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Prizes and bursaries in the south west
We have a range of great prizes and bursaries that members in the south west can apply for.
Summary
You are invited to submit a written abstract and poster on any area of psychiatry.
The posters will be displayed at the Autumn Conference and their respective abstracts published in the conference booklet.
The number of posters is limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first served basis.
Those considered for the award will be expected to attend the Autumn Conference on 13 November 2026 and will be available during all breaks to discuss their entry with the competition judges.
In recognition of our responsibility as psychiatrists to help combat the climate and ecological crisis, we have introduced a sustainability category for all poster submissions. More information is available from the guidelines in the 'How to enter' section below.
Who can enter?
It's open to all foundation doctors and medical students working or studying in the South West Division who are Student Associates or Foundation Associates of the Royal College of Psychiatrists on the closing date.
Become a Student Associate or Foundation Associate – there are great benefits and membership is free.
Prize
A prize of £100 will be awarded to the winner and further prize certificates may be awarded at the discretion of the judges.
How to enter
This prize has now closed for entries.
Spring 2026 prize winners
First: Dr Nathanael Leaf
Judges: Yijia Dong
Summary
You are invited to submit a written abstract and poster on any area of psychiatry, including quality improvement projects, e.g. a piece of research being undertaken, a new research project about to start, or an audit.
The posters will be displayed at the Autumn Conference and their respective abstracts published in the conference booklet.
The number of posters is limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first served basis.
Those considered for the award will be expected to attend the Autumn Conference on 13 November 2026 and will be available during all breaks to discuss their entry with the competition judges.
In recognition of our responsibility as psychiatrists to help combat the climate and ecological crisis, we have introduced a sustainability category for all poster submissions. More information is available from the guidelines in the 'How to enter' section below.
Who can enter
It’s open to all psychiatric resident doctors and SAS doctors working in the South West Division who are Specialist Associates, Affiliates, PMPTs or Members of the Royal College of Psychiatrists on the closing date.
Prizes
£100 will be awarded to the overall winner and to the presentation demonstrating the greatest innovation. Further prize certificates may be awarded at the discretion of the judges.
How to enter
This prize has now closed for entries.
Spring 2026 prize winners
First: Dr Annabel Callan
Innovation: Dr Oliver Purnell
Judges:
- Dr Mary Ugah and Dr Sanchu Mathew
- Dr Fern White and Dr Connor Pinkney
- Dr Sahar Khalil
Summary
You are invited to submit an abstract from a research paper on a topic across the whole spectrum of modern psychiatric practice.
You must have written and published the paper in the calendar year before the Autumn Conference.
You can nominate yourself, or be nominated by a colleague or a member of the multi-disciplinary team, any College member or the scientific organising committee of the conference.
The winning entrant will be invited to present their research to a live audience at the Autumn Conference on 13 November 2026.
Who can enter?
Resident doctor psychiatrists and non-consultants in the south west.
Prize
A prize of £100 will be awarded to the best entry and presentation at the Autumn Conference.
How to enter
This prize has now closed for entries.
Prize Winner 2025
Dr Moira Walker
Summary
Write a poem with a mental health theme to win. Your poem must not have been published previously.
This annual prize will be presented virtually at the Spring Biannual Meeting on 12 May 2026.
The poems of the winners will be published on the RCPsych website and in the conference booklet for the Spring Biannual Meeting.
Prize winners will also be invited to recite their poem to a live audience at the conference, or give permission for a member of the South West Division team to perform a recital of the winning poem on their behalf.
Who can enter
Anyone connected with mental health and based in the South West Division. You might have previously used or are using mental health services, support a friend or relative who uses or has used mental health services, or work within the mental health sector.
How to enter
Read the Poetry Prize regulations.
Submit the following to the South West team:
- a completed and signed entry form
- signed photo and filming consent form
- your poem.
This prize has now closed for submissions
2026 winners
- First prize – The Invisible Bruise, by Raven Howing-Nicholls
- Second prize – What's the weather today? By Ankita Chopra
Summary
The prize will take the form of a competition in which psychiatric resident doctors, consultants, SAS doctors, lecturers and senior lecturers in psychiatry (individually or as a team) will be invited to submit an example of innovation across the whole spectrum of modern psychiatric practice.
The winning abstract will be published in the conference booklet and the winning entrant will be invited to present their project to a live audience at the virtual SW Spring Biannual Meeting on 12 May 2026.
Who can enter?
The competition is open to all psychiatric resident doctors, consultants, associate specialists, specialty doctors, lecturers and senior lecturers in psychiatry, who are either Specialist Associates, Affiliates, PMPTs, Members or Fellows of the Royal College of Psychiatrists and working within the South West Division area for at least six months prior to the closing date.
Prize
A First Prize certificate and £100 will be awarded to the overall winner. Further Judges Prize certificates may be awarded at the discretion of the Judges.
How to enter
Read the Innovation Regulations.
Submit the following to the South West team:
- a completed and signed entry form
- a signed photo and filiming consent form
- your written abstract.
This prize has now closed for applications
2026 prize winners
First: Dr Jon Turvey
We offer up to 10 bursaries for south west medical students and foundation year doctors to present a poster at the South West Spring Biannual Meeting, which is usually held virtually in May.
Award
Bursaries will cover the registration fee.
Frequency
Annual
Who can apply
Medical students and foundation year doctors who have entered the Dr Stephen Dinniss Foundation and Medical Student Poster Prize, who are Student Associates or Foundation Associates of the Royal College of Psychiatrists on the prize closing date and who are working or studying in the South West Division area on the date of submission.
Submission
Email your expression of interest to the South West team upon submission of your poster prize entry. If successful, RCPsych staff will confirm acceptance and book you onto the event.
We offer up to 10 bursaries for south west medical students and foundation year doctors to present a poster at the South West Autumn Biannual Meeting, which is usually held in Bristol in November.
Award
Bursaries for medical students include registration fee and travel expenses.
Bursaries for Foundation Year doctors include registration fee only.
Frequency
Annual
Who can apply
Medical students and foundation year doctors who have entered the Dr Stephen Dinniss Foundation and Medical Student Poster Prize, who are Student Associates or Foundation Associates of the Royal College of Psychiatrists on the prize closing date and who are working or studying in the South West Division area on the date of submission.
Submission
Email your expression of interest to the South West team upon submission of your poster prize entry. If successful, RCPsych staff will confirm acceptance and book you onto the event. Medical students will also receive details on how to claim travel expenses online.
We offer bursaries to the 4 highest scoring south west medical students and doctors in training (including all foundation doctors and resident doctors) who have entered the national International Congress poster prize but have not received a bursary to attend this year.
Award
Bursaries of up to £225 to cover registration fee, subsistence, accommodation and travel expenses.
Frequency
Annual.
Who can apply
The 4 highest scoring medical students and doctors in training (including all foundation doctors and resident doctors) based in the South West Division, who have entered the national International Congress poster prize but have not received a bursary to attend this year. Successful entrants will be contacted directly by the South West Division office.
Submission
Expense claim forms will be issued by the South West Division office and should be returned along with receipts.