Call for Proposals: Small Research Grants (UK)
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The RSE Small Research Grants are designed to support personally conducted high-quality research.
The RSE Small Research Grants are available to cover eligible costs arising from a defined research project, designed to encourage high-quality research and academic innovation and, where possible, to integrate with the overall programme of awards such that successful applications may lead to future bids for RSE Research Collaboration Grants or act as preliminary investigations for other larger research awards.
RSE Small Research Grants can be held in any discipline or subject area. They are funded for up to 12 months, with successful applications expected to have a start date between 1 March 2026 and 31 August 2026. Applicants may submit only one proposal to the RSE per funding round, and they should apply to the scheme best suited to their project.
The awards provide a maximum of £5,000 for a period of up to one year. They are open to Principal Investigators from all academic disciplines and career stages, including full or part-time academics, retired academics with demonstrable links to a Scottish institution, and research-active practitioners employed by Scottish cultural institutions. Applicants must hold contracts that extend at least three months beyond the end of the proposed award period. Early career researchers on staged contracts to permanent positions are eligible if in contract for the duration of the award.
Collaborations are encouraged and may include Scottish or overseas institutions and practitioners, provided the lead applicant is based in Scotland and the key principles of the awards scheme are observed. Applicants may also name up to two co-applicants, who must fulfil the same eligibility criteria as the Principal Investigator. In addition, collaborators may be included without being bound by the same eligibility requirements.
Funding covers a wide range of eligible costs, including international and local travel, visa and accommodation expenses, access to archives and libraries, participation in performances, exhibitions, conferences, and workshops, event-related expenses, administration support, research assistance, training costs for the Principal Investigator and co-applicants, library and copyright fees, essential equipment, translation and transcription services, publication support, dissemination activities, fieldwork, specialist licences, consumables, and participation fees. Online events, accessibility measures such as captioning and interpretation, and specialist professional services may also be included.
Certain costs are not eligible, including insurance, medical expenses, computer hardware, bench and laboratory fees, departmental expenses, alcohol costs, subventions for publishing, replacement staff time, and general full economic costs. Exceptions are allowed for carers where needed to support applicants with caring responsibilities. Applicants are strongly encouraged to choose cost-effective options, take advantage of discount fares and inexpensive accommodation, and adopt low-carbon alternatives such as online delivery and public transport.
Applications will be assessed on the quality and feasibility of the proposed research, the significance of its outputs and impact, and its value for money. Awards will not be considered if a report on a previous RSE award remains overdue.
