Deadline: 08-Apr-2026
The Small Research Grant Program offers funding of up to £5,000 to support personally conducted, high-quality research projects lasting up to 12 months. The program promotes academic innovation, supports defined research projects, and provides a foundation for future collaborative or larger-scale funding opportunities.
What is the Small Research Grant Program?
This program is designed to encourage high-quality research across all academic disciplines and career stages. It provides targeted funding to enable researchers to conduct independent projects, integrate with broader award schemes, and develop pathways toward larger research grants or collaborations. Funding covers eligible costs directly related to the proposed research and is intended to strengthen the applicant’s research profile.
Program Objectives
- Support personally conducted, high-quality research
- Foster academic innovation and new research directions
- Enable integration with broader research and award schemes
- Facilitate progression toward larger grants or collaboration projects
Funding Details
- Maximum award: £5,000
- Duration: Up to 12 months
- Eligible costs: Directly related to the proposed research project
- Purpose: Support independent research and act as a foundation for future funding applications
Who is Eligible?
- Principal Investigators from any academic discipline and career stage
- Full-time or part-time academics employed by higher education institutions, further education institutions, research institutions, or cultural institutions in Scotland
- Employment contract must extend at least three months beyond the project end date
- Retired academics with active links to Scottish institutions
- Practitioners or research-active staff within Scottish cultural institutions
- Early career researchers on staged contracts leading to permanent positions, provided their contract covers the award period
Collaborations
- Collaborations with partners within Scotland or internationally are permitted
- Lead applicant must be based in Scotland
- Up to two co-applicants may join, meeting the same eligibility criteria
- Additional collaborators can contribute without eligibility requirements
How to Apply
- Confirm Eligibility: Ensure lead applicant and co-applicants meet the criteria
- Prepare Proposal: Define research objectives, methodology, budget, and expected outcomes
- Submit Application: Complete online application forms with supporting documentation
- Collaborator Details: Include co-applicants and additional collaborators as required
- Funding Review: Applications are assessed based on quality, feasibility, and alignment with program objectives
- Award Notification: Successful applicants receive funding and guidance for project initiation
Why It Matters
- Provides crucial support for independent research projects
- Encourages innovation across disciplines and career stages
- Strengthens connections to larger funding schemes and collaborative initiatives
- Promotes Scotland’s research excellence on national and international levels
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Applying without confirming eligibility of lead applicant and co-applicants
- Underestimating project costs or including ineligible expenses
- Failing to clearly define research objectives and methodology
- Not providing evidence of institutional support or active links
- Missing deadlines for submission
FAQs
1. Can retired academics apply? Yes, if they maintain active links with Scottish institutions.
2. Are early career researchers eligible? Yes, if their contract covers the award period and leads toward a permanent position.
3. Can international partners be involved? Yes, but the lead applicant must be based in Scotland.
4. How many co-applicants are allowed? Up to two, meeting the same eligibility criteria.
5. What is the maximum funding? £5,000 per project.
6. What is the maximum project duration? 12 months.
7. Can this grant lead to larger funding? Yes, it can serve as a foundation for future collaborative or larger research grants.
Conclusion
The Small Research Grant Program supports independent, high-quality research in Scotland, offering flexible funding for diverse academic disciplines and career stages. By fostering innovation, collaboration, and integration with larger schemes, the program strengthens research capacity and encourages future opportunities for impactful projects.
For more information, visit The Royal Society of Edinburgh.