Sources of funding for Learning & Teaching research projects

This resource has been compiled by the Chartered ABS Learning, Teaching & Student Experience Committee to provide guidance for those looking for sources of funding for learning and teaching research projects. Whilst we have made every effort to ensure that the information is accurate and up-to-date at the time of publication we know funding opportunities are dynamic and change from year-to-year. Consequently, updates from our members on these and other sources are welcomed. Please email ramin.bokaian@charteredabs.org if you have further information that could be included on this site.

BA/Leverhulme Small Research Grants

  • Grants are available to support primary research in the humanities and social sciences that facilitate initial project planning and development; support the direct costs of research; and enable the advancement of research through workshops or conferences, or visits by or to partner scholars.
  • A maximum grant of £10,000 over two years.

Society for Educational Studies Small Grants

  • £10,000 over one year.
  • For the purpose of stimulating research in education (various exclusions including salaries at full economic cost).

SRHE Society for Research into Higher Education

  • Usually up to four awards annually of £10,000 each for research focused on any aspect of higher education submitted under three overarching themes: Higher Education Policy; Higher Education and Society; Higher Education Practice.
  • Scoping awards annually of £5,000 each for the exploration of any new or emerging area of higher education research leading to the development of a plan for further research.

SEDA Small Grants

  • £1,000 for research into educational development practices. Up to a maximum of five grants were awarded in 2018, one of which is reserved for a ‘developing researcher’ (with limited track record in pedagogic research), in order to encourage capacity-building.
  • All proposals should involve collaboration either within or beyond the institution.

Academy of Marketing Teaching, Research and Small Grants

  • Up to £3,000 plus an additional £500 to cover the Academy of Marketing Conference costs.
  • To support and encourage pedagogic research into evidence‐based practices of innovative and effective learning, teaching and assessment methods related to marketing.

British Academy of Management Small Grants

Usually up to £10,000. BAM offers a number of schemes every year usually with the call going out in January. The January 2019 call focused on:

  • Transitions 1 - BAM members early in research career.
  • Transitions 2 - BAM members who are established researchers and want to develop a new research project.
  • Management Knowledge and Education - aimed at BAM members who want to propose a research project that informs the scholarly debate around management knowledge and education.
  • BAM and the Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management (ANZAM) will be launching a research grant scheme focused on international collaboration.

Leverhulme Trust

  • Research project grants up to £500,000 over five years for research on a topic of the applicant’s choice. Grants cover salary and research costs directly associated with the project.
  • A first stage outline application can be submitted at any time.

ESRC

  • ESRC suggests that if someone has an excellent idea for a research project, the best way to seek funding for it is through their Research Grants open call.
  • Awards ranging from £350,000 to £1 million. See their website for funding calls and guidance.

Lyle Spencer Foundation

  • Advancing understanding of education practice and its improvement.
  • Small research grant proposals up to the equivalent of $50,000 are accepted four times per year. Major research grants equivalent of $100,000 to $1,000,000.

Chartered Association of Business Schools Scholarships

  • Funding for projects up to £10,000.
  • Post-holders must be employed by a full UK or international member business school of the Chartered ABS.
  • Applications are considered according to the alignment with Chartered ABS priorities, quality of the proposal, likely impact of the project or research on the work of the Chartered ABS, and the likely benefits for its members.

Advance HE Fellowships and Recognition Awards: NTF, CATE and GTE

  • Unfortunately the UK’s National Teaching Fellowship (NTF) and Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence (CATE) schemes no longer include funding for projects, but they still do provide recognition and publicity.

Leverhulme Fellowships

  • It is worth looking at the Leverhulme website because many different fellowships are funded by the LeverhulmeTrust from early career to emeritus to international scholars. Research funding varies from £20,000 to £1,000,000.

Institutional funding should be considered as it can be a good source of funds to support smaller teaching and learning developments.

Download this guide as a PDF here

For more information on the Committee and it's activities see here.