British Academy / Cara / Leverhulme Researchers at Risk Research Support Grants

Aims

Applications for collaborative or individual research projects are equally welcome under this scheme.

Funds are available to facilitate initial project planning and development; research assistance; and to enable the advancement of research through conference/workshop or visits by or to partner scholars. Applicants may seek support for any combination of eligible activity and cost up to the overall limit of £10,000. Applications will be assessed equally on their merits, with no preference as to the mode of enquiry.

Eligibility requirements

Eligible researchers include the following except where their research falls within the medical and health sciences which is not eligible:

• Existing award-holders through Cara’s Fellowship Programme.
• Applicants to Cara’s Fellowship Programme who have been deemed eligible for support and for whom a placement is being sought (awards will only be paid over once the placement is secured).
• Existing award-holders through the British Academy’s Researchers at Risk Fellowship Programme.

In addition, to be eligible for this funding applicants must be active postdoctoral (or equivalent level) researcher. They must hold an appropriate UK visa before the funds can be released.

Value and duration

The value of the award is set at a maximum of £10,000. Funding must be used in the direct delivery of the award. Any underspend will be required to be refunded to the British Academy. Applications will not be considered for less than £2,000.

Awards will be paid in full on acceptance of the award from the host institution. Payment will be made to the institution where the Lead is based.

The award period for any research support funding will not exceed the duration of the relevant fellowship award that the applicant holds from either the British Academy or Cara.

Selection principles

All applications will undergo an eligibility check to ensure the application is complete and the researcher meets the eligibility criteria.

Eligible proposals will be considered by a Selection Panel convened by the British Academy, which will include representatives of the UK National Academies.

Duplicate applications that have previously been rejected more than once will not be considered for a third time.

If you are applying for a second time having been rejected, it is not a given that your application will be successful, even if you feel you have responded to the feedback provided by the previous reviewers.

This funding is available on a competitive basis. It is not expected that all applications for funding will be successful.

Applications for this research support funding will be assessed using the following criteria:

• The merit of the proposed research activity.
• The impact of the proposed activity on the applicant’s career development.
• The impact of the proposed activity given the applicant’s current available research support.

Application process

Applications must be submitted online using the British Academy's Grant Management System (GMS), using the link provided via email.

The deadline for applications for the sixth round is 17:00 GMT on Wednesday 14 January 2025. The Academy will announce the timings of any future rounds in due course.

Scheme guidance

Please read our scheme and application guidance carefully before submitting an application.