The Brian Large Bursary Fund

Quick Stats

• Registered Charity Number: 328747
• Annual Giving: Approximately £41,000 (4 bursaries of £10,000 plus £1,000 prize)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Applications reviewed annually; decisions typically made in Spring
• Grant Range: £1,000 - £10,000
• Geographic Focus: UK national (UK residents studying at UK universities)

Contact Details

Address: Old School House, Coldharbour, Dorking, RH5 6HF

Phone: 01306 711885

Email: martin.richards1885@gmail.com

Website: www.blbf.co.uk

Note: The Fund does not accept direct applications from students. All applications must be submitted through universities.

Overview

The Brian Large Bursary Fund was established in 1990 by the family, friends, and colleagues of Brian Large, who died in 1989. Brian was a Director of The MVA Group (now part of SYSTRA), a leading transport planning consultancy, and was deeply committed to the professional development of early-career transport planners. Born in Dorset in 1935, Brian graduated in Civil Engineering from the University of Bristol in 1959 and went on to work for the Greater London Council, where he was heavily involved in the Greater London Development Plan. He joined Alan M Voorhees and Associates in 1974 and was responsible for major projects including the Libyan National Transport Study and Sheffield SuperTram. The Fund continues his legacy by supporting the next generation of UK transport professionals through bursaries for Masters students and an annual prize for the best transport planning dissertation. For over two decades, the Fund has focused on providing financial support to those studying for transport Masters degrees at UK universities, with the goal of enriching the supply of skilled transport planning professionals in the United Kingdom.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Brian Large Masters Bursaries

• Amount: £10,000 per bursary
• Number Available: Four bursaries awarded annually (though trustees reserve the right to award fewer if applications don't meet standards)
• Purpose: To enable students with insufficient other funds to study full-time without needing paid employment during university study hours
• Eligibility: UK residents accepted for full-time taught Masters degrees in Transport at UK universities

Voorhees-Large Prize

• Amount: £1,000
• Number Available: One prize awarded annually
• Purpose: Recognizing the best transport Masters dissertation submitted by a UK resident studying at a UK university
• Named After: Alan M. Voorhees, founder of Alan M Voorhees and Associates and MVA, and one of the fathers of transport planning and modelling

Priority Areas

The Fund specifically supports:

• Transport planning education at postgraduate level
• UK residents studying at UK universities
• Students demonstrating genuine financial need
• Candidates showing commitment to a career in the transport sector
• Full-time Masters study in transport-related disciplines

Universities known to participate include University of Westminster, University of Leeds, UCL Bartlett School of Planning, University of Southampton, and UWE, among others offering full-time transport Masters courses.

What They Don't Fund

• Direct PhD funding (though one PhD exception has been made in partnership with Motability Foundation)
• Part-time study
• International students (must be UK residents)
• Undergraduate degrees
• Students who can afford to study without financial support
• Applications made directly by students (must go through universities)

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

The Brian Large Bursary Fund is managed by four trustees, all experienced transport planning professionals:

1. Martin Gomm Richards OBE - A respected figure in transport planning who was one of Brian Large's colleagues. Author of “Delivering the Transport Renaissance - Locally.”

1. Douglas George McDonald - Appointed as trustee on 26 April 2012

1. Mick Roberts

1. Nick Dybeck

No trustees receive any remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The trustees make final decisions on all awards and have stated that they “have no need to give any explanation for any of their decisions, which are final.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Important: The Brian Large Bursary Fund does NOT accept direct applications from prospective Masters students. Applications must be submitted by universities on behalf of their students.

Process for Students:

1. Apply and secure acceptance to a full-time Masters course in transport at a participating UK university
2. Contact your course supervisor or university's transport department to express interest in the Brian Large Bursary
3. The university will conduct a personal interview with you
4. Your course supervisor must recommend you to the Fund with an explanation of their reasons
5. The university submits your application using forms provided by the Fund

The Fund does not enter into correspondence with prospective candidates. All communication is handled through the universities.

Decision Timeline

• Application Period: Call for applications typically made in Spring for the following academic year
• For 2025/26: Applications expected to open Spring 2025
• Decision Time: Decisions are made annually, typically before the start of the academic year
• Notification: Universities notify successful candidates

Success Rates

Specific success rate data is not publicly available. However:

• Four bursaries of £10,000 are awarded annually for 2024/25
• The trustees reserve the right to award fewer bursaries if applications don't meet their standards
• The requirement for university endorsement suggests a pre-selection process that may result in higher success rates for submitted applications

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is publicly documented. As applications are managed through universities rather than directly by students, reapplication would depend on the individual university's willingness to nominate a candidate again in subsequent years.

Application Success Factors

Selection Criteria

Financial Need (Critical Factor)

The Fund explicitly states: "The purpose of a Brian Large Master's Bursary is to enable students who have insufficient other funds to study full time without the need to take paid employment during normal university study hours. The award of a Brian Large Bursary should be central to their ability to study full time for a transport Masters."

This is the primary criterion - applicants must demonstrate that without this bursary, they cannot afford to study full-time.

University Endorsement

Applicants must be recommended by their Course Supervisor following a personal interview. The quality of this recommendation and the reasons provided are crucial to success.

Career Commitment

Candidates must demonstrate “a commitment to a career in transport” and show “a strong understanding of career opportunities within the transport sector” with “clear career aspirations.”

Academic Excellence

While financial need is primary, the Fund looks for “an excellent academic record of ideally a first degree of at least a 2.1, or a demonstrated commitment to their field for applicants with professional experience.”

Recent Successful Recipients

2024 Voorhees-Large Prize Winner: Katie Lewis (University of Leeds, Institute for Transport Studies) won for her dissertation 'The Benefits of 'Running for the Train': A Review of the Effects of Active Travel on the Business Case of the Transpennine Route Upgrade.' It was noted as “the second year that the prize has been won by a dissertation from the Institute for Transport Studies.”

2024/25 Bursary Recipients: Four Brian Large Masters Bursaries of £10,000 were awarded, though individual recipient names were not publicly disclosed.

Historical Prize Winners: The Voorhees-Large Prize has been won by students from universities including Leeds, UCL, Southampton, and Imperial College London, demonstrating the Fund's reach across leading transport planning programs.

Tips for Success

1. Demonstrate Genuine Financial Need: Be transparent about your financial situation and explain why you cannot study full-time without this support
2. Show Transport Career Commitment: Articulate clear career goals in the transport sector and demonstrate understanding of the field
3. Secure Strong University Support: Build a strong relationship with your course supervisor who will interview and recommend you
4. Choose the Right University: Apply to universities with established transport Masters programs that participate in the scheme
5. Focus on Full-Time Study: The Fund specifically supports full-time study, so emphasize your commitment to full-time participation
6. Align with Brian Large's Legacy: Show awareness of the Fund's history and its goal to develop skilled transport professionals in the UK

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This is a student-focused fund, not an organizational grant maker - The Fund supports individual students through university-nominated bursaries, not organizational projects
• Universities are the gatekeepers - Success depends on securing university nomination; direct applications are not accepted
• Financial need is paramount - Applicants must demonstrate they cannot study full-time without this support
• Limited annual awards - With only four bursaries of £10,000 available each year, competition is significant
• UK residency required - International students are not eligible; applicants must be UK residents
• Transport career commitment essential - Clear career aspirations in the transport sector are required
• Spring timing - Applications typically open in Spring for the following academic year
• Quality over quantity - Trustees will award fewer bursaries if standards aren't met, indicating they prioritize quality candidates

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• Rees Jeffreys Road Fund
• Royal Female School of Art Foundation
• Foundation for Integrated Transport
• The Sir Richard Stapley Educational Trust
• Consolidated Charity of Burton upon Trent
• WISPERS TRUST LIMITED
• The Douglas Bomford Trust
• Allan and Nesta Ferguson Charitable Settlement
• Sebright's Educational Foundation
• The Northcote Trust

References

• The Brian Large Bursary Fund official website. www.blbf.co.uk..
• Charity Commission register. “THE BRIAN LARGE BURSARY FUND - 328747.” https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regId=328747..
• University of Leeds, Faculty of Environment. “Katie Lewis wins 2024 Vorhees Large Prize.” https://environment.leeds.ac.uk/faculty/news/article/5942/katie-lewis-wins-2024-vorhees-large-prize..
• Transport Planning Society. “Bursaries available to contribute towards the cost of a full time Masters degree in Transport Planning.” https://tps.org.uk/news/bursaries-available-to-contribute-towards-the-cost..
• University of Westminster. “Bursaries available for students applying for Transport Planning and Management MSc course.” https://www.westminster.ac.uk/news/bursaries-available-for-students-applying-for-transport-planning-and-management-msc-course..
• UCL Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment. “BSP PhD student wins Brian Large Bursary/Motability Foundation scholarship.” https://www.ucl.ac.uk/bartlett/news/2024/oct/bsp-phd-student-wins-brian-large-bursarymotability-foundation-scholarship. October 2024..
• Charity Commission Trustee Information. “Trustees, THE BRIAN LARGE BURSARY FUND - 328747.” https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/328747/trustees..