The Ken Dale Travel Bursary is a unique opportunity for early-career engineers to gain international experience and drive innovation in the building services industry.
The bursary offers up to £4,000 (or local equivalent) to support your research abroad, allowing you to explore how technical, social, environmental and political factors influence building services engineering around the world.
Whether you’re passionate about sustainability, eager to experience global engineering practices, or looking to advance your career, this is your chance to bring back transformative insights that can shape the future of the built environment.
Applications for 2025 are now open.
Who can apply?
To be eligible for the Ken Dale Travel Bursary, you must:
- Be an early-career CIBSE member (Student, Graduate, Affiliate, Licentiate or Associate). Your membership must be active and up to date at the time of application.
- Have up to ten years of experience in the building services engineering field.
How it works:
- Submit your application: Provide a detailed research proposal outlining your project and its potential impact on the building services industry.
- Shortlist and interview: A CIBSE panel will review applications and create a shortlist. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to present their proposals at an interview. During this stage, you will be asked to provide an estimated budget for your project. If you have applied for or secured additional funding from other sources, please disclose this information at the interview.
- Receive funding: The successful applicant will be awarded up to £4,000 (or local equivalent) to support their research and travel.
- Conduct your research: Travel to your chosen destination/s, investigate engineering practices, and gather valuable insights.
- Share your findings: Upon completion, submit a comprehensive 5,000 - 10,000 word report detailing your research.
Key dates:
- Applications open: 25 February 2025
- Submission deadline: 25 April 2025
- CIBSE President's Awards Dinner: London, October 2025
Terms and Conditions
Please read the following terms and conditions carefully before completing the application:
- Research must be connected to your field and benefit CIBSE, your employer, clients and the broader building services profession.
- The bursary amount depends on the scope and destination of your project, up to a maximum of £4,000.
- If shortlisted for an interview, you will be asked to provide an estimate of the amount of money you will require to undertake your project. If you are applying for, or have obtained funding from elsewhere, please inform us at this stage. CIBSE cannot pay for secretarial assistance, computers, stationery, and replacement staff costs or unpaid study leave while you are undertaking your research.
- A detailed written report (5,000-10,000 words) is required.
- A certificate presentation will be made at the President’s Dinner in October to the successful applicant.
- The awards are administered by the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE).
- The report will be the property of CIBSE, and findings must be openly disclosed.
- The candidate’s employer may supplement the award, but there must be no restriction on open disclosure and comment of all matters covered by the study/research for which the award was granted.