The next application deadline will be midnight (UK Time) on 1st March 2023.
This scheme will finance a number of bursaries to support new graduates studying psychology or a related discipline in the summer vacation immediately following their final year. Ordinary members may apply for such an award so long as they have not been awarded either an EPS Undergraduate Research Bursary or an EPS New Graduate Research Bursary in the immediately preceding calendar year, and provided they have not been awarded an EPS Small Grant in the current or preceding calendar year. Applicants cannot apply both for a Small Grant and for an Undergraduate Research Bursary in the same calendar year. Graduates are not eligible for this bursary if they have previously undertaken an EPS Undergraduate Research Bursary.
Awards will be made to ordinary members of the Society and will provide up to 10 weeks’ support (£250 per week) for their nominated graduate. It is intended that the bursaries be targeted at graduates who are planning a research career in experimental psychology (as defined by the content of the Society’s journals). The bursary will be administered, and the research project carried out, at the applicant’s institution, although this need not be the institution at which the student completed their undergraduate degree.
The purpose of the bursary is to support a research project to be undertaken by the new graduate under the supervision of the applicant. The project should have specific aims and objectives in respect of the learning experience of the graduate, and can either extend a project conducted during the graduate’s 3rd year project or be a completely new topic/methodology. It can be thought of as a short-term research apprenticeship, with emphasis on the learning experience rather than on research outcomes. Awards will not be granted for work that is a central part of an already-funded project.
The award is for a maximum of £2,500, and any additional expenses must be borne by the host institution. The Society will, on receipt of an invoice at the end of the period of the bursary, reimburse the institution up to the maximum amount detailed in the letter of award.
The invoice should accompany the final report and be received by the end of the December following the summer vacation.
The EPS can only consider one application per department and it is the responsibility of the department who to put forward for the award. The Head of Department should confirm that the single department nomination carries their support (although it isn’t expected that they make that decision).
Full terms and conditions can be found here New Graduate Bursary Terms and Conditions.
The application should be made by the EPS ordinary member and not the graduate.
The completed documents should be sent to the Honorary Secretary by email* (preferred) at expsychsoc@kent.ac.uk, or by post.
* If emailing, applicants must prepare and submit a single PDF of the aggregated, signed application material. In this case it is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all material is compiled and formatted appropriately. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all material is compiled and formatted appropriately. In either case material must be received in the office by the stated deadline.Please do not send a hard copy through the post if you have already emailed your submission.
Postal applications should be sent to:
Prof Heather Ferguson
EPS Hon Secretary
School of Psychology
Keynes College, University of Kent
Canterbury
CT2 7NP
The proposals will be circulated to Committee members with the Agenda of the Spring Committee meeting for consideration. Retrospective applications will not be considered.
Applications should consist of the following (further details on application form):
- A completed application form.
- A research proposal (max. 1000 words).
- A statement from the nominated graduate (max. 300 words).
- A one-page curriculum vitae (from EPS ordinary member submitting the application).
- Two short references in support of the nominated graduate, at least one of whom can comment on the grades and attainment so far of the nominated graduate, as well as their predicted degree outcome.
- A letter from the Head of the hosting department indicating the department’s willingness to host the bursary and abide by the Society’s New Graduate Bursary Terms and Conditions.
Bursaries will be allocated by the EPS Committee. Preference will be given to first time applicants. Applicants who are awarded a bursary in one year cannot apply in the following year.
On termination of the period of the bursary, the award holder will be required to submit a short report (max 1000 words) and an associated Final Report form confirming that all payments have been made to the graduate, and that all local ethics procedures were followed.
The report should 1) include an abstract of the research and training accomplished, 2) outline how the bursary benefited the graduate, 3) mention any publications planned on the basis of the bursary activities 4) include invoice on which it should detail the award holders name (please note that invoices should not be sent to the EPS separate to the final report). The Society expects its assistance to be acknowledged in any such publications. Further details of the headings to use are in the Final Report form.
New Graduate Bursary Final Report Form – PDF
New Graduate Bursary Final Report Form – Word
This must be received by the Hon. Secretary by the end of the December following the summer vacation. The final report form should be accompanied by an invoice for the amount actually paid to the nominated graduate. The Society will then reimburse the institution, by cheque, for this amount (up to the maximum of the value of the award).
Students who have taken part in an EPS funded New Graduate Research Bursary are eligible to apply for a Grindley Grant to present the work at an EPS meeting once the report form, report and invoice have been assessed. This presentation must be within one year of the project taking place. The sponsor of the Grindley Grant application MUST be the supervisor of the EPS funded New Graduate Research Bursary project who must also be present at the meeting for the presentation.
Members of the Society may donate money to the New Graduate Research Bursary Fund in the assurance that it will not be used for other society purposes. The EPS Committee wishes to encourage members and/or institutions to consider this possibility seriously. Given the current shortage of good postgraduates, it would seem appropriate to do what we can to help those considering a postgraduate research career in experimental psychology.