Funding to cover the cost of primary research expenses arising from a defined research project in the humanities and social sciences.
Funds are available to:
- facilitate initial project planning and development
- support the direct costs of research
- enable the advancement of research through workshops or visits by or to partner scholars
ELIGIBILITY
These grants are for those at postdoctoral or equivalent level (equivalent experience may include holding, or having held, an established post, having a record of publications in the field and/or having teaching experience).
Proposals for collaborative or individual research projects are equally welcome under this scheme. Applications from international groups of scholars are welcome, provided there is a UK-based scholar as lead applicant for the duration of the award period.
Grants are not intended to support interchange between UK and overseas scholars where there is no planned programme of activity to meet a clearly specified research objective (dissemination of results of research conducted under the aegis of the project for which funding is sought is a permitted purpose, but applications will only be considered if this dissemination occurs through workshops bringing together a closed group of participants to advance a specifically identified research idea, rather than open call conferences).
VALUE AND DURATION
Up to £10,000 for up to 24 months.
Please note that this funding cannot be used to cover the cost of replacement teaching, payment in lieu of salary or computer kit, and that the scheme is not covered within the FEC regime – the £10,000 is only available to the award-holder only for direct research expenses.
KEY DATES
Deadline: 5 November 2025 (5pm)
Results expected: 15 April 2026
Earliest start date: 1 May 2026
Latest start date: 31 August 2026
Scheme notes, application guidance and FAQs are included below. Further details, including details of past awards, can be found on the opportunity webpage.
See also Demystifying British Academy Small Research Grants webinar recording.