Small Grants in Humanities and Social Science (UK researchers)

Career stage:

Postdoctoral research, Leading a research programme, Returning to research

Where your host organisation is based:

UK, Republic of Ireland, Low- or middle-income countries

Level of funding:

Usually up to £30,000

Duration of funding:

Flexible, usually 6 to 12 months but can be longer

You can apply for a Small Grant if you're a humanities or social science researcher with a compelling research vision and you want to do one or more of the following:

• build your professional network
• develop a new research agenda
• increase the impact of your work.

You must have a PhD or equivalent and the relevant experience to deliver a programme of activities. 

You must be based at a university or other research organisation in the UK, Republic of Ireland or a low- or middle-income country.

Programme of activities

You must propose a programme of events or activities, not one-off events or activities.

The programme could include a combination of different activities. Typical activities are likely to include organising conferences, seminars, meetings or workshops, and any research related to delivering these.

Your activities should bring together people who are relevant to your research, such as academics, policy makers and/or healthcare practitioners.

Who can't apply

You can't apply if you want to:

• conduct a pilot study
• develop a health intervention
• organise a one-off event
• travel to and attend a conference  
• write up a book
• do an academic course, such as a Master's degree or PhD
• extend a current humanities and social science grant to complete activities relating to your original aims – instead, please email hssgrants@wellcome.ac.uk
• engage with a non-specialist public audience – instead see our Research Enrichment – Public Engagement funding.