank cheque in favour of a named beneficiary, sent to a UK address.
What is the success rate for applications?
It is rather variable, depending on number of applicants and on funds at our disposal, but the experience up to end of 2009 has been about 40%. Chance of success has become rather small for subjects which do not readily fall within our concept of benefit to the Estonian public or the Estonian diaspora.
What happens to my personal details?
We have the details that applicants enter on their application forms, also some details and opinions from referees that applicants have told us we may consult. We do not pass this information to third parties.
Application-details are shown at award-deciding meetings of the trustees, but copies then are withdrawn and destroyed. Originals are kept for a period of years, together with backup scanned to a computer. (We need to be able to review our history of awards given and the sorts of people that have benefited. Also, we may wish to recall details in the case of a second application.)
We make and keep an analysis of applications considered at each award-deciding meeting. We may choose to transmit the results of analysis to third parties, for instance numbers of applications received, success ratios, breakdown of subjects supported, proportion of undergraduate to postgraduate support.
Does the Trust have any other sort of personal data?
Other than records of emails, we have no other sort of personal data except administrative details relating to trustees. We have not engaged in postal campaigning for funds and keep no information about people from whom funds might be sought.
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