The British Academy, in partnership with the Leverhulme Trust, offers one of the most prestigious and competitive funding opportunities for researchers worldwide—the BA/Leverhulme Small Research Grants. This funding programme is designed to support innovative, high-quality research projects in the humanities and social sciences, providing scholars with financial backing to advance their academic work.
What Is the BA/Leverhulme Small Research Grant?
The BA/Leverhulme Small Research Grants scheme is a flagship funding programme aimed at supporting primary research projects in the humanities and social sciences. It is one of the most popular and widely recognized funding schemes administered by the British Academy.
These grants are specifically designed to:
- Enable innovative research projects
- Support early-stage project development
- Fund collaborations and academic networking
- Facilitate data collection, fieldwork, and dissemination
Each grant provides up to £10,000, making it ideal for small-scale yet high-impact research initiatives.
Funding Coverage and What the Grant Supports
The BA/Leverhulme Small Research Grants are highly flexible and can be used for a wide range of research-related expenses, including:
- Travel and subsistence for research activities
- Access to archives, libraries, and databases
- Research assistance and materials
- Workshops, conferences, and collaboration meetings
- Project planning and development costs
However, it is important to note that the grant does not cover salaries or major equipment such as computers.
Who Can Apply? (Eligibility Criteria)
Understanding eligibility is crucial for applicants. This programme is primarily targeted at postdoctoral-level researchers.
Eligible Applicants
- Postdoctoral researchers or equivalent scholars
- Academics affiliated with recognized institutions
- Independent researchers with a proven track record
Residency Requirement
- The Principal Applicant must be ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom
International Applicants
- Researchers from any country or continent can participate as co-applicants
- International collaboration is encouraged
- However, the lead applicant must be UK-based
Target Audience: Who Should Apply?
This opportunity is ideal for:
- Early-career and mid-career researchers
- Academics in universities and research institutions
- Independent scholars in humanities and social sciences
- Research teams seeking seed funding for new ideas
It is particularly valuable for researchers looking to:
- Test new research ideas
- Build collaborative networks
- Generate preliminary data for larger grants
Eligible Fields of Study
The grant supports research across all disciplines within:
- Humanities (e.g., history, literature, philosophy)
- Social Sciences (e.g., sociology, economics, political science)
The British Academy welcomes diverse methodologies and interdisciplinary approaches, provided the research demonstrates strong academic merit.
Duration and Project Timeline
- Minimum Duration: 1 month
- Maximum Duration: 24 months
Projects must be clearly defined with specific objectives and measurable outcomes.
Key Features and Benefits
1. Prestigious Recognition
Being funded by the British Academy significantly enhances your academic profile.
2. Flexible Funding
You can tailor the grant to suit your research needs, from travel to workshops.
3. International Collaboration
While UK-based leadership is required, the scheme actively supports global partnerships.
4. High Success Visibility
The programme is one of the largest funding streams of the British Academy, with a strong track record of supporting scholars.
What Makes a Strong Application?
To increase your chances of success, your proposal should:
- Clearly define a focused research question
- Demonstrate academic significance and originality
- Present a realistic methodology and timeline
- Justify the budget effectively
Applications are assessed on quality, and in some cases, a random selection process is used among high-quality proposals to ensure fairness.
Important Restrictions and Conditions
- Minimum funding request: £500
- Maximum funding: £10,000
- Cannot fund PhD thesis work directly
- Cannot cover salaries or teaching replacement
Projects must produce clear academic outputs, such as publications, reports, or scholarly contributions.
Why This Grant Matters for Researchers Worldwide
Even though the scheme requires a UK-based lead applicant, it remains highly relevant globally because:
- It promotes international research collaboration
- It allows co-investigators from any country
- It supports globally relevant research topics
This makes it a strategic opportunity for researchers in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas to collaborate with UK-based scholars.
Deadline
27th May 2026
The BA/Leverhulme Small Research Grants stand out as one of the most accessible and impactful funding opportunities for scholars in the humanities and social sciences. With up to £10,000 in funding, flexible usage, and support for international collaboration, this grant provides a powerful platform for advancing research careers.
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