It can be very difficult and confusing to find funding for your research, or to attend conferences to expand the impact of your work. On this page, we will regularly update funding opportunities to either attend specific conferences or open funding for a range of opportunities.

Royal Historical Society – RHS have a great range of funding opportunities for PGRs. This includes fellowships, research support grants to visit a historical site or archive, and funding workshops to lead to a publication.

British Educational Research Association – BERA regularly promotes a range of funding opportunities for its members. This includes funding towards their conference, as well as project funding and awards for dissertations or theses. Currently available options:

Philosophy of Education Society of Great Britain – PESGB has regular grants to support a range of research opportunities, as well as tuition bursaries and funding educational events:

  • Small Grants – Every 2 years, individuals who have been a member of PESGB for more than a year can apply for a grant of up to £750 to attend conferences, support research, or participate in research collaborations. Please note that membership is at a significantly reduced rate for students and PGRs at only £12 a year.
  • Large Grants – Every year, individuals who have been a member of PESGB for over a year can apply for several large grants to either subsidise tuition fees, fund the creation of a series of seminars, or large-scale research projects. Please note that membership is at a significantly reduced rate for students and PGRs at only £12 a year.

The Social History Society – The Social History Society brings together people with an interest in social and cultural history. It has several funds available to its members:

  • Small Grants Fund – The Social History Society maintains a Small Grants Fund to support research, events and activities by members of the Society. Grants of up to £1000 can be used towards directly incurred research costs, for example costs of conference organising, consumables, travel and subsistence, equipment purchase, childcare, research assistance and similar immediate costs of conducting research.
  • Joint BME Small Grants Fund – The SHS administers a Small Grants Fund to support research, events and activities undertaken by BME historians or focused on the histories of BME people. Grants of up to £1000 can be used towards directly incurred research costs, for example costs of conference organising, consumables, travel and subsistence, equipment purchase, childcare, research assistance and similar immediate costs of conducting research.

Funds for Women Graduates – FfWG is an educational charity whose objective is to promote ‘the advancement of education and promotion of higher education and wider learning of women graduates’ by providing grants specifically for living expenses to Women during their UK based postgraduate studies. Currently available:

  • Emergency Grant – An award of up to £2,500 to support graduate women who face an unforeseen financial crisis whilst engaged in studies or research at a HEI in Great Britain.
  • Theodora Bosanquet Bursary (opens 31st August 2025) – For female students who require residency in London over the Summer. Women postgraduate students of any age are eligible to apply. 

Past and Present – This established society offers limited funding for both organising conferences and fees towards attending events that emphasize understanding or exploring history of the past in any capacity.

Wellcome Trust – With a plethora of funding opportunities available, Wellcome Trust supports PGRs through studentship, research projects in many disciplines, and accelerator funding for successful career transitions from PGR to ECR.

Leverhulme Trust – Awards research bursaries, fellowships and PGR fee funding.

UK Research and Innovation – UKRI offers studentships and training grants to PGR students in all disciplines.

Nuffield Foundation – Awards substantial grants to research in the themes of education, welfare and justice.

Turn2Us – As well as supporting individuals eligible for a range of benefits, Turn2Us also has a great database to find grants from charitable organisations.

We also recommend that you enquire with local history organisations (especially History or Archive Trusts and local council), your university and any relevants departmental research centres, or your Student Union for further information on any available funding. If you would like to recommend a funding source to promote here, email [email protected] .