Grants and prizes
The British Geriatrics Society administers a number of grants, prizes and awards with a view to encouraging high quality research and furthering the professional development of professionals with an interest in older people’s healthcare.
Our grants and prizes
Click below to learn more about the various grants, prizes and awards on offer from the BGS, along with eligibility criteria and current deadlines.
Please note that due to the COVID pandemic, grants for attendance at scientific meetings are suspended. We hope to resume the scheme once face-to-face meetings are possible.
We invite entries from medical and dental students for the 44th award of the Amulree Prize, to be submitted by 5pm on 31 July 2021.
The essay should be between 4,000 and 8,000 words in length and should be on a subject pertinent to ageing or old age, from a medical, biological or sociological point of view. It should include a review of relevant literature, but particular credit will be given for original thought and accounts of personal experience. Reports on ‘special study modes’ would be welcome. Marks are awarded for overall presentation, structure, strength of argument, completeness of supporting literature, conclusions and relevance to geriatric medicine. The prize commemorates the late Lord Amulree, a founder member and former President of the British Geriatrics Society, and was instituted in 1975.
The current value of the prize is: first prize £450; second prize £350; third prize £250.
Eligibility
To enter, you must be medical or dental student on a full-time course or on secondment to a Medical or Dental School in the UK or Republic of Ireland.
Essays should be submitted by email, in MS Word format (please put your name and the name of your school in the header of each page), to the scientificofficer [at] bgs [dot] org [dot] uk (Scientific Officer) of the BGS. The closing date for submission of essays is 30 June 2020. No correspondence can be entered into concerning the judges' decision.
The winning essay will be published on the British Geriatrics Society website.
Past winners
2018/2019
Title: 'The Parkinson's you can't see'
- 1st: Kevin Teo, University of Cambridge
- 2nd: Hunaynah Patel, Leicester Medical School
- 3rd: Owen Duffey, University of Oxford
2017
- 1st: Keiron Jankowski, University of Sheffield: What factors affect survival in critically ill older people?
- 2nd: Avinash Harinarayanan, Manchester University: Vascular Parkinsonism and the ageing brain.
- Joint 3rd place: Sarah Alexis Gritis, University of St Andrews Medical School: The pain of Parkinson's Disease and Natasha Povey, Lancaster Medical School: Immunosenescence - can it be reversed?
POSTPONED TO 2021 DUE TO TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS AND COVID-19
The Cardiovascular SIG of the British Geriatrics Society invites applications for the 11th Bulpitt Undergraduate Scholarship.
Two awards of £400 will be made.
Candidates should write a 150 word statement as to why they should be given the scholarship and how the elective will help to further their interest in geriatric medicine.
Scholarship holders will be expected to write a report following the elective.
Entries to be submitted by email to: scientificofficer [at] bgs [dot] org [dot] uk (Scientific Officer) (please include '2021 Bulpitt Scholarship Entry' in the subject line) by 31 July 2021.
The British Geriatrics Society Falls and Bone Health Section offers a limited number of grants to help trainees in geriatric medicine who wish to go on courses or conferences related to bone and health issues (or if they are presenting an abstract related to falls and bone health at a more general meeting). Grants are limited to a maximum of £500 each.
To apply, email a half page application with estimated costs to the scientificofficer [at] bgs [dot] org [dot] uk (Scientific Officer).
This grant is currently suspended pending a review of the Society’s grants policy.
We offer a limited number of grants of up to £500 to medical students to enable them to make use of their elective period for a project concerned with health or health care in old age either in the UK or abroad. The primary purpose is to give undergraduates an opportunity to broaden their perception and experience of this growing field by undertaking, under supervision, a study of a relevant initiative in age research or the provision of health care which will be complementary to their taught curriculum.
There are no fixed categories of grant, but examples of the kind of provision considered include:
- Partial or full support for travel and subsistence expenses incurred in the process of information gathering or data collection;
- Materials, including small items of equipment; and
- Honoraria to host departments/organisation for supervision provided.
Eligibility
You must be a medical undergraduate at a UK registered university entering your penultimate or final year of study in the next academic year. The minimum duration of the project is six weeks, consisting of three to four weeks, preceded or followed by a similar period supervised within your home Academic Department.
Grants are administered by the Society's Education and Training Committee.
Responsibilities
You must establish in advance with your prospective host institution / organisation that your visit will be welcome and that appropriate facilities will be provided there. You are responsible for making your own travel and accommodation arrangements.
A condition of the award will be providing a report to the Society when the attachment is completed, consisting of a personal assessment of the experience obtained (about 250 words), and a description of the work in which you were involved, and your contribution to it (750-1000 words).
How to apply
Applications, accompanied by the relevant documentation, are considered at any time of year, provided there are funds available. Decisions are usually made within 5-6 weeks, therefore please allow sufficient time before the study experience/visit to submit applications. For further information email committees [at] bgs [dot] org [dot] uk (Committees) or call 020 7608 8575.
Please note: if your grant application relates to a BGS scientific meeting please register for the meeting but do not pay the registration fee online. If approved your grant will cover the cost of registration.
Applications invited for the BGS Movement Disorders Section Essay Prize 2021
The BGS Movement Disorders Section is inviting submissions for its Essay Prize Competition 2021
Eligibility: Open to medical, nursing and therapy students
Title of the essay: Parkinson’s in the time of COVID
Closing date for entries: 31 May 2021
Submissions by email to: scientificofficer [at] bgs [dot] org [dot] uk
Prizes for top three essays: £500, £300 and £200
Word limit: 1,500 (limit for references: 20)
The British Geriatrics Society Movement Disorders Section is offering a limited number of grants of up to £500 to Specialist Registrars, other trainee doctors and allied health professionals to support:
- Attendance at meetings in Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders, if the applicant’s study leave allowance is unavailable or insufficient to meet expenses to attend such meetings.
- Attendance to present work relating to Parkinson’s disease and Movement Disorders at scientific meetings, where the applicant’s study leave allowance is unavailable or insufficient to meet expenses to attend the meeting and Central BGS office have not already funded the applicant once within the last two years.
- In exceptional cases, to support international medical graduates from developing countries (as defined by the World Health Organisation), who have been accepted to present work at Parkinson’s disease and Movement Disorders Scientific Meetings, where the applicant is unable to raise sufficient finance to meet the expenses to attend the meeting.
Eligibility
If applying to attend a meeting abroad, you must be a member of the British Geriatrics Society, and depending on youe year of training, have attended at least one BGS Scientific Meeting in the last two years.
Priority will be given to applicants presenting papers (posters or platform communications).
How to Apply
Ensure that you comply with all the conditions of award. Complete the application form downloadable from this page. Decisions are usually made within five to six weeks. Please submit your application well in advance of the proposed date of travel. Email any enquiries or requests for the Applications Procedures to scientificofficer [at] bgs [dot] org [dot] uk (Scientific Officer) or call 020 7608 8574.
We are pleased to offer grants in support of small research, quality improvement and innovation projects in the field of older people with movement disorders.
The value of the grant awarded shall generally be in the region of £100 – £2000.
Conditions of the award:
1. The grant will be awarded twice yearly at the discretion of the BGS MDS committee.
2. The application deadlines shall be 31st July and 31st December to allow adjudication at the twice yearly BGS MDS committee meetings.
3. The value of the grant shall be at the discretion of the BGS MDS committee and the adjudication process is final.
4. The grant shall be used solely for the purpose set out in the application process.
5. The applicant must be a member of the British Geriatrics Society Movement Disorder Section
6. The applicant must agree to dissemination of their work by presenting their project at a BGS MDS meeting following completion of the project.
7. Acknowledgement of the BGS Movement Disorder Section Grant must be made in any publication and/or presentation.
8. The applicant agrees to submit a short blog article (250 – 300 words) outlining the benefits gained from the grant.
Full details and the application form are available from Joanna Gough, BGS Scientific Officer at scientificofficer [at] bgs [dot] org [dot] uk.
The British Geriatrics Society Northern Ireland Region is offering a limited number of grants of up to £450 to support:
- Attendance at meetings in geriatric medicine (or related subjects, e.g. stroke, Parkinson’s Disease) abroad (including Ireland), but not in the UK, if the applicant’s study leave allowance is unavailable or insufficient to meet expenses to attend such meetings.
- Specialist Registrars (SpRs), young doctors who have been accepted to present work at BGS scientific meetings, where the applicant’s study leave allowance is unavailable or insufficient to meet expenses to attend the BGS meeting and we have already funded the applicant once within the last two years.
- In exceptional cases, to support international medical graduates from developing countries (as defined by the World Health Organisation), who have been accepted to present work at BGS scientific meetings, where the applicant is unable to raise sufficient finance to meet the expenses to attend the meeting.
Eligibility
If you are applying to attend a non-BGS meeting abroad, you must be a member of the Society, and depending on your year of training, have attended at least one BGS Scientific Meeting in the last two years.
Priority will be given to SpRs (and other young doctors) presenting papers (posters or platform communications).
At our discretion, Young Doctors Educational Grants may also be used to help a few international medical graduates with insufficient funding to attend and present at BGS meetings.
How to Apply
Ensure that you can comply with all the conditions of award. Complete the application form which can be downloaded from this section. Decisions are usually made within five to six weeks. You should submit your application well in advance of your proposed date of travel. Please email enquiries and requests for the ‘Applications procedures’ and Conditions of Award to scientificofficer [at] bgs [dot] org [dot] uk (Scientific Officer) or call 020 7608 8574.
This grant is currently suspended pending a review of the Society’s grants policy.
We offer a limited number of grants of up to £300 to trained nurses (and nurses in training) with a special interest in the care of older people to:
- Attend conferences, seminars and meetings of an innovative nature which will enhance their understanding and appreciation of the special needs of older patients; and/or
- Visit a geriatric ward which has an innovative service approach, special programme or project for the care of older patients.
There are no fixed categories of grant. However, the type of support which will be considered includes registration fees and travelling expenses (by public transport) to conferences, seminars and meetings, and travelling expenses and accommodation costs for professional visits. Grants will not be made where funding is available from another source nor to part-fund a diploma, certificate, degree course or other long-term study experiences.
Eligibility
You must be a member of the Society who is a trained nurse or nurse in training who has an expressed special interest in the care of older patients, irrespective of professional affiliation. Grants are administered by the Society.
How to apply
Applications, accompanied by the relevant documentation, are considered at any time of year, provided there are funds available. Decisions are usually made within 5-6 weeks Please submit applications allowing sufficient time before the study experience/visit. Please email enquires to committees [at] bgs [dot] org [dot] uk (Committees) or call 020 7608 1369.
Please note: if your grant application relates to a BGS meeting please do not register in advance. If approved your grant will cover the cost of registration but you will need to complete an online form for the meeting.
- Access to a local network of dedicated skilled research support staff including research nurses and other allied health professionals, who can help identify eligible patients, arrange consent to participate in the study, monitor and follow up patients as they progress through the study.
- Support to ensure that a study can be successfully delivered in NHS settings, including pharmacy, imaging and pathology services and the possibility of securing protected time for NHS staff to conduct research.
- Access to experienced Research Management and Governance staff who can advise on governance aspects of undertaking clinical research in the NHS and facilitate the rapid approval of a study through the NIHR Coordinated System for gaining NHS Permission (NIHR CSP).
- Name of principal investigator and other members of research team
- Background to the research
- Methodology and analysis
- Power calculations (as appropriate)
- Timeframe for research
- Potential problems which may be encountered and how these will be overcome
- Who will be supporting this research locally and who will be acting as mentor/ supervisor.
- Confirmation that the proposed research has approval from the Local Ethics Research Committee (if required). Where ethical approval is yet to be obtained a clear timeline is mandatory.
- Budget with detailed breakdown of costs. Costs should be as accurate as possible at the time of application and should include everything that you think you have assessed that the project will need.
This grant is currently suspended pending a review of the Society’s grants policy.
We offer a limited number of grants of up to £300 to members of the British Geriatrics Society who are qualified therapists (and therapists in training recognised by their Association or College) with an expressed special interest in the care of older patients to:
- Attend conferences, seminars and meetings of an innovative nature which will enhance their understanding and appreciation of the special needs of older patients, and/or
- Visit a geriatric ward which has an innovative service approach, special programme or project for the care of older patients.
The primary purpose of the scheme is to provide a source of funds enabling at least one therapist of a multidisciplinary team to be exposed to innovative educational experiences relevant to the special needs of older patients.
Eligibility
Applicants must be members of the Society. There are no fixed categories of grant. However, the following examples provide some indication of the kind of support which will be considered.
- Registration fees and travelling expenses (by public transport) to conferences, seminars and meetings
- Travelling expenses and accommodation costs for professional visits.
Grants will not be made where funding is available from another source nor to part-fund a diploma, certificate, degree course or other long-term study experiences. Grants are administered by the Society's Education and Training Committee.
How to apply
Applications should be made on the Application form downloadable from this page, accompanied by the relevant documentation, are considered at any time of year, provided there are funds available. Decisions are usually made within 5-6 weeks, so please allow sufficient time before the study experience/visit to submit applications. Please email enquiries to committees [at] bgs [dot] org [dot] uk (Committees) or call 020 7608 8575.
Please note: if your grant application relates to a BGS meeting please do not register in advance. If approved your grant will cover the cost of registration but you will need to complete an online form for the meeting.
This grant is currently suspended pending a review of the Society’s grants policy.
We offer a limited number of grants of up to £450 (in special cases, this amount may be exceeded) to support:
- Attendance of meetings in Geriatric Medicine (or related subjects, e.g. stroke , Parkinson’s Disease) outside the UK , if the applicant’s study leave allowance is unavailable or insufficient to meet expenses to attend such meetings
- Specialist Registrars and young doctors who have been accepted to present work at BGS Scientific Meetings, where the applicant’s study leave allowance is unavailable or insufficient to meet expenses to attend the BGS meeting
- In exceptional cases, to support international medical graduates from developing countries (as defined by the World Health Organisation), who have been accepted to present work at BGS Scientific Meetings, where the applicant is unable to raise sufficient finance to meet the expenses to attend the BGS meeting.
Eligibility
If you are applying to attend a non-BGS meeting abroad, you must be a member of the Society, and depending on your year of training, have attended at least one BGS Scientific Meeting in the last two years. Priority will be given to Specialist Registrars and other young doctors presenting papers (posters or platform communications).
How to apply
Ensure that you can comply with all the conditions of award. Complete the application form downloadable from this page. Decisions are usually made within five to six weeks. Please submit your application well in advance of the proposed date of travel. Please email enquiries, applications and requests for the Applications Procedures and Conditions of Award to committees [at] bgs [dot] org [dot] uk (Committees) or call 020 7608 8575.
Please accompany your application with a document detailing the following:
- Your name.
- Your address for correspondence
- Email address for correspondence
- Telephone number
- Hospital where you are currently based
- Grade e.g. StR
- Year of training, if applicable
- Deanery (UK)
- Name and date of the event for which you are applying for sponsorship
- Where the event is being held
- Expenses you will incur in attending the meeting (enclose a copy of the programme and registration costs, and copies of any other evidence of costs, e.g. flights)
- Whether you are presenting at the event (poster or platform)
- The courses and events you have attended in this financial year together with the associated expenses.
- The last BGS Scientific Meeting you attended
- When you last presented a paper at a BGS Scientific Meeting (if at all)
- Name of your Deanery STC Chair / Study Leave Adviser or Clinical Tutor (who is endorsing this application).
The endorser of the application should sign and date a statement to the effect that:
"I have seen the general regulations of the Young Doctor's Educational Award and endorse this applicant's application. I would be willing to help to administer any grant that might be made by the British Geriatrics Society in respect of this application. I confirm that no other funding source is available for the proposed meeting."