This scheme was set up in 2020 by Professor Dorothy Bishop, in memory of Kuppuraj, a postdoc from India who worked with her on a study visit. It aims to help finance postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers from the ‘Global South’ working in experimental psychology to complete a study visit in a lab hosted by an EPS member. Submissions are once a year with a submission deadline of 1st December.
The ‘Global South’ refers to economically disadvantaged nation-states, not to a specific geographic area. Countries that have a GNI per capita (The GNI per capita is the dollar value of a country’s final income in a year, divided by its population – reflecting the average before tax income of a country’s citizens), of $4,045 or less (in 2019) qualify for the term ‘Global South Country’ (see here for further information). Please find here a list of Global South countries. Please contact the EPS Administrator if you are unsure of your status.
Awards will pay for travel from and accommodation at another institution (hosted by a current EPS member) outside an individual’s academic base. The purpose of the visit is to develop the applicant’s research skills, and may involve learning at first-hand about experimental procedures employed in the host laboratory, or designing and running studies that cannot already be carried out in the applicant’s home department. Awards will not be granted for work which forms an integral part of an existing PhD research project, nor for work which would normally be funded by other bodies (e.g. the applicant’s award-granting body or home institution).
Applicants must be (a) registered for a PhD or (b) postdoctoral workers who received their PhD within the previous five years. Applicants must be of ‘Global South’ nationality as defined above and / or the applicant’s home institution must be in a ‘Global South’ country, with the institution to be visited to be in the UK. The study visit must be hosted by a current EPS member.
Grants will be for a maximum of £3,500 to any individual. In addition, the Society will, on receipt of appropriate invoices, reimburse the institution visited by the student for actual costs incurred as a consequence of the visit up to a maximum of £100.
The EPS will reimburse:
- The cost of travel to and from your residence / home institution (for the duration of the visit) by the cheapest reasonable means. It is expected that in considering travel costs, applicants will use standard class public transport, including standard flight costs, standard class rail travel or fuel costs for transport within the UK. Travelling by car within the UK can be approved if you provide additional evidence that the cost is no greater than public transport. Mileage can be reimbursed based on a rate of 45p per mile, with the total reimbursed based upon fuel receipts provided in the expense form. The EPS will not reimburse first, business or premium economy class tickets. Reimbursement for taxi travel (including Uber) will only be considered in exceptional circumstances (e.g. for accessibility or safety reasons), this should be approved in advance when possible. A justification for all taxi travel should be provided with the final invoice.
- Essential visa costs will be supported up to £150.
- Accommodation for the duration of the visit only.
The EPS will not reimburse:
- The cost of subsistence during your visit.
- Any conference fees during your visit.
- Poster printing or any other associated costs.
If applicants or grant awardees have any other queries about accessibility needs not covered elsewhere on the application details, then they are encouraged to contact the EPS Administrator at expsychsoc@kent.ac.uk to discuss any such unavoidable or other costs, ideally ahead of their application.
Submission Process
The completed documents should be compiled into a single PDF file and sent by email to expsychsoc@kent.ac.uk.
These should be sent prior to the submission date 1st December. The proposals will be circulated to Committee members for consideration. Retrospective applications will not be considered and study visits cannot start until applicants have been notified of the decision (which can be up to 3 months after the submission dates).
Applications should consist of the following:
• A completed application form.
Kuppuraj Bishop Study Visit Grant Application Form – PDF
Kuppuraj Bishop Study Visit Grant Application Form – Word
• A curriculum vitae
• Short references from two academics (one of whom should normally be the applicant’s supervisor, ex-supervisor or grant-holder)
• A letter from the institution to be visited, indicating its willingness to have the applicant and confirming the availability of the relevant research facilities. If this letter is from the Head of the Institution or other person who is unlikely to have day to day contact with the applicant, the letter should indicate who will be supervising the work on a daily basis.
Grants will be allocated by the EPS Committee.
Guidance
• Applications from PhD students in their first, or even second year of FTE study are often declined. The EPS takes the view that study visits are most useful and beneficial when a student has already established relevant training and experience in their research career. When a study visit can demonstrably complement a postgraduate training experience already acquired, it is more likely to be successful.
• Applications that do not demonstrate how the study visit will be distinct and separate from a PhD programme are much less likely to be successful. We encourage applicants to make the relationship between their research programme and the study visit clear.
• Applications that do not demonstrate why particular research training or facilities cannot be accessed at their home institution are less likely to be successful. We encourage applicants to make the case for the novelty of the visit they propose, especially for visits to international institutions.
• Applicants are welcome to document any relevant plans for open science practices involved in the work
For successful applicants
Holders of Study Visit awards will be required to submit a short report (maximum 1000 words) to the Hon. Secretary within 8 weeks of the end of their visit. Please download and fill in the Final Report Form and Template Invoice here.
Final Report Form – (Word)
Template Invoice – (Word)
This should:
• include an abstract of the research or other activities accomplished
• outline how the visit benefited their research
• mention any publications planned on the basis of it
• include an invoice which should detail the award holders name (please note that invoices should not be sent to the EPS separate to the final report), together with receipts. Where there is a VAT element on any of your receipts, please split this on your invoice.
The Society expects its assistance will be acknowledged in any publications directly arising from the work supported. Should there be any change in details regarding start date, duration or cancellation then the Honorary Secretary must be informed as soon as possible.
Funding and donations
Members of the Society may donate money to the Study Visit Fund in the assurance that it will not be used for other society purposes. The EPS Committee wishes to encourage members to consider this possibility seriously.
Study Visit Grants 1995 – present