Small Research Grants
RSE Small Research Grants are designed to support personally conducted high-quality research.
The awards are available to cover eligible costs arising from a defined research project. They are designed to encourage high-quality research and academic innovation and, where possible, to integrate with the overall programme of awards such that successful applications may lead to future bids for RSE Research Collaboration Grants or act as preliminary investigations for other larger research awards.
Applicant eligibility
- The awards are open to applications from Principal Investigators from all academic disciplines and all career stages who are eligible as one of the following:
- A full or part-time academic in any academic discipline and are tenured and/or salaried staff of a higher education institution (HEI), further education institute (FEI), research institution (RI) or cultural institution (CI) where the main offices and facilities are located in Scotland. Applicants must be on open-ended, continuing, or fixed-term contracts which extend three months beyond the end date of the envisaged award period. The RSE award cannot be used to extend an applicant’s contract.
- A retired academic in any academic field who retains demonstrable links with a Scottish HEI, FEI, RI or CI with a demonstrable commitment to teaching and research within that institution.
- A full or part-time practitioner or research-active member of staff in any academic field employed by a Scottish Cultural Institution with a demonstrable commitment to teaching and research within that institution.
- Applicants on short or fixed-term contracts should ensure their contracts extend for at least three months after the end of the proposed project. Early-career researchers on staged contracts to permanent lectureship positions are eligible but must be in contract for the duration of the award.
- Collaborations may be between Scottish or overseas (UK and overseas) HEIs and/or practitioners, policymakers, research institutions, and cultural institutions, provided that the lead applicant is based in Scotland, and the key principles of the awards scheme are recognised.
- Applicants may add up to two co-applicants. Co-applicants have an equitable status as a PI. Co-applicants may be affiliated to a Higher Education Institution (HEI) in or outwith Scotland (UK or overseas). Co-applicants are expected to carry the same status as the Principal Investigator. The award payment will remain between the RSE and the institution to which the Principal Investigator belongs. At the application stage, applicants must submit a statement of support from Co-applicants. Detailed requirements of the statement can be found in the General Terms & Conditions.
- In addition to co-applicants, applicants may include anyone who is involved to varying degrees in the proposed project as collaborators. Collaborators are not bound by the same eligibility requirements as the Principal Investigator or the co-applicants. They may be listed under ‘Project Management Personnel’ in the application form. There is no need for collaborators to provide a statement of support.
- A new application will not be considered when a report on a previous RSE award is overdue.
Project eligibility
- Applicants may submit only one proposal to the RSE per funding round. Applicants should apply to the scheme best suited to the proposed project.
- RSE Small Research Grants can be held in any discipline or subject area.
- RSE Small Research Grants are funded for up to 12 months.
Application process
This award is open from noon on 2 September to noon on 21 October 2026.
Please follow these steps to apply:
- Create a profile or log in here.
- Once in your profile, access and complete the online application – access to the application form is only available if you are logged in. Google Chrome is the recommended browser.
Resources for applicants
- Small Research Collaboration Grants terms and conditions
- RSE Research Awards general terms and conditions
- What makes a good RSE application?
Contact us
For more information regarding the award, please contact the Research Awards team at Awards@theRSE.org.uk.
Deadline
21/10/2026 12:00 pm
Value
£500-£5,000
Duration
12 months
Related Awards
- Enterprise Fellowship Scheme
- RSE Fulbright Scholar Award
- Personal Research Fellowships
Case studies
- Case study – 1 July 2026 – Fighting unhealthy eating habits: Investigating the protective role of environment on juvenile obesity
- Case study – 23 October 2025 – Work experience: Ways of remembering a working life
- Case study – 20 June 2025 – Investigating the design of smart garments to monitor elderly health and wellbeing
- Case study – 21 June 2024 – Are cities ecological traps? High-throughput DNA sequencing reveals seasonal changes in the diet and fitness of a common songbird
- Case study – 25 May 2023 – Community wealth building in Scotland: exploring ‘new’ ways to build an inclusive local economy
- Case study – 16 November 2022 – Documenting novel approaches to new traditional music composition in Scotland
- Case study – 14 April 2023 – Clyde-built ship interiors: celebrating Glasgow’s design and outfitting of passenger vessels
- Case study – 27 April 2023 – Metal and particulate matter accumulation in the urban hedges of Edinburgh
- Case study – 12 May 2023 – Unlocking the acoustic repertoire of Atlantic white-sided dolphins to better understand an understudied species