Filling in your application form

This guidance is designed to assist you when completing your bursary application form. All sections of the form should be completed in line with this guidance. 

The 2024 bursary scheme is now open and closes on Thursday 4 April.

• About the bursary scheme
• About the application process

Application form

The bursary application form has been designed to provide the assessors with the information they need to decide whether applicants have the relevant personal and professional qualities, capability and drive to make the most of the opportunities offered by the College bursary scheme.

• Download the application form

Equal opportunities monitoring form

In addition to returning the application form, we request that you also complete and return the equal opportunities monitoring form. This is used for monitoring purposes and is not considered during the assessment of your application.

We are committed to diversity and equal opportunities for all. We want to provide an evidence-based approach to our decision making so that we can prioritise and focus on specific equality agendas, as we work towards creating an environment that is free from discrimination and promotes equality of opportunity.

By collecting this information, we can develop a deeper understanding of any potential barriers faced.

• Download the equal opportunities monitoring form

Personal data

Personal data will be recorded and processed in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018 and the UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). For further information on how we record, use and process this data, refer to the bursary scheme’s privacy notice.

Alternative formats

To request a copy of the forms in another format, email [email protected].

This section asks for information on the programme of study to which your bursary application relates.

A bursary can be used to fund, or contribute to, the cost of tuition fees of academic study at Level 6 or above. This covers undergraduate or postgraduate level – for example, a bachelor’s degree (BA, BSc), a master’s degree (MA, MSc, MPhil, MRes) or a doctorate (PhD).

• Find examples of qualifications at Level 6 and above

A bursary cannot be used to fund study below undergraduate level – for example, diplomas and higher diplomas, Higher National Diplomas (HND), foundation degrees (FD), Higher National Certificates (HNC), A levels, GCSEs or their equivalents.

You do not need to have been formally accepted onto a programme of study to submit an application. However, you will need to have identified a preferred programme of study and academic provider and have started the application process. To be eligible to apply for a bursary, your academic provider must be based in the UK.

You may also apply for a bursary if you are part way through a relevant programme of study and are seeking funding for the academic year starting in September 2024. However, the programme of study must be ongoing at the point of your application. You cannot apply for funding towards a programme of study that has already been completed.

On the application form, you must state the date that the programme of study will start or started, and the anticipated end date of the complete programme of study that you have applied for bursary funding to support.

Your selected programme of study must include a research component. You should use this section to briefly outline what this will entail. For example, an eight-week compulsory module on research design, an additional optional research methods module on statistical analysis or completion of a 12,000-word research thesis.

You must also state whether attendance is or will be full time, part time or by distance learning, and what the current status of your academic place or application is.

State the level of your highest academic qualification currently held. If you do not have any previous academic qualifications, then tick the box marked 'No academic qualifications'.

In the next table, you need to provide further details of your highest academic qualifications, where applicable, starting with the most recent.

The application form is the only evidence that assessors will use to decide whether you meet the criteria for shortlisting and selection. This is the most important section of the application form and provides you with an opportunity to demonstrate to the assessors that you have the drive, skills, knowledge, awareness and experience to exploit the opportunities offered by the scheme.

In answering the questions in this section, think carefully about why you have chosen your preferred programme of study, as well as how you can demonstrate the personal and professional skills and experience you currently have that will enable you to get the most out of your study.

We are particularly interested in what you see as the key personal and professional benefits you will gain from undertaking your selected programme of study and how these will add value to your force and/or the wider service.

Make use of the full word counts in this section but take care not to exceed them.

• Note that the maximum word count differs across the five questions. You are required to state your word count in each section.

For the 'Task management' question, we are looking for an honest and realistic assessment of any challenges you feel you may encounter during your studies. You should demonstrate that you have thought through the practical steps that you might take to overcome them (for example, managing your time and any competing priorities).

Evidence-based policing

For the 'Evidence-based policing (EBP)' question, you are asked to describe a project or task you have initiated or taken a key role in, which has developed or promoted evidence-based practice in your force or the wider service.

You should familiarise yourself with the College of Policing definition of EBP when preparing your answer. You should outline the specific role you played, how this added value and what the outcomes were.

For example, you may have:

• introduced a new way of working or tackling a problem
• used data or other information to help you understand whether it worked (and if so, how well)
• shared your findings with others in the force or elsewhere and, in doing so, influenced practice in a specific area

In your answer, you could consider writing about:

• how you used evidence, such as data, to inform your decision making
• what was involved in carrying out research or a review of research evidence, such as a review of published academic evidence
• how you contributed to developing a working environment that values the integration of research, evidence and practice
• how you played a role in a knowledge exchange or translation activity
• an example of when you supported the development of a collaboration between police practitioners and academics

These are some examples of possible activities relevant to this section. However, this list is not exhaustive, and you may have another example you can share.

If you do not have a relevant example you can draw on, describe how you could take an evidence-based approach to your work, which will demonstrate your understanding of evidence-based policing.

This section should be completed by a learning and development (L&D) lead or equivalent person in your force, such as an evidence-based policing or research lead.

The person who completes this section should be in a position to comment on the applicability of your selected study programme to your role or professional development. If you are successful, this is likely to be the main point of contact for the administration of the bursary.

We advise that you approach your L&D lead by Monday 25 March 2024 to process your application before submitting to the College by Thursday 4 April 2024. (There may be different arrangements in your force, so check beforehand with your L&D lead.)

Please note that your nominated force bursary lead has been made aware of the application timings and that the College will not accept applications that are delayed due to applicants not liaising with their line manager or L&D lead in good time. If you are not sure who your local lead is, email [email protected] and we can advise.

• The deadline for applications is 11:59pm on Thursday 4 April 2024.

As with section G, if the person detailed in this section ticks the ‘No or not sure’ box, they will be required to provide further details about this decision. A failure to gain approval in this section will not invalidate your application. However, if you are shortlisted, assessors will contact the person detailed to discuss your application in further detail.

Feedback from L&D leads involved in the administration of previous years’ bursary schemes has identified the need for forces to have a central record of all members who have applied to the bursary scheme. Requiring applicants to provide details of the force L&D lead or equivalent at this stage will help to ensure that your force can monitor applications and provide guidance and support as applicable.