Training bursaries

The ESRC wishes to improve the standards of research methods and to stimulate the uptake of high quality training courses in research methods across the UK social science community.

Each year there are 50 bursaries for up to £1,000 each to enable staff in the UK social science community engaged in research, teaching research methods or supervising research to update their research skills. Contract researchers working in HEIs are also eligible for the bursaries.

There are no closing dates for applications but the budget for the scheme is divided into four monthly time periods (commencing in April, August and December each year). Applicants may apply for only one bursary in each time period. Once the budget for each time period has been exhausted, the scheme will close until the next time period.

Please check the eligibility criteria below before applying.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants must be social scientists in current employment.
• Masters or PhD students are not eligible; this scheme cannot be used to fund Masters or Doctoral studies.
• The training course or event must have a clear focus on research methods.
• Applicants can apply for more than one course per year but these must not total more than £1,000 in any one year.
• We would not normally expect to pay for courses at the applicant’s own institution.
• Bursaries are not normally provided for attendance at conferences (including the Research Methods Festival) but may be provided for attendance at training courses being run as part of a conference.
• Applicants can apply for a bursary for training courses outside of the UK but the applicant must demonstrate that the training in question cannot be provided in the UK.

Further Notes

1. Some course providers already hold ESRC funding to allow either a reduction in the course fee or a waiver for the course fee and, in addition, some travel and subsistence funds. Where such funds are available, these should provide the first port of call. Applications may be made for a bursary where full costs are not met.
2. Once a bursary application has been accepted, it is not possible to change the course to be attended. A change of course requires a new bursary application. It is, however, possible to attend the same course on a different date.
3. Each application must be for one course or event only.
4. Bursary applications need to be submitted at least SIX weeks prior to the course taking place to allow time for your application to be processed. We do not award bursaries retrospectively.
5. Initial payments must be made by the successful applicant (not your institution) and then they will be paid in arrears. Claims for reimbursement (course fees, travel and accommodation, subsistence only) must be sent to the Programme Administrator after the course has been completed. They must include receipts and travel tickets. The claim must also be accompanied by a brief evaluation of the training and how it will be used. An evaluation form will be sent to all successful applicants.
6. No claims will be paid which exceed £1,000 in total.

There is no prescribed list of accepted training courses. However, applicants may like to use the Training & Events database to help in locating a course.

Preference will be given to applications for training from ESRC-recognised institutions.