Apply for Polyfon’s summer scholarship

Polyfon offers two types of summer scholarship. The scholarships are funded by the knowledge cluster and GC Rieber Fondene. The same application form is used for both schemes.

Interdisciplinary summer scholarships

These scholarships are intended for students working on projects related to music and health in a broad sense, where humanities, philosophy, medicine, psychology, social sciences or other disciplines may be relevant.

Students from all academic institutions participating in the cluster may apply.

Applications may be based on different academic perspectives and traditions. However, interdisciplinary perspectives, including music therapy-related themes, are expected to be considered.

Summer scholarships for students in music therapy or music and health

These scholarships are reserved for students enrolled in music therapy or music and health programmes at Ansgar University College, the Norwegian Academy of Music, or the Grieg Academy (University of Bergen).

Students at all academic institutions participating in the cluster may apply. See the descriptions above for information about which scholarship type may be relevant to you.

Restrictions

Students who are about to complete their studies are normally not eligible to apply.

However, final-year bachelor's students may apply if they intend to continue to a master's degree programme. If they instead take up employment after graduation, they must inform the cluster and withdraw from the scholarship scheme.

Co-researchers and service user or family carer representatives

Polyfon actively promotes service user involvement in research.

For both scholarship types, a full scholarship may be shared between a student and a co-researcher, service user representative or family carer representative. In such cases, each person receives half of the scholarship amount.

• Scholarships are valued at NOK 40,000 (tax-free up to the applicable tax exemption threshold) and correspond to six weeks of full-time work.
• Applicants may apply for a full or half scholarship.
• Multiple students may collaborate and apply for several scholarships linked to the same project.

Applicants may also wish to review Polyfon’s overview of previous scholarship recipients and project outcomes.

Applications on a wide range of topics are welcome. Scientific quality is the main assessment criterion, although applications are also considered as part of an overall assessment.

Examples of relevant themes include:

• interdisciplinary and/or practice-oriented topics
• implementation and development of music therapy as a field of practice and research
• sub-projects within larger music therapy research projects
• updates to Polyfon’s knowledge summaries

Applicants are welcome to seek advice from Polyfon’s regional academic coordinators in Southern, Eastern and Western Norway.

The scientific review committee evaluates both scholarship schemes according to the following guidelines:

• Polyfon works within the field of music therapy and music and health. Projects must therefore focus on physical, psychological, existential and/or sociocultural dimensions of the relationship between music and health.
• Public health-related projects in kindergartens, schools and local communities are as welcome as projects linked to healthcare practice.
• Project quality is a key assessment criterion, while applications are also considered in relation to the cluster’s strategy.
• Where relevant, applications that facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration are considered particularly valuable. Applications may be based on different academic traditions, but interdisciplinary perspectives, including music therapy-related themes, should be taken into account.
• Projects should strengthen the foundation for future research and/or practice development and should be focused, clearly defined and feasible within the available timeframe.
• Applications must demonstrate how service user and family carer involvement will be facilitated wherever possible and relevant.
• To be eligible for funding, students must have established a supervisory relationship with a researcher or project leader affiliated with one of Polyfon’s cluster participants.
• If the project involves data collection and/or data analysis, issues relating to data protection, research ethics approval, data processing agreements and related requirements must be addressed. The application must clearly state that the responsible cluster participant will ensure compliance with all relevant regulations.

Applications must be submitted through the online application form, which is used for both scholarship schemes.

The application must include:

• personal details of the student and supervisor
• a copy of an email from the supervisor confirming their willingness to supervise the project and confirming that any research ethics and formal requirements related to data collection and/or analysis will be handled by the relevant cluster participant
• the scholarship type and requested amount (full or half scholarship)
• the project title
• a project description (maximum 1,200 words) presenting the background, research question, theory, methodology and ethical considerations
• a literature list (maximum five references)
• a description of the project’s seed-funding potential (maximum 100 words), for example how it may contribute to academic or practice development and support future publication or dissemination
• a project timeline (maximum 100 words)
• a dissemination plan (maximum 100 words)
• a project summary (50–150 words). If awarded a scholarship, this summary will be published on Polyfon’s website.

• Scholarships may support projects initiated by students themselves or projects that form part of a larger initiative led by a researcher or research group within the cluster.
• Applicants must have support and supervision from a researcher. Students are therefore encouraged to contact a relevant researcher within the cluster well before the application deadline.
• Tasks may include literature reviews, literature analysis, methodological development, project design, and potentially data collection and analysis.
• If data collection or analysis is involved, issues relating to privacy, research ethics approval, data processing agreements and similar requirements must be considered and addressed.