British Academy/Leverhulme Small Research Grants (United Kingdom)

Deadline: 28-Oct-2026

The British Academy/Leverhulme Small Research Grants provide funding for postdoctoral scholars in the United Kingdom to undertake clearly defined research projects across all disciplines. The scheme supports both individual and collaborative research and can help researchers cover direct costs associated with planning, developing, and advancing their projects. Up to £10,000 is available per award, with grants lasting between one and 24 months. The programme is one of the British Academy’s prominent and widely accessed research funding schemes, supporting academics at approximately 100 institutions across the UK.

About the British Academy/Leverhulme Small Research Grants

The British Academy/Leverhulme Small Research Grants are designed to provide flexible financial support for discrete research projects. The programme can help researchers develop and advance their work by funding eligible direct research expenses. Supported activities may include research-related workshops, conferences, and visits involving partner scholars. Both individual and collaborative projects can be considered, making the scheme suitable for researchers working independently as well as those involved in research partnerships. Funding Available Successful applicants can receive up to £10,000 per award. The grant can be held for between one and 24 months, allowing researchers to select a funding period appropriate to the scope of their defined research project. Applications must request at least £500, as applications for less than this amount will not be considered. What Can the Grant Support? Funding can be used for eligible activities and costs that are directly connected to the proposed research project.

Examples of supported activities include:

- Research-related workshops. - Conferences directly connected with the research project. - Visits by partner scholars. - Visits to partner scholars. - Other eligible direct research expenses. - Research dissemination activities directly connected to the funded project. Applicants can combine eligible activities and costs according to the needs of their research project. Research Workshops and Conferences The scheme can support workshops and conferences when they are directly connected to the funded research project. Researchers should demonstrate how these activities contribute to the development, planning, completion, or advancement of the proposed research. However, the grant is not intended solely to fund attendance at open conferences. Research Visits and Collaboration The scheme supports research collaboration by allowing eligible funding for visits by or to partner scholars. This makes the programme relevant to projects that require researchers to work with academic partners, exchange expertise, develop collaborations, or conduct research activities across institutions or locations. International groups can also participate, provided that the principal applicant meets the UK residency requirement. Individual and Collaborative Research Projects The British Academy/Leverhulme Small Research Grants can support both individual and collaborative research projects. Individual researchers can seek support for their own clearly defined research, while collaborative applications can bring together researchers working toward a shared research outcome. International research groups are also welcome to apply where the principal applicant is ordinarily resident in the UK. Who Can Apply? The scheme is aimed at postdoctoral scholars in the UK undertaking defined research projects. The principal applicant must be ordinarily resident in the UK. International groups can participate in collaborative research, but the UK residency requirement applies to the principal applicant. Applicants must also demonstrate that the proposed work represents a clearly defined and discrete piece of research with an identifiable outcome. Institutional Approval Applications require approval from the applicant’s employing institution. This institutional approval is an important part of the application process and should be secured according to the requirements of the employing organisation. Independent scholars can apply by selecting the appropriate independent-scholar status in the application system. Requirements for the Proposed Research The funding is intended for a clearly defined, discrete research project rather than general academic activity.

Applicants should demonstrate:

- A clearly defined research project. - A discrete piece of research. - An identifiable research outcome. - A clear connection between requested costs and the research. - A suitable funding period of one to 24 months. - The need for the requested funding to advance the proposed work. A strong application should make it easy for assessors to understand what the research will achieve and why the requested activities and costs are necessary. Dissemination of Research Findings Research dissemination can be supported where it is directly connected to the funded research project. Applicants should therefore explain how dissemination activities contribute to communicating the findings or outcomes of the specific research being funded. The scheme is not designed simply to provide funding for researchers to attend open conferences without a direct connection to the research project. What the Grant Does Not Fund Certain expenses are specifically excluded from the scheme.

The grants do not support:

- Replacement teaching. - Payment in lieu of salary. - Computer equipment. - Conference attendance where it is not directly connected to the funded research project. Applicants should ensure that their proposed budget focuses on eligible direct research expenses. Minimum and Maximum Funding The funding range is clearly defined.

Applicants can request:

- Minimum: £500.

- Maximum: £10,000.

- Duration: One to 24 months.

Applications requesting less than £500 will not be considered. Public-Private Partnership The programme is