Grants Opportunity: British Academy and Leverhulme Trust Open Applications for Small Research Grants 2025

The British Academy, in partnership with the Leverhulme Trust and different funding companions, has opened its 2025 spherical of Small Research Grants—one in all its most distinguished and aggressive schemes designed to help progressive analysis throughout the humanities and social sciences. With awards of as much as £10,000 accessible for initiatives of as much as two years, this system offers important help to early-stage and mid-career researchers in addition to seasoned teachers looking for to develop targeted, impactful analysis research.

A Flagship Funding Opportunity

The BA/Leverhulme Small Research Grants have grow to be the British Academy’s most applied-for scheme, each by way of functions obtained and awards granted. Annually, this initiative helps researchers based mostly at roughly 100 establishments all through the United Kingdom. The broad eligibility standards and versatile scope of help have made it significantly precious for students throughout all kinds of disciplines.

The scheme is co-funded by a public-private mannequin, which incorporates help from the UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), the Leverhulme Trust, and the Wellcome Trust. Additionally, a lot of particular funds again this system, together with contributions from organizations such because the British Accounting and Finance Association, EY, Honor Frost Foundation, Journal of Moral Education Trust, and others. Applicants don’t must specify which funding physique they’re making use of below, as all proposals are mechanically thought-about for all related streams.

What the Grants Cover

Each grant, valued as much as £10,000, is tenable for a interval of between one and 24 months. The funding is meant for clearly outlined analysis actions and could also be used for bills comparable to:

• Travel and fieldwork prices

• Archival or knowledge entry charges

• Costs of organizing workshops or small-scale analysis conferences

• Research help or technical companies

While versatile, the scheme has particular exclusions. Funds might not be used for educating substitute, private salaries, pc {hardware}, or software program purchases. Furthermore, it doesn’t cowl oblique prices or overheads, and it isn’t included below the Full Economic Costing (FEC) regime. The funding is strictly to be utilized towards direct analysis bills that contribute to reaching a tangible final result.

Who Can Apply?

The scheme is open to postdoctoral researchers (or these with equal expertise) who’re ordinarily resident within the UK. While institutional affiliation is often anticipated, impartial students are additionally eligible and inspired to apply. Co-applicants could be based mostly anyplace on this planet, however the Principal Applicant should reside within the UK and bear the accountability for administering the grant.

Eligible candidates embrace:

• University lecturers and professors

• Postdoctoral fellows

• Independent students

• Researchers affiliated with UK-based suppose tanks, museums, or different cultural establishments

Each application have to be submitted by the British Academy’s on-line Flexi-Grant system and have to be authorised by the applicant’s using establishment if relevant.

Supporting International and Collaborative Research

This scheme is well-suited to each particular person and collaborative initiatives. It welcomes proposals from worldwide groups, offered the lead applicant is UK-based. This makes it a perfect alternative for researchers looking for to ascertain or strengthen worldwide analysis collaborations, particularly in contexts that require a modest however strategic stage of funding.

However, candidates ought to be aware that the grants are usually not meant solely for convention journey or to fund attendance at occasions that don’t immediately contribute to analysis growth or dissemination. Likewise, proposals aimed solely at supporting the group of third-party conferences are ineligible until carefully tied to the funded analysis venture’s targets.

Application and Evaluation

Each application ought to describe a discrete, clearly outlined venture with a particular final result, comparable to a publication, dataset, or coverage report. Proposals are assessed by professional reviewers for their:

• Originality and educational advantage

• Feasibility of the analysis plan

• Relevance and readability of targets

• Value for cash

While candidates are inspired to hunt institutional help as their first choice, this grant is particularly geared towards funding high-quality initiatives that will lack entry to main grants or institutional assets. The scheme doesn’t entertain requests for lower than £500.

Application Timeline and Process

Applications for the 2025 cycle are anticipated to comply with the British Academy’s normal spring or autumn schedule. Deadlines and program bulletins will probably be posted on the Academy’s official web site, alongside scheme steerage and FAQs. Applicants are suggested to organize nicely upfront and to seek the advice of their institutional analysis places of work for inside submission procedures.

Applications have to be submitted through the British Academy’s Flexi-Grant portal, the place customers will full an in depth application type, funds plan, and venture description. Reference letters might also be required relying on the applicant’s profession stage and institutional affiliation.

Application deadline: 04 Jun 2025 – 17:00 BST

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For extra world alternatives like this, go to the Opportunities for Youth web site.

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