Royal Geographical Society

Royal Geographical Society is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 208791).

The Royal Geographical Society is a charity that was founded to advance geographical science, and that remains its core purpose. It supports geographical research in the UK and overseas, and most of its grants go to research, fieldwork and scientific expeditions, with specific grants for conference attendance, teaching resources and school field trips. Over £165,000 has been allocated to support 75 field research and school fieldwork projects from 40 institutions.

Priority Areas

The Society’s grants programme develops new knowledge and advances geographical science by supporting geographical research in the UK and overseas. It offers support for desk-based research, fieldwork and expeditions, research into teaching and learning, and the development of teaching resources. The programme includes research grants, student fieldwork grants, school fieldwork and expedition support, and innovation in geography teaching at secondary and higher education level. Grants and awards support individuals and institutions in expeditions and fieldwork, research and higher education, secondary education and teaching. The Society says proposals must advance geographical knowledge, with different awards focused on subject area or career stage.

Themes

• Geographical research
• Fieldwork and expeditions
• Geography teaching

Geographic Focus

UK; overseas.

Complete the RGS-IBG grants programme application form, attach a one-page CV, and email it to grants@rgs.org by 11.59pm on the deadline stated on the relevant grant page.

Deadlines: The annual deadline cycle runs from October to April.

Who can apply:

• It is not required that you have a geography degree, work in a geography department or define yourself as a geographer. However, it is essential that the project you are undertaking advances geographical knowledge.
• Candidates may only apply for one grant within an annual cycle (deadlines October to April), subject to the stated exceptions.
• Small Research Grants: Applicants are expected to hold a PhD at the time of applying, must be affiliated with a UK Higher Education Institution or equivalent research establishment and must be Fellows or Members of the Society. These awards are only available to individuals. At risk academic geographers hosted at UK institutions through programmes such as Cara are eligible to apply.

What to send:

• The RGS-IBG grants programme application form.
• A one-page CV.
• Two referees must each submit a reference form by email to grants@rgs.org by 11.59pm on the deadline date stated on the grant’s page.

Applying again: Candidates are welcome to re-apply for the same (or different) grant in subsequent years, assuming that they still meet the eligibility criteria. If you are applying again after already having received funding from the RGS-IBG, the new proposal must be focused on a new body of work (either a completely different project or a part of the previously funded project not covered by the original grant).

What the charity says:

• The project should contribute to the advancement of geographical knowledge.
• The Society looks for projects that are innovative and original.
• The project should be feasible within its proposed time frame and budget.
• Applicants should show they have the experience, skills and qualifications to complete the proposed work within its time and budget.
• Applicants should demonstrate sufficient planning for health and safety, ethical clearance and permissions.
• Applicants should show awareness of the relevant environmental, social and cultural responsibilities and impacts of the project.
• Applicants should justify resources and provide a reasonable, appropriate and sufficiently detailed budget.