Lisa Jardine Grant Scheme 2026

What the Grant Supports

The scheme has two principal forms of support.

1. Research Subsistence

Applicants may request up to £2,000 per month for a maximum of three months. This is intended to contribute towards living expenses and domestic travel during an extended research visit involving the Royal Society's collections and nearby scholarly collections.

Applicants applying for this subsistence strand must incorporate research using the Royal Society collections into their proposal. This requirement applies to both UK and international applicants.

2. International Travel

Travel funding of up to £2,000 may be requested for eligible research travel, training, networking or relevant event attendance.

For UK-based researchers, this can support travel to relevant destinations in the UK or internationally, including short archival research visits, training and networking activities or appropriate conferences.

For researchers based outside the UK, the travel strand is restricted to travel to the UK and the proposal must include research using the Royal Society collections.

International research visits under the travel strand should normally last no more than one month.

Applicants may request both subsistence and travel support where appropriate. However, the total value of the application cannot exceed the scheme's maximum award of £8,000.

Research Focus

The scheme is intended for research where access to historical collections or interdisciplinary research environments is important to the proposed work.

Potential areas include:

• Intellectual history
• History of science
• History of technology
• Philosophy of science
• History of art
• Cultural history
• Historical geography
• Early Modern science
• European scholarly and scientific networks
• Interdisciplinary studies connecting science, arts and humanities

Applicants should demonstrate a clear academic reason for the proposed visit. The grant is not intended simply to finance general travel or an unfocused period of study.

Royal Society Collections

For many applicants, the Royal Society Library and archive will be an important part of the research programme. Applicants should identify the relevant materials they expect to consult and explain how these resources relate to their research questions.

International applicants are specifically required to include research using identified sources or likely subject material in the Royal Society collections.

This makes the scheme particularly relevant to researchers whose work requires primary historical sources, scientific archives, rare books, manuscripts or other specialised collections that cannot be adequately accessed through digital resources alone.

Benefits

Successful applicants may receive:

1. Up to £8,000 in total grant support.
2. Up to £2,000 per month for research subsistence for a maximum of three months.
3. Up to £2,000 for eligible international travel under the travel strand.
4. Support for travel to London to undertake research using Royal Society collections.
5. Support for eligible short research, training or networking travel.
6. Access to the Royal Society's historical library and archive collections.
7. Opportunities to work directly with specialist historical research materials.
8. Opportunities to develop archival and interdisciplinary research skills.
9. Opportunities to establish relationships with researchers and institutions working in related fields.
10. Professional-development opportunities through research visits, training and academic networking.

Important Eligibility Conditions for International Applicants

International researchers are eligible to apply, but there are additional requirements.

Researchers based outside the UK must incorporate research at the Royal Society into their proposal. The proposed programme should therefore explain which Royal Society materials will be consulted and why they are relevant to the project.

Applicants are also responsible for obtaining any visas or other permissions required for their proposed travel. The Royal Society states that it cannot provide visa assistance under this scheme.

For research at private institutions outside the Royal Society, international travellers may also need evidence of permission or support from the institution concerned.

Application Requirements

Applicants should prepare a clearly defined research proposal explaining:

1. The research question or objectives.
2. Why the proposed research visit is necessary.
3. Which collections, archives or research resources will be consulted.
4. Why those materials are important to the project.
5. How the proposed activities will contribute to the applicant's research.
6. How the visit will support the applicant's professional or academic development.
7. The expected timing and duration of the research.
8. A detailed and justified budget.

Applications also require:

• Two academic references.
• A statement of support from the applicant's Head of Department.
• Approval from the applicant's host organisation.
• Additional institutional or collection-access permissions where applicable.

Non-UK applicants whose institution is not listed in the Royal Society's Flexi-Grant system can select the Royal Society as their host organisation for eligibility-checking purposes. If successful, their own organisation will need to countersign the official acceptance documentation and act as guarantor for the funds.

Application Process

Applications are submitted through the Royal Society's Flexi-Grant application system.

Applicants should first confirm that their research fits the scheme's emphasis on intellectual history, history of science or related interdisciplinary research. The proposal should then establish a strong connection between the research questions and the collections or research environments the applicant intends to access.

All required references and host-organisation approval must be completed in the application system by the deadline.

Eligible applications are assessed by independent experts, with recommendations subsequently reviewed by the Royal Society's Library Committee.

Research Period for the 2026 Round

For the 2026 Round 1 scheme, the eligible research period is 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027.

For the 2026 Round 2 scheme, the eligible research period is 1 February 2027 to 18 December 2027.

The Royal Society advises applicants to provide their expected research dates as accurately as possible when applying.

Application Deadline

14 October 2026

Maximum Award

£8,000 in total.

The maximum award is designed to cover research subsistence and/or eligible travel. It is not £8,000 in addition to separate travel funding.