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 Spring Biannual Meeting on 17 May 2024 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 Spring Biannual Meeting on 17 May 2024 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 are introducing 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

Read the Prize guidelines on sustainability category and Dr Stephen Dinniss Poster Prize regulations.

Submit the following to the South West team:

Deadline for entries: 9am on 28 March 2024

Autumn 2023 prize winners

First: Dr Peter McGhee

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 Spring Biannual Meeting on 17 May 2024 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 Spring Biannual Meeting on 17 May 2024 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 are introducing 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 trainees, SAS and specialty 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 winner and to the presentation demonstrating the greatest integration of sustainable healthcare. Further prize certificates may be awarded at the discretion of the judges.

How to enter

Read the Prize guidelines on sustainability category and Divisional Poster Prize regulations.

Submit the following to the South West team:

Deadline for entries: 9am on 28 March 2024

Autumn 2023 prize winners

First: Dr Grace Denton and Dr Catherine Graham

Innovation: Dr Esme MacKrill

Judges: Dr Ali Swordy

Summary

Submit an example of innovation (either individually or as a team) across the whole spectrum of modern psychiatric practice.

The winning entrant will be invited to present their project to a live audience at the Spring Biannual Meeting on 17 May 2024 and their abstract will be printed in the associated conference booklet.

Who can enter?

The competition is open to all psychiatric trainees, 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 Prize guidelines on sustainability category and Innovation Prize regulations.

Submit the following to the South West team:

Deadline for entries: 9am on 28 March 2024

2023 prize winners

First: Dr Katy Franklin

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 Spring Biannual Meeting.

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 Biannual Meeting.

The winning entrant will be invited to present their research to a live audience at the Spring Biannual Meeting on 17 May 2024.

Who can enter?

Trainee psychiatrists and non-consultants in the south west.

Prize

A prize of £100 will be awarded to the best entry and presented at the Spring Biannual Meeting.

How to enter


Submit the following to the South West team:

Deadline for entries: 9am on 28 March 2024

Prize Winner 2023

Dr Sarah Badger

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 next Spring Biannual Meeting.  The poems of the winners will be published on the RCPsych website and in the Programme and Abstracts 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

This prize has closed for entries.

2023 winners

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 in Devon in May.

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

Expense claim forms will be issued by the South West Division office and should be returned along with receipts within 4 weeks of the date of the meeting.

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

Expense claim forms will be issued by the South West Division office and should be returned along with receipts within 4 weeks of the date of the meeting.

We offer bursaries to the 4 highest scoring south west medical students and doctors in training (including all foundation doctors and trainees) who have entered the national International Congress poster prize but have not received a bursary to attend this year.

Award

Bursaries of up to £500 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 trainees) 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.

Read more to receive further information regarding a career in psychiatry