Minor Research Grants

The Society of Antiquaries has a variety of funds for the support of archaeological, documentary and antiquarian research. In recent years the total allocated has been approximately £30,000, in amounts varying from £500 to £5,000. The award of grants is not generally subject to any geographical or chronological considerations, although some funds do have constraints, and this may affect the pattern of grants made. Minor Grants are open to Fellows and other researchers who have links with the UK.

Minor Grants will normally be for sums up to £5,000 given on an annual basis with a possibility of renewal for up to two consecutive years for projects with definable objectives that lead to publication. A new application is required for each year. Projects should not start before 1 April in the year of application and retrospective applications cannot be considered. The high level of research costs makes it essential that grants should be used to the best advantage.

Subject to the limitations described above the Society will consider applications within the following framework:

  • projects that entail new initiatives and/or create interdisciplinary interest;
  • projects of definable scale or duration to which the Society will be a major contributor;
  • projects based on funds derived from a number of sources to which the Society will be one contributor (but not those which simply ‘top up’ applications to major funding bodies). Although part of a larger project, the Society’s grants should be used to support a definable objective with concrete outcomes.

The Society encourages Early Career Researchers.

 Applicants are advised that:

  • applications should include a clear and detailed summary of the Research Aims and Design, including a clear statement of the contribution of their proposed research to scholarship,  with costings and proposed duration of the work;
  • grants will not normally be awarded for research that is part of work for a degree. Students seeking individual travelling costs should apply to the Wheeler Fund;
  • grants will not be awarded for the salary of persons holding existing appointments, but the cost of additional staff, e.g. a temporary research assistant for new projects, may be considered in exceptional cases. Any such staff costs will only be considered for named individuals;
  • grants will not be awarded to pay overheads;
  • precise plans for publications should be stated. Please note the applicant is required to give first refusal to the Society for final publication;
  • it is essential to give full details of all applications to other bodies and to request a specific sum when applying to the Society. There should be a statement of the minimum sum needed to make the project viable in the event of total funding not being obtained by grants from either the Society or other bodies;
  • applicants awarded a grant will be expected to submit a satisfactory report, of no more than 1,000 words and in a form that can be uploaded to the website, setting out how the research objectives were met.. There should also be a separate financial statement detailing how the Society's money was spent. Both reports must be submitted no later than 28 February of the year following that in which the grant is made. No further grant will be made to any applicant who fails to meet this requirement by the stated date;
  • grants should be taken up by 31 December of the year in which they were awarded;
  • applicants who require funds primarily for travelling should consider applying to the Lambarde Fund;
  • members of the Research Committee are debarred from acting as referees.

Applications and referee reports (twelve copies of each) must be submitted by the Friday in the first full week of January in the year of application. This deadline will be strictly adhered to and late applications, or those with a late or missing referee report will not be considered. It is your responsibility to ensure your referee report arrives at the Society by the deadline.

All answers must be made on the application form provided. Your application will be considered solely on the basis of the information you provide on your application form. The font size must not be smaller than 10 point and your application should not exceed four A4 pages.

The Research Committee will meet to consider applications and the results of their recommendations as confirmed by the Council should be notified to all applicants by the end of March.

Download the referee form here.