Uaces

UACES is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 1163773).

UACES was established to promote teaching and research in European studies, beginning with a meeting of 19 attendees at Chatham House that formed its first committee. Its objective is to advance education for the public benefit through teaching and research in contemporary European Studies. It has three main streams of funding: Scholarships, UACES Research Networks and Microgrants.

Priority Areas

UACES funds its members’ academic work and professional development in European Studies, particularly postgraduate researchers, early-career researchers and individual members. Its Microgrants support academic projects in Contemporary European Studies, including fieldwork and archival or research trips, professional training, specialist academic events and small workshops. UACES also funds member-led Research Networks that establish and develop international links across the European Studies community. Network proposals are expected to align with strategically relevant themes, advance knowledge and support inclusive, collaborative scholarship and capacity building; their workplans and budgets are assessed for viability and sustainability. Network funding reimburses expenses through an administering institution rather than paying individuals. UACES encourages diverse teams and succession planning, and expects funded networks to remain active, report annually and share their work.

Themes

• Contemporary European Studies

Geographic Focus

The UK.

To apply for a Research Network, submit a proposal of no more than four pages.

Deadlines: Microgrants are offered in three rounds each year.

Application windows:

• Research Networks: Opens on 7 September, closes on 4 October
• Annual Conference Travel & Accommodation Microgrants: Currently open; deadline 5 April
• Microgrants: Opens on 16 February and closes on 5 April

Who can apply:

• Research Networks: All members of a Convening Team must hold a current UACES membership.
• Annual Conference Travel & Accommodation Microgrants: Eligible applicants include UACES members who are PhD, Early Career or Individual Academic Members and submitted a paper proposal for the 56th UACES Annual Conference
• Microgrants
  • Eligible applicants include UACES members who are PhD, Early Career, or Individual Academic Members
  • Members from any region or institution
  • Those without access to equivalent institutional funding

What to send:

• Research Networks
  • A proposal of no more than four pages covering network details and leadership, intellectual rationale and alignment, inclusivity strategy, workplan, budget proposal, and a commitment from the intended network coordinator or a suitable Higher Education Institution officer to administer the network's finances.
  • The Convening Team structure: at least two convenors who are current UACES members, including at least one based in the UK.
  • A written commitment from all convenors to the two-year term, with the potential for one renewal (four years maximum)
  • A Succession Plan showing how the network will mentor Early Career Researchers into future leadership roles
  • A list of at least ten potential members, excluding the convenors
  • The network's purpose and intellectual rationale, showing how it contributes to all four of UACES's core mandates: knowledge generation and dissemination; professional development and capacity building; inclusive and collaborative scholarship, including a plan for open membership; how it tackles key topics in European studies broadly defined
  • An inclusivity strategy covering perspectives, methodologies, experience levels and backgrounds
  • A deliverable workplan for the two-year term
  • A budget proposal showing how requested UACES funds would support the workplan
  • A commitment from the intended network coordinator or a suitable Higher Education Institution officer to administer the network's finances.

Applying again: Microgrants: Only if it’s been more than 2 years since your last Microgrant.

What the charity says:

• Applications are assessed for strategic relevance and knowledge generation.
• The team’s inclusivity and capacity building, including the quality of its Succession Plan, are considered.
• The workplan and budget are assessed for viability and sustainability.
• A network should complement rather than overlap with existing UACES Research Networks.
• UACES encourages mixed-gender, diverse teams and teams representing different career stages.