Our Researcher Collaborations Grant enables researchers to establish and develop national, international, interdisciplinary and cross-sector collaborations and networks.
RSC members can apply for funding to participate in or organise activities which bring together researchers, including:
- research visits to potential or current collaborator’s institutions
- organising meetings/workshops
Who can apply?
The grant is aimed at researchers wanting to foster/develop collaborations. Applicants can be PhD students or researchers at any career stage, working in any sector or location.
Applicants must be at least an Associate Member of the 91AV (AMRSC or greater).
Please ensure you read our Guidance for Applicants fully before you begin your application. Our Frequently Asked Questions document also provides further information and responses to common questions about this scheme.
For more information about RSC membership, please see our membership page.
What can I request funding for?
Application timelines
Please note for fairness and transparency to all applicants, we must apply our rules consistently. This means that we do not allow late applications. You are welcome to apply in the next application round providing you meet all
eligibility criteria of that round.
Round 2 2024
| Activities starting within 12 months from | 1st February 2025 |
|---|---|
| Applications open |
27 August 2024 |
| Application close | 30 September 2024 1400 UK time (BST) |
| Initial eligibility decisions | Week commencing 14 October 2024 |
| Funding decisions | By 16 December 2024 |
Round 1 2025
| Activities starting within 12 months from | 1st August 2025 |
|---|---|
| Applications open |
3 March 2025 |
| Application close | 7 April 2025 1400 UK time (BST) |
| Initial eligibility decisions | Week commencing 22 April 2025 |
| Funding decisions | Week commencing 23 June 2025 |
Round 2 2025
| Activities starting within 12 months from | 1st February 2026 |
|---|---|
| Applications open |
26 August 2025 |
| Application close | 29 September 2025 1400 UK time (BST) |
| Initial eligibility decisions | Week commencing 13 October 2025 |
| Funding decisions | By 15 December 2025 |
Assessment criteria
All applications will be checked by RSC staff. Your application will not proceed to peer review if:
- You do not meet our eligibility criteria (please see above)
- Your application is incomplete
- Your application does not adhere to the length limits instructed in the application system
- Your funding request exceeds the £5000 limit
All remaining applications will undergo peer review by members of our Researcher Grants Peer Review Group and final funding decisions will then be overseen by:
- Professor Alison Hulme, University of Edinburgh
- Dr Charles O’Hara, University of Strathclyde
- Dr Petra Szilagyi, University of Oslo
- Professor Ben Xu, Northumbria University
Our reviewers will assess applications on:
| Case for collaboration |
Applicants should give thoughtful consideration to why they chose their respective collaborator(s) for the activity. It should be clear how each party contributes to the project or research problem. There should also be clear scope for sustained partnership(s) beyond the conclusion of this grant application. |
| Scientific quality |
The scientific proposal must be novel and achievable in the specified timeframe. Applications should include a timely research problem that merits the proposed activity. Applications should also have impactful expected outcomes and plans for “next steps”. |
| Case for RSC funding | Applicants should demonstrate why RSC funding would be enabling. They should place their funding request in the context of other sources of funding available to them. |
| Inclusion & Diversity (meetings only) | Applicants must demonstrate actions to be taken to ensure an inclusive meeting. |
For full details, please see our Guidance for Applicants or contact us using the form below.
Downloadable document
Guidance for ApplicantsFunding
- Email:
- Send us an email