The maximum grant is £10,000 over two years, with applications not considered for less than £500. Applications 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. Funds are available to facilitate initial project planning and development; to support the direct costs of research; and to enable the advancement of research through workshops or visits by or to partner scholars.

The British Academy welcomes proposals for high-quality research in all its subject areas. While all proposals should be situated in an appropriate field of study, they may vary considerably in their approach to conceptualisation, methodology and/or outputs, depending on the discipline. In some cases, creative and professional practice may play a significant role in shaping the methods and/or outcomes of research. In all proposals, whether practice-led or not, a clear scholarly rationale is required for the choice of research methods, processes and outputs.

Other benefits of the scheme include reducing bias and partiality in selection, providing applicants with feedback on unsuccessful elements of their proposals, and easing the administrative burden on applicants and officers through partial randomisation once quality thresholds are met. This process ensures applications are judged fairly while freeing up time for high-quality research.

Funds may be used to cover project planning and development costs, travel and maintenance for UK and overseas scholars engaged in collaborative activity, research assistance, workshops to advance the research programme, consumables, specialist software, interpreters, consultancy or short-term staff support, and costs of illustrations, reproduction rights, or conservation where directly linked to research. Child or parent care costs may also be considered if researchers are conducting fieldwork away from home.

The scheme does not cover institutional overheads, computer hardware, books or permanent resources, editorial costs such as proof-reading or indexing, publication subventions, payment to principal researchers in lieu of salary, replacement teaching costs, or travel and maintenance for lecture tours or writing up results.

Eligibility requires applicants to be at postdoctoral or equivalent level in the humanities or social sciences, with equivalent experience including established posts, publications, or teaching experience. Postgraduate students are not eligible. Applicants must be ordinarily resident in the UK, the Isle of Man, or the Channel Islands, or employed overseas by a recognised UK overseas research organisation. Co-applicants may be based anywhere globally, provided other eligibility criteria are met. UK research organisations overseas may apply if they are registered charities and demonstrate independent research capacity. Awards will not be made retrospectively, and the proposed work must not begin before the award announcement.

The Academy will assess applications equally on their merits, with no preference as to mode of enquiry. 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, nor are grants intended solely to support attendance at open conferences organised by a third party or international organisation. All applications should demonstrate that funds are sought for a clearly defined, discrete piece of research, which will have an identifiable outcome on completion of the Academy-funded component of the project.

Applications must be submitted by 5 November 2025, 17:00 GMT, and expenditure must take place within 24 months. There is no bar to reapplying for further funding, provided conditions of the preceding award are met, though future phases of longer projects may require alternative sources of funding.

For more information, visit The British Academy.