Note: the deadline for 2006 applications has now passed.

Background

This year the Research Committee of the British Stammering Association is again running its Vacation Scholarship scheme to provide students with the opportunity to propose and execute a research project related to stammering. The project may take the form of original research or a review of existing research. Whichever approach is chosen the project should help the BSA to fulfil its vision of a world that understands stammering. Reviews should therefore also include a well developed proposal for future research for which the BSA could seek funding. The immediate aim of the scheme is to assist those who wish to conduct research into stammering, or related areas, in their future careers. The long-term aim is to increase awareness of the importance of research amongst professionals working with people wanting to improve their fluency.

Applications are invited from departments of speech language, psychology, medicine, social science or any allied disciplines, for students to work on a research project during the summer vacation. All applications should be submitted by the sponsoring departments on the students' behalf. Joint applications where two students share the work, and the bursary, are permissible.

Eligibility

Applicants should be either undergraduates or students taking a degree in speech language therapy as a post-graduate course. In either case they must have completed at least a year's study of their course but should not be in their final year. They should be registered for a relevant degree at a university within the UK or the Republic of Ireland. There should be only one application per candidate and only one per supervisor. Scholarships are not available to complete projects that are part of the normal degree course or for students wishing to undertake research in laboratories outside the UK or the Republic of Ireland. They are not transferable.

There is flexibility over the course year in which the research may be undertaken due to the wide range of degree courses that are eligible. Applications should include evidence that the necessary skills have been acquired, either as part of the current degree or a previous qualification.

Remuneration Available

Scholarships are available for up to eight weeks work and currently carry a stipend of £180 per week. Research expenses will not be paid. A maximum of five scholarships are available.

Timetable

This year the deadline for applications is 17th February 2006. Applications will be judged by the BSA Research Committee and results will be sent directly to the sponsor by 31st March 2006. The BSA will not be able to answer queries about the progress of applications or to enter into appeals procedures.

Gaining ethical approval, where required, is the responsibility of the sponsoring departments. Applications should state whether approval is needed and in such cases the project will not be awarded if approval has not been granted by the specified project start date. It is the responsibility of the supervisor to notify the BSA in this eventuality.

Late applications will not be accepted.

Application Procedure

The following application form should be submitted (a) as a hard copy document to:
Norbert Lieckfeldt
BSA
15 Old Ford Road
London
E2 9PJ

and (b) as a Word document emailed to nl@stammering.org

Download application form (Word document)

Report

A project report should be submitted to the BSA by the student, with comment from the supervisor, within three months of the completion of the project. Additionally a short abstract, suitable for a lay audience, should be supplied. Edited versions of these documents will be published on the BSA website.

Research Page