Funding call – British Academy Conferences Scheme

The British Academy is now accepting applications for the British Academy Conferences scheme. With generous support from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and the Wellcome Trust, the scheme presents an opportunity for UK-based scholars to run a pivotal event of lasting significance in their field.

Aims

Successful conferences will bring together scholars from around the world to present and discuss new research in the humanities and social science. Conferences funded as part of the scheme by the Wellcome Trust are designed to foster discussion and debate on health and wellbeing-related themes. The scheme links directly to an opportunity to publish a volume arising from the conference.

The Academy expects to fund up to 18 conferences each year. The Academy will host a maximum of three conferences at its own premises in London, alongside offering awards for conferences to be held at other UK venues or online. Conferences may also be held at British International Research Institutes (BIRIs) outside of the UK, but these events must be delivered in a hybrid format to ensure the conference is accessible to audiences in the UK.

Eligibility requirements

Principal applicants ie the lead convenor, must meet the following eligibility criteria:

• Applicants who submit a proposal as the ‘principal proposer/convenor’ must be postdoctoral scholars, or an equivalent level without a doctorate, in the fields of the humanities and social sciences. Postgraduate students are not eligible to apply (additional convenors can be listed on the proposal form).
• Principal applicants must be residents in the UK, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands (that is, classed as ‘ordinarily resident’ for tax purposes).
• Applications require the approval of the applicant’s employing institution.
• Applications may be made by independent scholars and retired scholars.
• Conferences must take place between 1 April 2026 and 31 March 2027.
• Proposals should be for conferences that will take place over one to two days at a venue in the UK, or up to three days if online-only. Convenors should indicate their preferred choice of venue in their proposal.
• Proposals should be for conferences which disseminate new research in the humanities and social sciences. Interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary proposals are particularly welcome, as are proposals that show the connection between our disciplines and the natural sciences.
• Proposed events must be open to all to attend. Requests for closed or invitation-only conferences will not be considered.

These criteria apply to the lead researcher and do not apply to co-convenors.

Current and former British Academy award-holders are welcome to apply to this scheme. Please note that this strand of British Academy/Wellcome conferences is not open to those who:

• Hold a research grant from the tobacco industry either currently or in the past.
• Are applying for funding from the tobacco industry.
• Are employed on a research grant from the tobacco industry.

Please read our scheme guidance, application notes and FAQ’s carefully for further information.

Level of award

Up to £20,000 per conference is available for British Academy/DSIT conferences.

Up to £30,000 per conference is available for British Academy/Wellcome scheme conferences. Many awards will be made at a lower level, with sums in the region of £10,000-£15,000 likely.

Additional or supporting funding from other sources can be secured alongside the Academy’s conference award.

Application process

The application form is available on the Academy’s Grant Management System (GMT) Flexi-Grant®.

The application deadline is Wednesday 29 January 2025, 17:00 (GMT)

Assessment of proposals: February – April 2025

Selection of conferences: May 2025

Principal proposers notified: June – July 2025.

Contact details

If you have any questions, please contact conferences@thebritishacademy.ac.uk.

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