Bursaries for University students and The Young Bus Managers’ Network launched
Overview
The Omnibus Society (OS) is a national organisation and is a registered educational charity. It was established in 1929 and caters for those with a comprehensive interest in bus and coach operations, past, present and future. In accordance with its overall charitable objectivities, the OS will from time-to-time award Bursaries to students at universities who are studying for a recognised transport qualification and to graduate trainees employed by bus operators who participate in the Young Bus Managers’ Network (YBMN).
The Bursary will be in the order of £2,000. The OS would in exceptional circumstances consider the acceptance of a higher amount to cover ‘costs of living’ for a maximum period of three months.
Who can apply?
You would normally reside in the United Kingdom
You are a full-time or part-time student studying a transport qualification at a recognised UK University. The course of study for the qualification must include aspects of road passenger transport.
You are employed as a graduate trainee with a bus operator and participate in the UK- Young Bus Managers’ Network (YBMN).
Award criteria and what can you use the Bursary for?
All awards are discretionary. A judging panel of the OS will decide on the applications received from students and graduate trainees from the YBMN who will most benefit from this investment.
The Bursary must be used for a research project into an aspect of public road passenger transport and the OS would be particularly interested in applications related to the following themes:
- The future of the bus and coach Industry in the United Kingdom with comparisons of the situation internationally.
- The relationship between the bus and coach industry and the social and economic environment of a specific area, utilizing historical precedents.
- Research which uses oral evidence and personal archive resources.
- New services which involve innovative techniques to improve operation and potentially increase passenger demand.
The OS will agree the subject of the research project with the successful applicant who will be required to submit a copy of the research project to the OS by no later than twelve months from the date the award has been made. During this time, applicants will be members of the OS. Assistance will be available through the OS partner organisation the “Bus Archive” and with bus and coach industry contacts where they are available.
Funding will normally be given for travel, subsistence and accommodation if required.
Where expenditure exceeds £100 for a specific item, the appropriate receipts must be submitted to the OS Treasurer.
The dissertation submitted to the University and by a graduate trainee of a bus operator should include the wording in the form of “this research was funded by a Bursary from the Omnibus Society”. Likewise this wording should appear in any published form of the dissertation.
The OS reserve the right to publish the dissertation by hard copy and by electronic means with the OS website being used for this purpose. The OS would advise the relevant students and graduate trainees and university supervisors of their intention to do this. The terms and conditions of universities and students to retain ownership of the dissertation for reference purposes would not be affected and respected in this situation. A shortened version would be allowed if it is prepared for publication where it is disseminated by the OS, the student and/or the graduate trainee concerned.
How to apply
Applications from students and graduate trainees of bus operators who participate in the YBMN must be received by the Secretary of the OS by no later than 31st January each year. Email to secretary@omnibus-society.org
Students and graduate trainees will be required to make a personal statement and submit details of their proposal for a research project up to a maximum of two A4 pages, ideally by Email in MS Word format with any supporting material in PDF format. The proposal must include the main reasons and objectives for the research, together with a sketch outline of the intended process with the estimated costs involved. For University students only, the University supervisor must endorse the e- application with their contact details and confirm that the topic has been agreed as suitable for a dissertation within the transport qualification being studied.
Applicants will be advised on the outcome of their applications by no later than 1st March of the same year. The relevant University supervisors and bus operators’ will be advised at the same time.
The OS reserve the right to request refund of monies from the bursary holder at any time if the terms and conditions of the bursary are not strictly adhered to.
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