Introduction to Grants Available

The British Academy offers grants in the humanities and social sciences. Most awards are made to staff employed in universities and other institutions of higher education, but applicants are not restricted by either academic or employment status. Rather, they must show that they are seeking support for advanced research at postdoctoral level (or equivalent). PhD candidates are not eligible to apply, whether or not the project is related to the topic of their thesis. Awards are not available for the support of courses of study leading to professional qualifications. Grants are offered for the support of scholars who are normally resident in the UK, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands, except for the programmes for visiting scholars.

The following check list may help applicants to find the right source of funding. Please refer to the relevant section, for further information. Detailed guidance is provided with the application forms, which may be downloaded here. It is essential that you read the notes for applicants that accompany the application form for each scheme.

Information about the administrative procedures for the Academy's research funding programme can be found here.

What do you want funding for?

Choose from:

• travel costs
• consumables
• research assistance
• research leave/replacement teaching
• first academic appointment
• visits by foreign scholars to UK
• organising a conference

Travel costs

• in connection with a research programme, in the UK:
  • Small Research Grants
  • British Academy Research Development Award Scheme (BARDAs)
• in connection with a research programme abroad:
  • Small Research Grants
  • British Academy Research Development Award Scheme (BARDAs)
  • International Agreements
• to attend a conference:
  • Overseas Conference Grants

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Consumables

• datasets, photocopies, microfilms, etc
  • Small Research Grants
  • British Academy Research Development Award Scheme (BARDAs)

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Research assistance

• employment of research or secretarial assistance:
  • Small Research Grants
  • British Academy Research Development Award Scheme (BARDAs)

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Research leave/replacement teaching

• one year:
  • Senior Research Fellowship

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First academic appointment

• three year postdoctoral fellowship:
  • Postdoctoral Fellowships

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Visits by foreign scholars to the UK

• for individual research:
  • Visiting Scholars
• for collaborative research with UK partner(s)
  • Small Research Grants
  • British Academy Research Development Award Scheme (BARDAs)
  • International Agreements: Joint Projects

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Organising a conference

• Conference Support
• International Agreements: Joint Projects