海角社区

Researcher Collaborations Grants
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Researcher Collaborations Grants

Supports researchers to establish and develop national, international, interdisciplinary and cross-sector collaborations and networks.

Our Researcher Collaborations Grant enables researchers to establish and develop collaborations and networks beyond their own institution, including national, international, interdisciplinary and cross-sector collaborations. Apply for up to 拢5000.

RSC members can apply for funding to participate in or organise activities which bring together researchers, including:

  • research visits to potential or current collaborator鈥檚 institutions (applicants can now apply to visit up to 3 collaborators as well as to host them on a reciprocal visit)
  • organising meetings/workshops

Important eligibility update regarding membership requirements

Please note that you must hold one of the following eligible categories of RSC membership before you submit your application in order for the grant to be considered:

  • Associate Member (AMRSC)
  • Member (MRSC)
  • Fellow (FRSC)

View our membership options

 

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Eligibility

The grant is aimed at researchers wanting to foster/develop collaborations. Applicants can be PhD students or researchers at any career stage, working in any sector or location.

Applicants must be either an Associate Member (AMRSC), Member (MRSC) or Fellow (FRSC) of the 海角社区 before they submit their application and for the duration of the grant period. Undergraduate Student Members (AFU) and Affiliate (AFF) are not eligible to apply.

Please read our Guidance for Applicants fully before you begin your application. Our Frequently Asked Questions document also provides further information and responses to common questions about this scheme.

Applicants may also be interested in our Guide to Writing Applications for the Researcher Collaborations Grant. Our guide provides grant-writing tips for those new to grants or wanting to learn some good practice in order to strengthening their applications.

For more information about RSC membership, please see our membership page.

What can I request funding for?

Please see our Guidance for Applicants for full details of eligible and ineligible costs.

Expenses to participate in research visits

Eligible:

  • All aspects of travel and commuting (including visas and insurance)
  • Essential food and drink
  • Accommodation
  • (Up to 拢500) Any other essential expenses and can include, for example, chemicals or consumables, access charges or specialist software licences

Ineligible:

  • Salary contributions, including consultant fees
  • Costs for general-purpose hardware, apparatus, or equipment
  • Costs for the dissemination of work, including conference attendance and publication costs
  • Social excursions
  • Personal items, such as clothing, toiletries or entertainment/leisure expenses
  • Expenses not related to the grant applicant (e.g. costs relating to accompanying family members). Although, depending on your circumstances, you may also be interested in our Grants for Carers and Accessibility Grants
  • Computers, phones, tablets or other personal gadgets/electronics

Expenses to host meetings/workshops

Eligible:

  • Venue hire
  • Essential participant expenses
  • Essential catering, including networking dinner
  • AV equipment hire
  • Essential costs for accessibility (e.g. sign language interpreter)

Ineligible:

  • Salary contributions, including consultant fees (e.g. for professional event organisers)
  • Costs for general-purpose hardware, apparatus, or equipment
  • Social excursions
  • Personal items, such as clothing, toiletries or entertainment/leisure expenses
  • Computers, phones, tablets or other personal gadgets/electronics
  • Dissemination costs

It is not intended that the grant will support existing conferences and meeting series or those hosted on behalf of organisations. Rather small workshops/discussion-style type meetings to facilitate potential and existing collaborations/networks.

Application timelines

2025: Round 2

  • Activities starting within 12 months from: 1 February 2026
  • Applications open: 26 August 2025
  • Application close: 29 September 2025 1400 UK time (BST)
  • Initial eligibility decisions: week commencing 13 October 2025
  • Funding decisions: by 15 December 2025

Assessment process and criteria

All applications will be checked by RSC staff. Your application will not proceed to peer review if:

  • You do not meet our eligibility criteria (see above).
  • Your application is incomplete.
  • Your application does not adhere to length limits instructed in the application system.
  • Your funding request exceeds the 拢5000 limit.

All remaining applications will undergo peer review by members of our Researcher Grants Peer Review Group and final funding decisions will then be overseen by:

  • Dr Charles O鈥橦ara, University of Strathclyde
  • Professor Ben Xu, Northumbria University
  • Dr Petra Szilagyi, University of Oslo
  • Professor Alison Hulme, University of Edinburgh

Our reviewers will assess applications on:

  • Case for collaboration: applicants should give thoughtful consideration to why they chose their respective collaborator(s) for the activity. It should be clear how each party contributes to the project or research problem. There should also be clear scope for sustained partnership(s) beyond the conclusion of this grant application.
  • Scientific quality: the scientific proposal must be novel and achievable in the specified timeframe. Applications should include a timely research problem that merits the proposed activity. Applications should also have impactful expected outcomes and plans for 鈥渘ext steps鈥�.
  • Case for RSC funding: applicants should demonstrate why RSC funding would be enabling. They should place their funding request in the context of other sources of funding available to them.
  • Inclusion & Diversity (meetings only): applicants must demonstrate actions to be taken to ensure an inclusive meeting.

For full details, please see our Guidance for Applicants or contact us.

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