The British Society For The Philosophy Of Science

Quick Stats

• Charity Number: 267625
• Annual Income: £130,245 (2024)
• Annual Expenditure: £96,617 (2024)
• Grant Range: £750 (conference grants) - £60,000+ (doctoral scholarships over 3 years)
• Geographic Focus: United Kingdom
• Application Method: Rolling basis via email

Contact Details

Website: www.thebsps.org

Email: bspssecretary@gmail.com (Honorary Secretary - for all grant applications)

Application Contact: All doctoral scholarship and conference grant applications should be sent to the Honorary Secretary at the above email address.

Overview

The British Society for the Philosophy of Science (BSPS) was founded in 1948 as a Philosophy of Science Group for the British Society for the History of Science and reconstituted with its present name in 1959. The Society is a professional organization that furthers the study of the logic, methods, and philosophy of science through conferences, meetings, and financial support for research and education. With annual income of £130,245 and expenditure of £96,617 (2024), the BSPS manages the prestigious British Journal for the Philosophy of Science, which has an impact factor of 3.978 and is currently published by the University of Chicago Press. The Society provides two main types of funding: full doctoral scholarships for UK-based PhD students in philosophy of science (covering fees, stipend at UKRI rate, and research training for up to three years) and conference grants of up to £750 to support philosophy of science conferences in the British Isles. The Society is governed by eight trustees who receive no remuneration and operates through a Committee structure including Officers (President, President-Elect or Vice-President, Honorary Secretary, and Honorary Treasurer) and four additional members.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

1. Doctoral Scholarships

• Amount: Full PhD studentship for up to three years including:
• Tuition fees at home/domestic rate
• Stipend at current UKRI rate (£20,780 per annum from October 2025)
• Research training support if required
• Application Method: Annual competition with fixed deadline
• Deadline: 11:00 AM on Saturday, 29 March 2025 (for 2025 competition)
• Note: No competitions were held in 2023 or 2024

2. Conference Grants

• Amount: Up to £750 per conference
• Purpose: Travel, lodging, and subsistence costs for philosophy of science speakers
• Application Method: Rolling basis - applications accepted throughout the year
• Processing: Applications reviewed as received

Priority Areas

Doctoral Scholarships:

• Doctoral work in philosophy of science at UK universities
• Must be enrolled in degree programmes in philosophy or philosophy of science
• Available to candidates not eligible for AHRC funding or who have explored such options
• International students eligible but must secure additional funding for difference between home and international fees

Conference Grants:

• Conferences relevant to research and education in philosophy of science
• Normally limited to conferences taking place in the British Isles
• Online conferences also eligible
• Priority given to supporting junior researchers or those in insecure employment over senior/securely employed participants
• Multi-institutional events preferred (single-institution events must demonstrate networking opportunities beyond that institution)

What They Don't Fund

Doctoral Scholarships:

• Students eligible for AHRC funding who have not explored those options
• Full international fee rates (only home rate covered)
• Doctoral programmes outside philosophy or philosophy of science disciplines

Conference Grants:

• Events outside the British Isles (unless exceptional circumstances)
• Single-institution conferences without clear external networking benefits
• Conferences that don't follow the BPA/SWIP Good Practice Scheme
• Contributions primarily for senior/securely employed speakers when junior researchers could be supported instead

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Governance and Leadership

The BSPS is governed by a Committee consisting of Officers and members from the philosophy of science community. The governance structure includes:

Officers:

• President (two-year term)
• President-Elect (elected during President's first year)
• Honorary Secretary (one-year term, renewable up to four consecutive years)
• Honorary Treasurer (one-year term, renewable up to four consecutive years)
• Four additional Committee Members

Trustees: 8 trustees oversee the charity, none of whom receive any remuneration, payments, or benefits.

Constitution: The Society operates under a constitution and rules adopted in 1960, amended in 1976 and 2010.

The Society has no employees earning over £60,000 and operates no trading subsidiaries.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Doctoral Scholarships:

Applications must be submitted as a single PDF document to bspssecretary@gmail.com and must include:

1. Admission Status - evidence of acceptance onto doctoral programme (or subject to later confirmation)

Additional Requirements:

• Proposed supervisor must send a brief statement (maximum 500 words) to the Honorary Secretary explaining their willingness to supervise and institutional fit
• Two academic reference letters sent directly to Honorary Secretary (maximum one from proposed supervisor)

Conference Grants:

Letters of application should be sent to bspssecretary@gmail.com and must include:

1. Conference objectives
2. Detailed cost estimate
3. Conference title in email subject line (not just “BSPS conference grant”)
4. Confirmation that applicant is a paying BSPS member
5. Commitment to follow BPA/SWIP Good Practice Scheme requirements

Post-Event Requirements:

Within three months of the conference, submit a one-page report including:

• Main speakers, affiliations, and topics
• Number and status of participants
• Checked accounts

Payment made by online banking to host institution following receipt of report.

Decision Timeline

Doctoral Scholarships:

• Application deadline: 29 March 2025 (for 2025 competition)
• Decision timeline not publicly specified
• Awards announced via BSPS website and communications
• Note: Competition is annual but was not held in 2023 or 2024

Conference Grants:

• Rolling basis - no fixed deadlines
• Applications reviewed as received
• Decision timeline not publicly specified but allows for planning throughout the year

Success Rates

Success rate data is not publicly available for either funding stream. The doctoral scholarship is described as being awarded “subject to a candidate of sufficient merit presenting themselves,” suggesting competitive but merit-based selection.

Reapplication Policy

Doctoral Scholarships: No specific reapplication policy published. Given the annual nature of the competition, unsuccessful candidates could presumably apply in subsequent years.

Conference Grants: No restrictions mentioned on reapplication. Organizations can apply multiple times for different conferences.

Application Success Factors

Based on BSPS documentation and requirements, successful applications demonstrate:

For Doctoral Scholarships:

1. Strong Philosophical Focus: Scholarships are strictly for philosophy or philosophy of science programmes. The research must engage with core philosophical questions about science, not simply use scientific methods.

1. Supervisor Support: The requirement for a supervisor statement (maximum 500 words) explaining willingness to supervise and institutional fit suggests the quality of supervision arrangements is critical. Applicants should secure supervisor commitment before applying.

1. AHRC Ineligibility Documentation: Clear demonstration that AHRC funding routes have been explored or that the candidate is ineligible is essential. This is not a first-resort funding option but fills gaps in research council provision.

1. Research Proposal Quality: The 1,500-word limit requires focused, well-articulated research questions. Successful proposals likely demonstrate philosophical rigour, feasibility within three years, and contribution to philosophy of science.

1. Merit-Based Selection: The phrase “subject to a candidate of sufficient merit” indicates high academic standards are expected. Strong transcripts and references are important.

For Conference Grants:

• Gender balance among speakers (particular scrutiny if three or more keynote speakers are all male)
• Equal treatment of male and female speakers in publicity
• Investigation of childcare provision possibilities
• Implementation of a chairing policy

1. Support for Early Career Researchers: The Society explicitly states preference for “contributions towards travel and accommodation costs for participants who are junior, or in insecure employment, be prioritized over those who are senior/securely employed.” Applications should demonstrate this priority.

1. Multi-Institutional Engagement: Single-institution events face additional scrutiny. Applications must “make a case that the event will lead to opportunities of networking and collaboration outside of that institution.”

1. Clear Budgeting: Applications must include “a detailed estimate of the costs” and post-event “checked accounts.” Specificity and accountability are valued.

1. Active BSPS Membership: Applicants must be paying members before applying, demonstrating engagement with the Society beyond just funding access.

1. Philosophy of Science Relevance: Conferences must be “relevant to research and education in the philosophy of science” - peripheral connections unlikely to succeed.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• BSPS membership is mandatory for conference grant applicants - join before applying (membership also provides journal discounts and networking opportunities)

• The doctoral scholarship fills AHRC gaps - it's for those ineligible or unfunded by research councils, not as a first choice. Document your AHRC status clearly.

• Supervisor buy-in is critical for doctoral scholarships - secure commitment and have them draft their 500-word statement before you invest time in the application

• Gender balance matters significantly for conference grants - if you have three or more male keynote speakers, expect detailed questions about your search process and Good Practice Scheme compliance

• Prioritize early career researchers in conference budgets - demonstrating that £750 supports junior scholars rather than senior professors aligns with stated Society preferences

• International students can apply for doctoral scholarships but must find supplementary funding for fee differences - don't let this deter you if you have UK contacts or other partial funding

• Rolling conference grants allow strategic timing - apply when you have full conference plans rather than rushing to meet artificial deadlines, but allow time for review

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• The Mind Association
• Society for Applied Philosophy
• The Philosophy of Education Society of Great Britain
• The British Society of Aesthetics
• The British Academy for the Promotion of Historical Philosophical and Philological Studies
• Foundation for the Sociology of Health and Illness
• The Sino-British Fellowship Trust
• The Leverhulme Trust
• BFWG Charitable Foundation (Funds for Women Graduates)
• The Nuffield Foundation

References

1. The British Society for the Philosophy of Science official website - www.thebsps.org
2. BSPS Funding page - https://www.thebsps.org/funding/
3. BSPS Doctoral Scholarships page - https://www.thebsps.org/funding/doctoral-scholarships/
4. BSPS Conference Grants page - https://www.thebsps.org/funding/conference-grants/
5. UK Charity Commission Register - Charity Number 267625 - https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/267625
6. BSPS Constitution page - https://www.thebsps.org/about/constitution/
7. BPA/SWIP Good Practice Scheme - https://bpa.ac.uk/diversity/good-practice-scheme/
8. UKRI Stipend Increase Announcement 2025 - https://www.ukri.org/news/ukri-is-increasing-phd-stipends-and-improving-student-support/
9. BSPS About page - https://www.thebsps.org/about/
10. Wikipedia entry on British Society for the Philosophy of Science - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Society_for_the_Philosophy_of_Science