Postgraduate Research Support Grants provide funds to postgraduate historians to undertake historical research. Applicants must be current Postgraduate Members of the Royal Historical Society.
If you wish to join the Society as a Postgraduate Member, please see here for details and the benefits of RHS membership. Applications for membership are welcome at any time.
Supported activities include visiting archives or historic sites, and conducting interviews. Please note that this grant cannot be used to support attendance at, or the organisation of, conferences.
Key Dates and Application Timelines
In 2026, grants of either £500 or £1,000 (based on the research activity to be undertaken) will be awarded by the Society.
The closing dates for applications in 2026 are as follows:
- Friday 5 June 2026, CLOSED
- Friday 4 December 2026 OPEN
Calls for this programme are made twice a year. The opening of the next call usually takes place approximately two months after the close of the previous application round.
Applications for the next round of Postgraduate Research Support Grants should be submitted via the Society’s application platform
Applicants should ensure they read the full guidance below before beginning their application. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Applicants will receive confirmation of submission by email.
All applications are reviewed by the RHS Research Support Committee, formed of members of the Society’s Council. Review will not begin until the application deadline has passed. The average timeline for review, ratification, and notification of outcomes is approximately six weeks after the deadline. All applicants will be notified directly of the outcome of their application.
All enquiries about the Postgraduate Research Support Grant scheme should be sent to the RHS Membership and Grants Team at: [email protected].
How to Apply
As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide:
1.Project Proposal
A clear outline of your research activity (up to 500 words), including:
- The aims of the project
- The significance of the research
- Why the proposed activity (e.g. archive visit, interviews, etc.) is essential
- Expected outcomes or progress
2. Funding Request
A detailed summary of the costs for which you are applying, showing:
- A breakdown of anticipated expenses
- Justification for each cost
- Confirmation that all items fall within the scheme’s eligible cost categories
For further information, please refer to the Eligible Research Support Costs section below.
3. Academic Reference
An academic reference is required. Applicants must arrange for a referee to submit a supporting statement through the application portal.
Please note:
- Applications will only be considered complete once the reference has been received.
- You will not be able to submit your application until your reference has been uploaded.
- Please allow sufficient time for your referee to provide this before the deadline.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for a Postgraduate Research Support Grant, applicants must meet all of the following criteria:
- Membership: Applicants must be current Postgraduate Members of the Royal Historical Society, with the subscription fee for the current membership year fully paid at the time of application.
- Applicant Status: Applicants must be postgraduate research students studying for a Master’s degree or PhD in History.
- The scheme is not open to: Applicants who have completed their doctoral degree.
- Research Focus: The proposed research must be historical in nature and have a clearly defined chronological remit.
- Stage of Research: Proposals should demonstrate sufficient preparation and capacity to carry out the proposed research. The Society normally expects research visits to take place during the second, third, or fourth year (or part-time equivalent) of postgraduate study.
- Previous Funding: Applicants who have previously been awarded a Postgraduate Research Support Grant are not eligible to apply again under this scheme.
- Timing of Research: Retrospective applications for research that has already been undertaken are not eligible.
- Applicants must ensure that all proposed costs fall within the scheme’s eligible expenses and that any necessary ethical approvals, practical arrangements or access permissions are in place for the proposed research activity. For further details on eligible research support costs, please refer to the Eligible Research Support Costs section below.
Assessment Criteria (What We Look For)
When reviewing applications, we consider:
1.Clarity and Focus
- A clear explanation of the project and the purpose of the research activity
- Well-defined research questions and emerging findings where relevant
2. Scholarly Significance
- Evidence of the historical or disciplinary importance of the project
- A convincing case for why the proposed activity is essential
3. Feasibility and Planning
- A realistic and well-prepared research plan
- A clear and reasonable budget aligned with eligible cost guidance
4. Value of the Funding
- How the requested support will directly advance the project
- Expected outputs or benefits (e.g. chapter progress, dissertation development)
5. Applicant Circumstances
Consideration will be given to financial need and access to other sources of support. Access to additional funding will not invalidate an application but may be considered when prioritising awards.
Eligible Research Support Costs
The following costs would be eligible under this grant scheme.
1.Travel
- Standard-class transport (train, bus, economy flights if necessary)
- Mileage at reasonable or institutional rates.
- Local transport during the research trip
- Travel insurance where required or recommended for the trip
2. Accommodation & Subsistence
- Necessary overnight accommodation
- Meals and daily incidental expenses (within standard, reasonable rates)
3. Access & Reproduction Fees
- Archive/library access fees or reader cards
- Entry fees for historic sites
- Photocopying, scanning, digital reproduction charges
- Photography permits (where applicable)
4. Interview Costs
- Travel to conduct interviews
- Room hire
- Recording equipment hire
5. Post-Visit Collation
- Data collation or preparation services
- Short-term software licences needed for analysis (e.g., transcription or qualitative analysis tools)
6. Accessibility-Related Costs
- Support required to enable researchers with disabilities to carry out fieldwork
Costs Not Covered
- Paying someone else to conduct research on the applicant’s behalf (e.g., hiring a research assistant, commissioning someone to visit an archive, or outsourcing research tasks)
- Equipment purchases (e.g., laptops, cameras, phones, long-term recording devices)
- Conference fees or travel not directly related to the funded research activity
- Salary, stipends, or payments for the applicant’s own time
- Long-term software subscriptions
- Regular living expenses (rent, utilities, everyday food not linked to travel)
- Personal or leisure costs (tourism, souvenirs, personal items)
- Retrospective claims for expenses made before the grant was awarded
- Unreasonable or premium travel/accommodation costs where cheaper alternatives are available
All enquiries about Research Funding should be sent to the Society’s Membership and Grants Team at: [email protected].
Postgraduate Research Support Grant recipients in 2026
- Lennart Schmidt – awarded January 2026
- Ellis Hinton – awarded January 2026
- Santiago Garcia – awarded January 2026
- Deguang Li – awarded January 2026
HEADER IMAGE: Women’s rights quilt, c.1875, Illinois, USA, Metropolitan Museum of Art New York, public domain