Travel and other small grants

Deadlines for these run termly.

Main Awards

• £10k to ~£75k
• Applicants must hold a post which includes responsibility for setting your own research agenda (typically academics or independent research fellows), though additional individuals may be eligible if the department would otherwise support an application to an external research grant.
• Applications are considered under specific categories: pump priming; early career researcher; networks, collaborations and partnerships; support for external bids; strategic investment in research assets.
• The department runs an internal EOI stage to select applications for each round.
• Contact the Research Facilitation team for further details.

Small Awards

• Up to £10k.
• Eligibility conditions are as for main awards but additionally applications will be considered from applicants who aspire to hold an academic position or fellowship, providing there is support from their line manager.
• Applicants need to demonstrate how the funding will lead to further funding or research opportunities.

Grants can be requested to support travel to open conferences or symposia in Europe (£500) or Rest of World (£1000).

Applicants must hold a PhD and be a salaried member of University of Oxford.

Early Career Researchers are encouraged to apply and should have the sign off of their supervisor.

This scheme provides funding to support those who have taken a break for caring responsibilities to re-establish their research careers.

• Up to £6k (or in exceptional circumstances, £12k) to be used in a way that the applicant feels would best support their return to work.
• Cost can include: teaching buy-out; training, professional or personal development; short-term secondments; conference attendance; short-term research or administrative assistance; small-scale lab equipment; visits to Oxford of collaborators.
• Open to academic or research staff (excluding those in full professorial roles or statutory chairs) who have taken a break of at least 3 months in the last two years or two or more breaks of at least 3 months in the last 5 years for caring responsibilities.
• Eligible types of leave include: maternity leave, shared parental leave, adoption leave and carers' leave.
• Applications are invited termly. 

The fund provides grants towards the cost of visits to USA, visitors from the USA and visiting lectureships.

• Astor Visiting Scholarship for visits to the USA.

It is open to academic and academic-related members of the University including PDRAs, RAs and JRFs; priority will be given to applicants who have not had funding from this scheme in the last two years. The fund can be used for visits to USA laboratories, hospitals, libraries and similar institutions within the USA, which will enhance the applicant's teaching and research. The maximum award is £1500.

AfOx Catalyst Grants provide seed  funding   to support the development of collaborative research between researchers based in African research institutions and at the University of Oxford. There are two forms of grant:

AfOx Travel Grants

• supports the establishment of new collaborations through travel by applicants from an African institution to Oxford or vice versa. Travel Grants enable researchers to meet in either an African institution or Oxford and work together on an area of mutual interest.
• Activities include: workshops and conferences, co-supervision, curriculum co-development, joint lectures and seminars, co-authoring publications, joint grant-applications and conducting of primary research.  
• 1-8 week duration and up to £5k.
• Applications must be made jointly between academics or researchers based in Africa at either an academic and non-academic institution and academics or researchers at the University of Oxford.

AfOx Starter Grants

• provide seed funding for activities which aim to develop sustainable partnerships and strengthening applications for longer-term fellowships and funding.   
• activities include but are not limited to, the early-phase development of ideas, feasibility studies, public engagement, and conducting of primary research.  
• up to 12 weeks and up to £5k.
• Applications must be made jointly between academics or researchers based in Africa at either an academic and non-academic institution and academics or researchers at the University of Oxford.  AfOx asks all applicants for the Starter Grants scheme to carefully consider the necessity for travel prior to submitting an application.  

• Seed Corn funding for 18months for independent researchers.
• Up to £20k to build research programme and purchase equipment.
• Eligible costs include equipment, consumables and Travel and Subsistence costs for essential field research.
• Applicants must be in their first 5 consequetive years of independence (either in an academic position, or independent fellowship).

• Applicants must hold a fixed-term or permanent research contract at an organisation within the country from which they are applying. 
• Funds support collaboration between UK and overseas researchers.
• Funds support travel in either direction for a single project.
• £3k is available for a single visit lasting up to 3 months, £6k is available for multiple visits within 1 year, £12k is available for multiple visits over 2 years.

Rising talent program to promote, engage and encourage the contribution of young women pursuing research careers in UK and Ireland.

• Awards female postdoctoral researchers £15k to provide flexible and practical financial support to spend on scientific equipment, childcare, travel costs or other flexible costs to support continuation of their research.

Learned Societies often have travel grant funding available for their members or researchers working in the appropriate field. Examples include:

• Royal Astronomical Society
• Institute of Physics