Funding

In accordance with its aims and objectives, the Society offers a variety of bursaries to eligible students and scholars at any stage in their career, regardless of country of residence or institutional affiliation. Opportunities include grants for fieldwork, publication, as well as funding for conference organisation and attendance.

Applications should be made digitally via the Society’s online form (link below). Please make careful note of the Conditions and Eligibility as set out per funding category, as applications which do not comply with these will not be considered. Late submissions will not be accepted, and funding is not awarded retrospectively.

Following submission, applications are forwarded to and considered by the Funding (sub)committee. All applicants will be notified by email of the outcome of their application. Successful applications may be announced on the Society’s website, social media, and other promotional materials.

For further questions regarding eligibility, application deadlines, or other relevant issues, please email funding@ssns.org.uk. Please note that no ongoing correspondence will be entered into following the outcome of individual applications.

Current Funding Opportunities

Description:

On an annual basis, SSNS will offer up to two small grants (generally not exceeding £500) to support the organisation of relevant conferences or to contribute to the cost of publication.

Deadline: 3 May 2024

Eligibility and Conditions:

  • Associated institutions should be subscribers or at least two of the organisers should be members of the Society.
  • Applications should include a brief project outline that demonstrates its relevance to the Society’s aims and objectives.
  • Applications should include a detailed and realistic budget, and expressly note any other grants or incomes that are secured or sought.
  • If funding is requested for a specific expense, a relevant quote or receipt must be provided before payment is authorised.
  • Awards will be provisional until full funding has been secured and notified.
  • If funding is awarded, acknowledgement of the grant must be given in the publicity of the conference and/or the front matter of the publication. This should include the Society’s full name and logo (provided upon request).
  • A brief summary of the conference and its results and legacy (c. 200-300 words) should be submitted within four weeks of completion for posting on the Society’s website.
  • Where funding is offered for a publication, or where a publication results from a funded conference, organisers shall forward a copy to the Society for archival and/or review purposes.

Description:

In addition to its general Publication and Conference Grant (above), the Society may provide funding to support the organisation of a conference specifically aimed at postgraduate students and/or early career researchers in a relevant subject – to a maximum of two grants per academic year. Funding will generally not exceed £200 for a day conference and £500 for residential conferences or other longer events.

Deadline: 3 May 2024

Eligibility and Conditions:

  • Conferences must allow opportunities for students and/or early career researchers to present their work in progress.
  • Conferences will be otherwise externally funded and predominantly self-organised.
  • Associated institutions should be subscribers or at least two of the organisers should be members of the Society.
  • Applications should include a brief project outline that demonstrates its relevance to the Society’s aims and objectives.
  • Applications should include a detailed and realistic budget, and expressly note any other grants or incomes that are secured or sought.
  • Applications should be accompanied by a brief statement of support from an applicant’s academic supervisor, mentor, or departmental head.
  • If funding is requested for a specific expense, a relevant quote or receipt must be provided before payment is authorised.
  • Awards will be provisional until full funding has been secured and notified.
  • If funding is awarded, acknowledgement of the grant must be given in the publicity of the conference. This should include the Society’s full name and logo (provided upon request).
  • A brief summary of the conference and its results and legacy (c. 200-300 words) should be submitted within four weeks of completion for posting on the Society’s website.

Description:

On an annual basis, SSNS will offer a limited number of grants to support members of the Society who are postgraduate students/early career researchers in relevant subjects. ‘Early career researchers’, in this instance, includes those who have returned to research later in life as well as those who are within five years of the award of their PhD or equivalent professional training.

Grants are for a maximum of £300, and will be made available as a contribution towards e.g.:

  • Acquiring an additional qualification or skill essential to an academic research programme or career development (e.g. learning a new language).
  • Carrying out a programme of relevant fieldwork outwith a regular academic programme or home institution.

Deadline: 3 May 2024

Eligibility and Conditions:

  • Applicants must be members of the Society.
  • The grants are intended to assist those whose funding (from whatever other sources) are insufficient for them to carry out their proposed research.
  • Applicants are eligible for only one grant per academic year, and will not normally be considered for a subsequent grant within this category.
  • Applications should outline how the proposed activity is relevant to the studies and/or career progression of the applicant, as well as the Society’s aims and objectives.
  • Applications should include a detailed and realistic budget, and expressly note any other grants or incomes that are secured or sought.
  • Applications should be accompanied by a brief statement of support from the applicant’s academic supervisor, mentor, or departmental head.
  • Any relevant quotes or receipts must be provided before payment is authorised.
  • A summary of the project and its results, and the contribution made by the SSNS grant, should be submitted by the recipient within four weeks of project completion for publication on the Society’s website.
  • Where publications result from the proposed research, the applicant should submit a hard copy to the Society for archival and/or review purposes.

Description:

This grant is provided for a postgraduate student or early career scholar to attend a relevant conference where the applicant has been invited to present a paper, or a conference which can be shown to be directly relevant to their research. Funding can be used towards travel costs or conference fees, and generally does not exceed £75 per applicant.

Deadline: Currently closed

Eligibility and Conditions:

  • Applicants must be members of the Society.
  • The grants are intended to assist those whose funding (from whatever other sources) is insufficient for them to attend the conference in question.
  • Applicants are eligible for only one grant per academic year, and will not normally be considered for a subsequent grant within this category.
  • Applicants should briefly outline how the conference in question is relevant to their studies and/or career progression, as well as the Society’s aims and objectives.
  • Applications should be accompanied by a brief statement of support from the applicant’s academic supervisor, mentor, or departmental head.
  • Any relevant quotes or receipts must be provided before payment is authorised.

Description:

This grant is provided to support students at all levels to travel and attend in-person SSNS day conferences. Funding can be used towards travel costs, and generally does not exceed £50 per applicant. Conference registration fees will also be waived for successful applicants.

Deadline: Currently closed

Eligibility and Conditions:

  • Applicants should briefly outline how the conference in question is relevant to their studies and/or career progression, as well as the Society’s aims and objectives.