UKCP Bursary 2024

The UKCP Bursary is a fund created to support those studying and training to be psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors and who may need financial assistance.

The dates for the UKCP Bursary 2024 have been announced. Applications for this year's programme will be open between Thursday, 6 June and Thursday, 4 July.

Our aim is not only to help individuals, but to strengthen the profession as a whole by supporting students and trainees from groups under-represented in our workforce, and by enabling those from all backgrounds to complete their studies and contribute to the future of psychotherapy and psychotherapeutic counselling.

Grants of £750 are available for UKCP student and trainee members on UKCP-accredited training between September 2024 and April 2025.

Eligibility and requirements

To be eligible, you must:

• be a registered UKCP student or trainee member and enrolled in a UKCP-accredited course. More information on how to join UKCP is available here
• ensure that your training organisation provides a statement of support. Instructions on how to collect and submit this online statement will be shared in the application confirmation email
• ensure that a professional reference is provided. This could be from a supervisor, academic tutor, clinical professional, mentor, previous employer or anyone who knows you in a professional capacity. Instructions on how to collect and submit a professional reference will be shared in the application confirmation email
• demonstrate a genuine commitment to the psychotherapy or psychotherapeutic counselling profession
• not be in a receipt of a different bursary for the same course in the same academic year.

As part of our aim to improve equality and diversity practice within the profession, we especially welcome applications from UKCP students and trainees who meet the criteria above and who:

• are in a need of financial support due to their personal circumstances (for example, being a single parent, low-income household, carer or similar)
• come from under-represented groups including people who have Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic backgrounds, a disability (as defined by the Equality Act 2010) or those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, non-binary and/or transgender.

The award of £750 is a contribution towards training fees and is paid directly to the training organisation. Those who have completed all parts of their training are not eligible to apply.

How to apply

If you meet the eligibility criteria above and would like to apply for a UKCP Bursary, you need to:

• log in as a member on UKCP’s website to fill out the online application form between 6 June and 4 July
• forward the email acknowledging receipt of the completed form to:
  
  • the person in your training organisation who will provide your statement of support
  • someone who will provide your professional reference.

Your application submission should show how you meet the eligibility criteria, giving us basic information about your financial circumstances and details about your training course, and help us to know more about your experience and aspirations.

The deadline to complete the application form is noon on Thursday, 4 July 2024. The deadline for your training organisation and your professional references to complete the supporting documentation is noon on Thursday, 11 July 2024.

Please see our UKCP Bursary 2024 guidance for full details about how to apply. If you have any further questions about the application process, you can email us at bursary@ukcp.org.uk.

Download the UKCP Bursary 2024 guidance document

How applications will be assessed

All eligible applications will be anonymised by UKCP and shared with a specially appointed UKCP bursary panel which comprises of:

• a nominated UKCP trustee (panel chair)
• a nominated representative from the UKCP Professional Regulatory Committee of the Colleges and Faculties (PRCCF)
• a nominated representative of the UKCP Education, Training and Practice Committee (ETPC)
• a UKCP Honorary Fellow (nominated by the UKCP chair)
• a lay person who is not a UKCP member, not a practitioner, and not already on any UKCP committee or board (nominated by the UKCP Board of Trustees).

The panel will meet to assess the anonymous applications and decide which should receive a £750 bursary.

All applicants will be notified by email of the outcome of their application and whether they will receive a bursary by Tuesday, 6 August 2024.

If your application is successful, the award will be paid directly to your training organisation via bank transfer and will go towards the fee for your training. No payments will be made directly to applicants.

Please see our UKCP Bursary 2024 guidance for full details, terms and conditions.

Key dates