Great Expectations

"Great Expectations GP Registrar Bursaries" are available from an educational fund organised especially for registrars - to help you realise your brainwaves.

Aims

1. To provide an educational fund to benefit registrars nationally
2. To assist registrars evaluating an area of family medicine either
   (a) by undertaking a research project or
   (b) travelling to study an aspect of primary health care

Prizes

1. Bursaries
   As a result of national GP Registrar Conferences, several awards of £200 - £500 each per annum are available for research and/or travel to study an aspect of family medicine. To provide an educational fund to benefit registrars nationally
   
    
2. Report Prize
   A prize of £200 cash plus a double room for two nights at the Royal College of General Practitioners will be awarded annually for the best report on a project funded by a Bursary.

Who May Apply?

Any doctor in training for general practice, whether in hospital or general practice posts, in a recognised Vocational Training Scheme or a self-constructed scheme. The research or travel must be undertaken as a registrar or within one year of completion of a Vocational Training Scheme prior to becoming a Principal in General Practice.

Submissions consisting of a formal protocol of proposed research or travel are invited for consideration.

Individual registrars or groups of registrars may apply.

The RCGP has agreed to act as a central body to enable administration of the fund on a national basis.

How To Apply

Applications are invited in the form of a research protocol. They must be typed, double spaced on a maximum of six sheets of A4 paper. Six copies must be supplied with a covering letter. Information should be given under the following headings:

1. Applicant
   Name, date of birth, address, telephone number, date of registration, GMC registration number, present appointments(s).
    
2. Date of Completion of Vocational Training
    
3. Brief Curriculum Vitae including:
   (a) medical career to date
   (b) name and address of trainer
   (c) name and address of course organiser,
   (d) details of previous medical research undertaken
    
4. Research 'Tutor'
   name and address of tutor who can advise at all stages of the protocol and research eg trainer, local faculty board member or from local Department of General Practice.
    
5. Title of Project or Purpose of travel
    
6. Details of proposed research/travel

   (a) Objectives of proposed investigation or travel

   (b) Introduction (including evidence of background reading)

   (c) Method of investigation or plan of travel with details

   (d) Proposed analysis of results

   (e) References

   (f) Estimates of expenditure eg equipment, consumables, travel

   (g) Sum applied for

   (h) Details of other financial assistance received or applied for
    

7. Terms and Conditions
   (a) Applications for a bursary for research and/or travel are invited in the form of a formal protocol.

   (b) The submissions will be considered by an awards panel twice a year, and award winners notified.

   (c) Closing dates are 1 October and 1 March each year.

   (d) Award winners will be announced at the GP Registrars National Conference and the RCGP Annual General Meeting.

   (e) A condition of the award is that a short written account is submitted at completion. This will be automatically entered for the 'Report Prize'.

   (f) The subject of the research/travel may refer to any aspect of family medicine. The panel is keen to encourage imaginative ideas and allow flexibility to pursue special interests; eg a travel bursary for a month abroad attached to a family practice either during vocational training jobs or just prior to taking up a principal's post.

   (g) The applicant should inform the panel if they have received or applied to any other financial assistance for their submission.

References

• RCGP Occasional Paper ‘Trainee Projects’ chapter ‘Research Protocols’
• ‘How to do it’, BMA Publications, Vol 2 chapter ‘Plan a Research project’
• ‘Research methods in Primary Care’ (1st Edition) Y Carter, C Thomas. Radcliffe, 1996
• ‘Research in General Practice’ (2nd Edition) J.G.R. Howie. Chapman & Hall, 1989
• ‘Doing Your Research Project’ (2nd Edition) Bell J. Oxford University Press, 1993
• ‘Doing Qualitative Research’ B Crabtree, WL Millar. Sage Publications, 1992

Closing dates
1 March and 1 October each year

Completed applications should be sent to:
'Great Expectations' Bursary Applications
Awards Secretary
Royal College of General Practitioners
14 Princes Gate, Hyde Park
London SW7 1PU
Tel: 020 7581 3232
Fax: 020 7589 3145
Email: mpatel@rcgp.org.uk