Postgraduate Forum Regional Event Funding

The British Sociological Association is requesting expressions of interest from postgraduate students interested in organising a regional postgraduate day event in 2025.

In 2024, nine postgraduate events were accepted to be held throughout the UK. These one-day events express the diversity and dynamism of the postgraduate experience. It is hoped that they will become an annual series in the BSA calendar with a variety of engaging postgraduate events taking place in regions across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

We would love to hear from any postgraduate organisers who are interested in holding such an event – either at their institution or the BSA meeting room in London – and who are willing to coordinate with speakers and the BSA to organise this.

The BSA will provide up to £1,000 support for the event, which can be used to pay for room hire, speaker expenses (i.e. travel and accommodation), lunch and refreshments, and administrative costs (i.e. printing and stationery). Please note that the funding cannot be used to pay for speaker fees/gifts or for the purchase of alcohol.

If the anticipated event costs are likely to exceed the funding available, organisers are encouraged to seek a donation from the host institution (e.g. the use of a meeting room or a financial contribution towards refreshments), or to charge an attendance fee for the event.

The BSA Office will help to promote and publicise the event through a number of outlets including the BSA website and member e-newsletters.

The BSA Events Team asks that after the event a short report is submitted by the organiser detailing:

  • how the funding was utilised (including a breakdown of all costs incurred in connection with the event); and
  • any general feedback on the event itself, including final attendance numbers.

How to Apply

Please email all expressions of interest to the BSA Events Team, addressing all correspondence: BSA Regional Postgraduate Day Events 2025

The submission deadline for proposals is: 5pm on Friday, 15 November 2024. Late applications will not be considered.

Expressions of interest should include the following details:

  • Name of organiser(s):
  • Institution(s):
  • Proposal for regional postgraduate day event:
    • Proposed dates
    • Proposed theme
    • Potential speakers
    • Anticipated costs (please include full breakdown)

Please note the following criteria used to judge applications: All applications will be considered by the Membership Services Directors and a Postgraduate Forum Convenor. A final decision is then made by the Trustees taking into consideration the feedback from the Postgraduate Forum Convenor and based on the following selection criteria:

  • Breadth of appeal beyond the organising group
  • Centrality to sociological concerns
  • Quality of information provided
  • Geographical spread
  • Distinctiveness from previous events and institutions

All applicants must:

  • be a current BSA member; and
  • must be enrolled on a PhD course at a UK university.

Find out how to become a BSA member.

For further information, please email the BSA Events Team.