Bursary scheme - terms and conditions
1. Eligibility
1.1 It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure they fully understand and comply with the applicable terms and conditions (T&Cs) and that failure to do so may result in termination of your bursary.
1.2 Applicants acknowledge that they understand that enrolment is required for the chosen programme of study in order to receive the bursary. The bursary will include a periodic review to ensure they continue to fulfil the eligibility criteria.
1.3 All decisions of BACP, including the makeup of the shortlist and the final successful recipients of the awards, is final.
1.4 The BACP bursaries are only available to UK home students - international students are not eligible.
1.5 Applicant must be a UK resident and is someone who ordinarily and lawfully resides in any region of the United Kingdom.
1.6 Proof of UK residence is required for both entry-level and progression-level applicants. As proof, please supply one of the following documents as a supporting document in your application:
- A utility bill or a council tax bill (from the past three months)
- Account statement (from the past three months)
- Photo ID (such as a driver's licence)
- Mortgage statement
- NHS Medical Card or Local General Practitioner
1.7 Progression-level applicants accept that it is their responsibility to ensure that they meet the requirements for their selected training course and that if they do not, they will be unable to join the course.
1.8 Progression-level applicants will be required to submit the following supporting documents as proof of eligibility:
1.8.1 Acceptance letter for the particular course (within the bursary timeframe)
1.8.2 Any relevant prior training certificate
1.9 Entry and progression-level applicants are only eligible for one bursary and should only apply once. If multiple applications are submitted, only the most recent one will be considered.
2. Financial eligibility
2.1 To assess financial circumstances sensitively, applicants will be requested to outline how and why receiving this bursary would allow them to complete the course, highlighting any financial reasons as a barrier to undertaking the intended course.
2.2. Shortlisted applicants may be asked to submit supporting documentation, such as evidence of income level, or may be invited to an interview to understand their financial circumstances better.
3. Application and allocation process
3.1 The stages of the application process are as follows:
3.1.1 Initial sifting and longlisting begin in December 2022 and end in January 2023.
3.1.2 In February 2023, longlisted applicants will be invited to submit a supporting video or audio recording describing why they wish to undertake or continue training and why it is important to them.
3.1.3 The BACP internal panel will review supporting video or audio files and select shortlisted applicants in March 2023.
3.1.4 The final panel review and selection process will be completed in April 2023.
3.1.5 We will make bursary offers in May 2023 and request any additional supporting evidence that may be required.
3.2 We will only accept applications submitted online via the Blackbullion BACP bursaries page; submissions provided in any other format will not be considered unless previously agreed with BACP.
3.3 Applications submitted after the deadline stated on the BACP website or once the maximum number of applications have been received will not be accepted.
3.4 Initial sifting will be based on meeting the eligibility criteria and will be anonymised and ranked by Blackbullion, a third-party external agency supporting BACP’s pilot bursary scheme.
3.5 Applications that meet these requirements will be progressed to the next stage of the application process and submitted for internal review. The internal review will be anonymous and focus on the personal statement and video or audio submission.
3.6. Videos or audio should be submitted via Blackbullion by the communicated deadline; otherwise, they will not be considered.
4. Decision panel
4.1 A panel of counselling and psychotherapy specialists, BACP senior managers, and a trainer will make the final decision on allocation. The decision of this review panel is final and cannot be changed. There will be no opportunity to appeal final bursary allocation decisions.
4.2.BACP is responsible for the fair allocation of bursaries but cannot be held liable for any errors or omissions in information provided during the application process.
5. Bursary offer
| Applicant type | Course level | Bursary amount offered | Additional funding offered |
| Entry applicant | Level 2 course | Up to £875 | Up to £500 for extra costs such as travel, IT and books |
| Progression applicant | Core practitioner training (This could be at the minimum level of a diploma in counselling or psychotherapy, but could be a bachelor's degree, master's degree or doctorate) | From £2,000 to £9,000 | Personal therapy – up to £1,500 Supervision – up to £1,000 Extra costs -up to £500 |
5.1 The offer of a bursary will be communicated to all successful applicants via email following the decision of the review panel. Those not successful will also be informed of the decision regarding their application.
5.2 Blackbullion will confirm any required supporting documents in the offer email.
5.3 Within four weeks (30 days) of receiving the email with the bursary offer, applicants must respond, confirm their acceptance, and provide any necessary documentation.
5.4 If the applicant does not respond, Blackbullion will make another attempt to contact them through email. If no response is received after the third attempt, it will be assumed that the applicant will no longer need the bursary and will be offered to another candidate. We recommend that applicants check their junk emails on a regular basis in case the offer email was misdirected.
5.5 BACP accepts no responsibility or liability for the failure by the applicant to respond to the bursary offer, for any technical or other reason.
5.6 BACP reserves the right to withdraw the bursary offer if the applicant cannot provide supporting documentation or fails to do so by the deadline specified in the offer communication.
5.7 By submitting your application, you agree to be bound by the terms and conditions described in this document.
5.8 BACP accepts no responsibility for applications that are lost, delayed, misdirected or incomplete or cannot be delivered or entered for any technical or other reason.
5.9 BACP accepts no responsibility for any damage, loss, liabilities, injury or disappointment incurred or suffered by you as a result of applying for a bursary or accepting a bursary. BACP further disclaims liability for any injury or damage to your or any other person's computer relating to or resulting from participation in or downloading any materials in connection with the bursary. Nothing in these Terms and Conditions shall exclude the liability of BACP for death, personal injury, fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation as a result of its negligence.
6. Payment
6.1 By accepting the offer of a bursary, applicants consent to all financial obligations listed below:
6.1.1 BACP will pay the training institution directly. Course fee amounts differ depending on whether you are an entry-level or progression-level student.
6.1.2 BACP will pay additional funding directly to the recipients and BACP reserves the right to request evidence of how additional funding has been spent.
Progression-level recipients
6.1.3 The recipient of a progression-level bursary will access additional funds for personal therapy, supervision funding, and any extra costs they may incur, such as travel, IT, and books. The recipient will get a direct payment of £1,500 for personal therapy, £1,000 for supervision, and £500 for extra costs. The recipient is responsible for paying the relevant persons and services for the supervision and personal therapy, as well as any additional costs.
6.1.4 Payment for additional funds will be paid directly to the recipient via bank transfer, and the recipient will be required to give their details for this transaction. Payment will be provided in two instalments via bank transfer. The payment schedule for the instalments is as follows:
i. The first payment will be made at the beginning of the course.
ii. The second payment will be made mid-course. This payment is subject to providing written and signed proof that recipient is still enrolled on course from the supervisory team evidencing timely progress, evidence of hitting course timelines, and timely submission of agreed training outputs.
Entry-level recipients
6.1.5 The entry-level recipient of a bursary will receive £500 to cover any extra cost they may incur for training expenses such as books, IT, and travel expenses.
6.1.6 Payment for course fees will be paid in a lump sum at the start of the course directly to the course provider.
6.1.7 Payment for additional funds will be paid directly to the recipient via bank transfer, and the recipient will be required to give their details for this transaction. The recipient will receive the full amount of the additional funding in one payment via bank transfer.
6.2 Applicants will be notified via email of the deadline for providing bank details. If the applicant does not give details by the deadline, Blackbullion will contact them again through email. If no response is received, it will be assumed that the applicant will no longer need the bursary and it will be offered to another candidate.
6.3 If the applicant withdraws from their course or is asked to leave for any reason, they may be required to refund any additional funding that has already been provided. Any exceptions will be made at the discretion of BACP.
6.4 BACP will request quarterly updates from students, as well as verification that they are still on the course and progressing, in the form of a letter from the supervisor or course provider.
7. Marketing
7.1 Recipients may be required to make themselves available, on reasonable notice, for any publicity and marketing campaigns we want to run in connection with the bursary scheme.
8. Withdrawal of a bursary
8.1 The bursary may be withdrawn if:
8.1.1 Applicants are required to repeat an academic year of study for any reason, such as taking a significant break which would result in missing one or more academic terms from study or being unable to complete your course within a reasonable period due to a long-term illness. The decision as to whether the break is significant or the course has not been completed in a reasonable period, is at the discretion of BACP and whose decision is final.
8.1.2 Applicant is expelled, suspended or excluded from the whole or part of the institution or your programme of study for academic failure; or
8.1.3 BACP is of the reasonable opinion that the applicant has made any misrepresentation (whether negligently or intentionally) to BACP either in respect of applying for the bursary or during the course of and in connection with their studies at the institution; or
8.1.4 BACP is of the reasonable opinion that the applicant has acted fraudulently or dishonestly in connection with securing their bursary
8.1.5 Any application found to be fraudulent at any stage, BACP reserves the right to request that any bursary funding already applied for be reimbursed in full. If, for whatever reason, an applicant must postpone their course's start date beyond the bursary pilot's scope, they will no longer be eligible for the bursary.
8.2 BACP will notify the recipient of the bursary's withdrawal via communication letter or email, specifying the cause for withdrawal under clause 8.1.
9. Use of data
9.1 By agreeing to the Terms and Conditions in this document, bursary applicants also accept that BACP and Blackbullion may retain and use application responses for the following purposes:
| Data information | Purpose of collecting data and how it will be used |
| Contact details and course information |
To communicate with applicants via email To verify UK residency To carry out course checks For the final panel review |
| Information provided for eligibility criteria and personal statement |
For the initial sifting and longlisting For the final panel review |
| Supporting video or audio recording |
For shortlisting and internal panel review For final panel review |
9.2 BACP and Blackbullion will retain identifiable data such as name, account details and course provider information for successful recipients until the completion bursary pilot scheme, at which point candidate details will be deleted.
9.3 The name and email addresses of the successful recipients will be stored as a record of past applicants for future bursaries.
9.4 Data for longlisted applicants will be kept until the shortlisting process is completed. Data for applicants who are not shortlisted will be removed from Blackbullion's and BACP systems. Shortlisted candidates' information will be retained on file until successful bursary applicants are notified. Once bursaries are awarded, all unsuccessful applications will be deleted from Blackbullion and BACP's databases.
9.5 BACP might contact bursary recipients in the future to ask for feedback and comments about the scheme.
9.6 If a recipient's contact information or bank account details change, they must notify BACP immediately so that they can continue to receive updates about their bursary and payments. BACP accepts no responsibility or liability for your failure to inform BACP of any changes.
9.7 Applicants can email support@blackbullion.com in writing to ask for data removal from the BACP and Blackbullion systems. Details for any bursary recipients who are actively enrolled in courses must be stored until the pilot is completed.
9.8 Please note that any financial and contractual details will be stored for the duration of the bursary plus six years from the termination of the contract.
9.9 Our Privacy Policy contains additional information on how we use and manage data.
9.10 Any personal information collected by BACP during the course of administration of your Award shall be handled and processed strictly in accordance with the provisions of the Data Protection Act 2018 (Act) and the General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679.
10. Confidentiality
10.1 You shall keep confidential, any information which you receive concerning the business of BACP or any customer, contractor or other person who may be expected to entrust BACP with confidential information PROVIDED THAT with the express written permission of BACP such information may be divulged to the extent explicitly stated within such permission.
10.2 Nothing in this clause shall prevent you from disclosing confidential material where it is required to be disclosed by judicial, administrative, governmental, or regulatory process in connection with any action, suit, proceedings or claim or otherwise by applicable law.
11. Complaints procedure and dispute resolution
11.1 Any complaint you may have at any stage of the bursary process should be addressed in writing to Blackbullion.
11.2 Any complaints that cannot be handled in this way will be escalated to BACP.
11.3 BACP and Blackbullion will keep records of all communications about any complaints until the complaint is resolved.
12. Changes to scheme
12.1 Before any future bursary schemes run by BACP, all bursary scheme processes and documentation, including these Terms and Conditions, will be reviewed and changed as needed.
12.2 BACP maintains the right to change or terminate the bursary scheme at any time and without notice, but where a period of notice is possible, applicants and recipients shall be informed. However, once the recipient has started their course, we can't withdraw funding unless there are exceptional reasons or clause 8.1 applies, which will be at the discretion of BACP.
13. General and interpretation
13.1 The headings to the clauses (or paragraphs or terms) are for reference only and do not affect the interpretation of the terms and conditions.
13.2 These terms and conditions are the entire agreement between the parties, and no reliance by either party has been placed on any statements or representations which were made.
13.3 These terms and conditions shall be governed and construed in all respects by the Law of England and Wales and the parties submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Courts of England and Wales.
13.4 Any list preceded by words such as “such as” is to be reviewed as illustrative only and not limiting or exhaustive.
13.5 References to any gender includes all the others (unless the context makes such an interpretation absurd).
13.6 References to the singular include the plural and vice versa (unless the context makes such an interpretation absurd).
13.7 If a party fails to rely on its strict legal rights under these terms and conditions, that will not prevent them from relying on those or similar rights in the future.
13.8 Any notice required to be given under these terms and conditions shall be in writing and sent to the relevant party by BACP or Blackbullion.
13.9 A notice sent by first-class post is deemed to have been received on the second day after it was posted. An email is deemed to be received after four hours from sending.
13.10 “Writing” includes letter, fax, and email.
13.11 If all or any part of these terms and conditions becomes illegal, invalid, or unenforceable in any respect, then the remainder of the terms and conditions shall remain valid and enforceable.
13.12 Except as otherwise expressly provided in these terms and conditions, none of the terms and conditions shall be enforceable by any person who is not a party to it.
13.13 BACP shall not be liable for any failure to comply with its obligations where the failure is caused by something outside its reasonable control. Such circumstances shall include, but not be limited to, weather conditions, fire, flood, hurricane, strike, industrial dispute, war, hostilities, political unrest, riots, civil commotion, inevitable accidents, supervening legislation or any other circumstances amounting to force majeure.
This document was last updated in December 2022.