Calling all students! It’s not just about politics....

Write your dissertation on Parliament and apply for a bursary

The Houses of Parliament and the Higher Education Academy (HEA) are offering a fantastic opportunity for students writing a dissertation on Parliament. Students of any subject have the chance to apply for a HEA-funded bursary to cover the cost of a visit to Parliament, where they can see the House of Commons and House of Lords in action and meet Parliamentary officials to discuss their essay. Visits will be organised by Parliament’s Outreach Service.

The closing date for applications is noon on Friday 2nd November 2012.  Applications are welcome from any discipline as long as the dissertation examines some aspect of the institution of Parliament; such as the procedures, processes, business, members, administration or estate.  So whether their dissertation is about, for example, the role of Select Committees, the power of backbench MPs and Peers, or the art and architecture of Parliament, undergraduates and taught postgraduates students should apply for their chance to be awarded up to £350 for travel and subsistence expenses.

The Houses of Parliament Outreach Service offers a range of resources and services aimed at students and university staff. Lectures, presentations, case studies and Parliamentary speakers are available to help students and academics find out more about the processes, business and work of the Houses of Parliament. Parliamentary Outreach also runs a series of free ‘Open Lecture’ events on a variety of subjects, from the Lord Speaker on international relations to lectures on the Parliamentary Art collection, which take a more in-depth look at Parliament and how it works.

Notes

1.  Students - For further information about HEA-funded bursaries, please email bursaries@parliament.uk, or call Parliament’s Outreach Service on 020 7219 1650.

2. How to apply - Visit www.parliament.uk/bursaries for more information and application form.

Closing date for applications - 12.00 midday on Friday 2nd November 2012.

Students should submit a completed application form which has been approved by their Head of Department or dissertation supervisor.  If successful, the person who has approved the application will be contacted to confirm the validity of the dissertation proposal. 

Eligibility - Applications are welcomed from undergraduate and taught postgraduate students from any discipline.  The subsidy is available only available to students at higher education providers based in UK Parliamentary constituencies.

Guidelines  - The aim of these bursaries is to support innovative, original research about the Houses of Parliament.  Dissertations should examine some aspect of the institution of Parliament; the procedures, processes, business, members, administration, estate etc.

Applications will be judged on the following criteria:

•             Clarity of dissertation proposal

•             Relevance to the study of Parliament

•             Potential impact of the visit to Westminster on the final dissertation

Funding arrangements

Bursaries are funded by the Higher Education Academy.  A set amount of up to £350 per student will be allocated, based on the distance from Westminster of the student’s higher education institution or main place of study.  The bursary is to cover travel and subsistence expenses for the student to visit the Houses of Parliament.  The student will be responsible for booking their own travel and accommodation.

3.  Houses of Parliament Outreach Service – find out more about the training and resources for universities here: www.parliament.uk/universities

4. The Parliament Outreach service raises awareness of the work, processes and relevance of the institution of Parliament, with the aim of increasing levels of engagement with it. It is a bicameral service and part of a strategy endorsed by both Houses to strengthen the connection between Parliament and the public.

5. The Higher Education Academy – The Higher Education Academy (HEA) is a national body for learning and teaching in higher education. The HEA works with universities and other higher education providers to bring about change in learning and teaching.  The HEA supports staff in higher education throughout their careers, from those who are new to teaching through to senior management.

www.heacademy.ac.uk