The HGCA Student Bursary scheme has been running successfully since June 2000. It offers an opportunity for researchers working on current HGCA-funded projects to run a small bursary project alongside it that provides added value, which would not otherwise be conducted within the original project remit. Committee have provided funds for this scheme in the hope that it will encourage young scientists into research areas which will benefit the cereals and oilseeds industry. An undergraduate student or recent graduate will conduct the research and will be ideally supervised by a recent post-graduate or postdoctoral worker, rather than a lead scientist. The scheme has been very successful and several students have already moved on to undertake PhDs.
The Bursaries have a number of aims:
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To encourage young scientists into agricultural research.
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To provide an opportunity for recent post-graduates or post-doctoral workers to gain supervisory experience.
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To add value to existing HGCA projects.
Researchers working on current projects approved by the HGCA R&D Advisory Committee are eligible to apply. If the number of applications of suitable quality exceeds the number of bursaries available, preference will be given to applications from recent post-graduate or post-doctoral workers rather than experienced lead scientists. Please remember that a secondary objective of the bursaries is to give recent post-graduate and post-doctoral researchers' working on current HGCA-funded projects the opportunity to apply for funding and gain supervisory experience.
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A bursary application form should be completed, which gives full details of the proposed work. The bursary should be an autonomous project that the student will undertake. It is imperative that the student will not simply be 'an extra pair of hands' to assist the HGCA-funded work in progress. More guidance about how to complete the application form is given in the Student Bursary Guidance Notes document below.
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The submission deadline is 31 March 2008. HGCA staff will assess applications on the basis of the quality of the proposed research project and the value it is likely to add to the ongoing HGCA-funded work. It is anticipated that applicants will be informed of the outcome within one month of the deadline.
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If HGCA decides to proceed with the bursary, then the applicant should proceed with finding a suitable student and contact HGCA staff with details of the student prior to a formal offer being made (brief curriculum vitae, including the content of the degree course, and a short statement indicating why they would like a HGCA student bursary). If the student is deemed suitable to undertake the project then the applicant will be informed as soon as possible. HGCA reserves the right to veto a student if they are deemed to be unsuitable for the bursary project.
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The student will be required to submit a report describing the methods and findings of their bursary project. The report must be submitted within 1 month of the end of the bursary. The report must include a statement describing whether the student felt that the bursary was worthwhile and what they achieved from it. If appropriate, the report will be edited and posted on the HGCA web site.
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Within 1 month of the end of the bursary, the supervisor will also be required to prepare a brief report explaining how the student's project contributed to the ongoing HGCA-funded work.
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Further details of the reporting requirements will be available at the meeting organised by HGCA towards then end of the Bursary period.
Application forms and guidance notes are available by clicking on the links below. Completed application forms are to be submitted electronically to Vicky Foster.
Student Bursary Application Form - 6 months  (52kb)
Student Bursary Application Form - 10 weeks (50kb)
Student Bursary Guidance Notes (27kb)
Student Bursary Invitation to Apply (68kb)
If you require any further information please contact Dr Vicky Foster at HGCA via e-mail (vicky.foster@hgca.com) or telephone (020 7520 3936). | 
