BACP PhD Funding scheme 2017

Applicant Information

Programme aims:

The intent is that BACP will provide financial support for counselling doctoral students to pursue PhD research at a university of their own choice on a topic agreed with BACP. The BACP doctoral bursaries would cover PhD part-time fees and some expenses at the rate of £7,500 per academic year, up to a maximum of five years. In 2017, the intent is to fund two doctoral bursaries.

The aims for this BACP PhD funding programme are to:

1)Facilitate high-level substantial research with potential for significant impact in areas/projects that are relevant for the BACP strategic intents, broad commitment to social justice, and identified themes (Children, Young People + Families, Older Adults, 4 Nations) and are supportive of the BACP Research Department strategic objectives (see Appendix 1);

2)Build a community of counselling researchers of the future by facilitating the growth of research expertise in BACP funded students.

Eligibility:

The programme is open to applicants who have the following qualifications:

Essential

  • Educated to Masters level (MA, MSc or MPhil) in a relevant discipline or equivalent research experience that demonstrates readiness for engagement in a doctorate
  • Good record of educational achievement in relevant disciplines (e.g. undergraduate degree at 2:1 or First and/or MSc at Merit or Distinction, e.g. high grades for any research dissertation)
  • Research training sufficient to provide the appropriate foundation for doctoral studies. This should include both quantitative and qualitative research training
  • Evidence of aptitude for research through past engagement in research

Desirable

  • Counselling training or equivalent (e.g. psychotherapy or applied psychologist) – training must be completed at the time of application
  • Evidence of positive contact with potential doctoral supervisor(s) who are well suited to supervise the proposed research and who have capacity (workload) and willingness to do so

Applicants will also need to be able to satisfy any doctoral student entry requirements for the university where they study.

Process of application

The application deadline is June 30 2017. The interviews will take place in late July.

Applicants should submit a completed application form(see Appendix 2) and an outline of their proposed doctoral research which should address the following points:

  • Proposed research title
  • Abstract suitable for a lay audience describing the proposed research (200 words)
  • Rationale for research which outlines the importance of the proposed research and the gap in the literature that the proposed research seeks to address and which clearly identifies the research question(s) of the project (2,000 words max)
  • Proposed methodology or methodologies which identifies the planned approach to conducting the research; this document should outline why the proposed approach to project design and method is the most appropriate approach for the project (1,000 words max)
  • Link with BACP strategic aims – specifically how the proposed project fosters the overall aims of the BACP and/or the more specific objectives of BACP’s research department (500 words max)
  • Proposed doctoral supervisors – please detail which university/department and potential supervisors you would seek. Outline why the proposed supervisors are well qualified to supervise your project. Please detail any contact with potential supervisors and any evidence that the proposed supervisors would be willing/able to take you on as a doctoral student.

Selection of candidates:

Completed applications received by the deadline will be reviewed by a panel of 3-5 counselling and psychotherapy researchers including at least one representative from the BACP research department. Applications will be reviewed initially against the eligibility criteria and then against these criteria:

  • Quality of candidate in terms of evidence of potential as a doctoral candidate
  • Quality of doctoral proposal
  • Alignment with BACP strategic intents and themes as well as potential impact of proposed research

Following this process, the highest ranked applicants will be invited to interview at BACP; the interview will include at least two interviewers and applicants should expect to be asked about both their proposed research project and their suitability for doctoral study. In addition applicants will be asked how their proposed doctoral research would contribute to 1) creating relevant impact for the counselling profession; 2) creating for them an ongoing professional engagement/career as a counselling researcher.

Results of the interview process will be fed back to the candidates as soon as practical. News about the award of the doctoral bursaries and the winners will be announced through BACP outlets.

Appendix 1

BACP strategic intents[ ]

  1. We will promote expertise in the counselling professions to enable confidence in BACP and its members
  2. We will use our resources efficiently and effectively to fulfil our internal and external strategic objectives to maximise impact
  3. We will be alert to change and encourage innovation in a fast moving world and our policy interventions will be informed and evidence-based
  4. We will commission, undertake and encourage research and relationships to ensure that we can champion practice of the counselling professions
  5. We will uphold the highest standards of differentiated practice, ensuring that our standards are fit for purpose and communicable to clients and commissioners
  6. We will educate the public about the practice and benefits of the counselling professions and learn from people how to develop responsive services
  7. We will position the profession in the minds of commissioners and employers, to argue the case for best practice and the benefits of the counselling professions
  8. We will develop relationships with the wider professions and all our stakeholders
  9. We will define the scope and standards of training and practice for the counselling professions, drawing on evidence and experience, reflected in differentiated membership categories
  10. We commit to the highest standards of customer service, public engagement and membership engagement

BACP research department strategic objectives

  1. Foster public, commissioner, policy-maker and employer confidence in the counselling professions by promoting and contributing to the evidence base
  2. Engage critically in national debates around what constitutes ‘evidence-based’ mental health treatments and champion counselling as an evidence-based practice
  3. Develop a programme of research collaborations around older adults that supports the value of the talking therapies for this age group
  4. Build on and extend the programme of work around children, young people and families to promote the importance of early interventions for this group
  5. Foster BACP member awareness, knowledge and confidence in counselling and psychotherapy research
  6. Systematically share the research department’s expertise to ensure that the work of the whole organization is robustly research-informed
  7. Contribute to the development of an evidence-based core curriculum and differentiated standards of practice which includes strengthening research training in the professions
  8. Conduct an ongoing review of ways of working in the research department to promote greater efficiency, maximum impact and highest standards

BACP Funded PhD Scheme

Deadline June 30 2017

Name:

Address and contact information (email/phone):

Education:[please include title of all programmes completed, training provider, year of qualification, programme accreditation (if relevant) and result (e.g. ‘Merit’).]

Details of counselling research methods training, experience of engagement in research, and any research outputs to date.

Employment history (please focus on counselling-relevant employment and any work-history relevant to your doctoral proposal). Please also outline your planned work pattern during BACP-funded doctoral studies.