Society of Antiquaries of London: Research & Travel Grants

Overview

The Society makes annual project grants of £500 to £5,000 to support research into the human past through its material culture or material remains.

Within this there are no period, geographic or disciplinary restrictions and applications are encouraged across the full range of the Society’s remit and interests: archaeology, art history, architectural and buildings history, studies of material culture items and assemblages (including books and manuscripts), the history of collecting and collections, and the development of intellectual enquiry into the human past through its material remains.

Applications will be accepted for:

They welcome applications from early career researchers, and for projects that are innovative in their approach, entail new initiatives, and/or create interdisciplinary interest.

Applicants who require funds primarily for their own research travel should consider applying for a Lambarde Travel Award.

Individal Award Schemes

Eligibility

Applications must be from the project director or principal investigator.
Awards will not be made for work contributing to an undergraduate or postgraduate degree.

Timing and Duration of Funding

Awards are made on an annual basis with possible renewal for up to to two further years. A new application is required each year and no project will be funded for more than three years.

Amount of Award

£500 to £5,000

The Research Grants scheme is competitive, and they are not always able to award grants to all applicants. In reaching its decisions Research Committee will put weight on the quality of the research proposal and its viability, both financial and practical. All decisions made by the Committee are final.

Among successful applications, Research Committee will make a number of named awards in commemoration of benefactors:

The Marion Wilson Awards for research projects in southern Britain
The Joan Pye Awards for early-career researchers (within five-years of completing their PhD), in the fields of prehistoric and Roman archaeology in the United Kingdom
The Hugh Chapman Memorial Awards for research projects on the Western Roman Empire or antiquarian matters in London and its environs

What do they fund?

Projects where the Society will be the main or a significant financial contributor
Support for definable objectives with specific, measurable outcomes within larger projects funded from a range of sources (but not simply ‘topping up’ applications to major funding bodies)
We will consider applications for projects of archaeological synthesis
We welcome applications by early career researchers, and for projects that are innovative in their approach, entail new initiatives, and/or create interdisciplinary interest.
Applications must be from the project director or principal investigator.

You can find details of projects we have funded in previous years here

What project costs are eligible?

travel & subsistence for members of the project team
costs of specialist or scientific investigation, and of technical services such as imaging and illustration, where these have to be commissioned
hire of plant and site accommodation
materials and consumables
hire of specialist equipment to which the applicant cannot reasonably be expected to have access

How long is the award for?

Most awards are made on an annual basis with possible renewal for up to two further years. A new application is required each year and no project will be funded for more than three years.

Projects should not start before 1 April in the year of application and grants should be taken up by 31 December of the year in which they are awarded.

What makes a strong application?

a clear and detailed articulation of your research aims and how these will be achieved, with costings and the proposed duration of research; this must include a clear statement of the contribution of the proposed research to scholarship.
a clear plan for the timely publication/dissemination of the results of your research; you are encouraged to consider submission to our journal and we may invite you to give a lecture on your project.
a request for a specific sum with all applications to other funding bodies declared.
a statement of the minimum sum needed to make the project viable in the event of full funding not being obtained.
Where this is the second (or subsequent) application for one of grants relating to the same project, you are required to submit a brief summary of your results to date and a statement of your expenditure covered by the previous grant.

What references do you need?

Most of their awards will need you to support your application with one or two references. Please see the specific details of each scheme in their in the relevant drop down menu areas on the webpage.

Every year they receive good applications that they cannot consider because their references are incomplete. You are responsible for ensuring that they receive your references by the deadline using their online system. It is a good idea to check that your referee(s) understand(s) what is required of them in advance and that they will be available at the appropriate time.

Please note that members of Research Committee cannot acts as referees for SAL grant applications. Committee details here.

Track grant Notes