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Conferences and expenses

Some of our schools and departments are able to offer small amounts of funding to support you as a graduate research student to attend conferences, submit papers, undertake relevant training and carry out your research.

School of Arts

The School of Arts provides funding to enable current MPhil/PhD students to undertake a range of activities related to their study and research. 

CONFERENCE FUNDING 

  • We have a limited fund to cover expenses of up to £300 for MPhil/PhD research students who are presenting a paper at a conference. 
  • You can make one application each academic year and, if approved, you claim back your expenses. 
  • How to apply: 
    • To make an application please log in to Moodle and the School of Arts research student shell.
    • your supervisor must email support for your application to the .
  • When to apply: 
    • before the conference, which must take place before the summer (i.e. the end of July). 

EXTRAORDINARY RESEARCH EXPENSES

  • We have a limited fund for extraordinary MPhil/PhD research expenses of up to £300. 
  • The expenses must be: 
    • crucial to the successful completion of your research project 
    • unforeseen at the outset of your research project 
    • extraordinary, such as travel to a unique archive or translation costs. Ordinary expenses, like books, word-processing and binding, are not covered. 
  • How to apply: 
    • To make an application please log in to Moodle and the School of Arts research student shell.
    • your supervisor must email support for your application to the .

LONDON ART HISTORY SOCIETY RESEARCH FUND

  • The London Art History Society, which is affiliated to Birkbeck's History of Art Society, will cover research-related expenses, such as travel, accommodation, photography and photocopying, for current MA and MPhil/PhD History of Art students. 
  • MA students can apply for up to £150. 
  • MPhil/PhD students can apply for up to £300. 
  • How to apply: If you are enrolled in an eligible programme, you will be invited to apply to the fund, usually in the second term (Spring).
  • You need to submit a rationale for, and a full breakdown of, your expenses in 300 words or fewer before incurring the expenses. If your application is successful, you submit your receipts after spending the money and we will reimburse you.
  • Closing date: The fund is limited and allocated on a first-come-first-served basis until the yearly allowance runs out. The scheme will then open again in following academic year.

School-wide activities

  • Where possible, we cover the costs of school-wide activities by MPhil/PhD research students, including publicity, catering, computer resources, training events, and so on.  
  • All funded events must be open to all research students in the School of Arts. 
  • How to apply: 

School of Law

The School of Law offers funding for additional research expenses, such as for attending conferences and travel.

For further details, please .

School of Social Sciences, History and Philosophy

Postgraduate support fund

  • Thanks to a generous donation from the estate of Ms Evelyn Pullin and other anonymous benefactors, we are able to offer a Postgraduate Support Fund for new and existing postgraduate research students in the School of SSHP.
  • The fund can be used for:
    • expenses associated with specific research training needs
    • fieldwork or research trips
    • conferences, workshops or other academic events where the applicant is presenting a paper or chairing a session (please discuss with your supervisor which conferences you might attend well before applying).
  • The fund cannot be used for purchasing books or computer software/hardware.
  • Value of the award:
    • Awards will not be approved in excess of £500 per student per academic year (October to September). Expenses should normally be claimed within the academic year of the award.
    • You are expected to have already used any alternative sources of funding available to you (departmental allowances, externally-funded studentships, or other College awards and bursaries).
  • How to apply:
    • Please complete an application form with a supporting statement from your primary supervisor, either attached to your application or forwarded separately.
    • Applications will be judged on an individual basis by a School-level committee, and applicants will be notified of the outcome as soon as possible after the deadline.
  • Application closing date:
  • How to claim:
    • Original receipts (not credit card slips) will be required for any reimbursement claim so please retain these. Payment will be made only for eligible expenses in line with College financial regulations. You must make a claim within three months of the original payment.

Intergenerational Research Support Fund

  • The 'Intergenerational Research Support Fund' will offer grants for postgraduate taught and research students within the School of SSHP, to support work related to intergenerational research. The Dean of SSHP, and a panel of academics from Geography, History and Psychosocial Studies, will choose the successful students each year through a set application process based on subject focus and financial benefit.
  • Value of the award:
    • Five £500 grants will be made each year in January for eight years (a total of £20,000), commencing in 2022.
  • Selection criteria:
    • Outline your research and clearly and explicitly state how it relates to the theme of intergenerational relations.
    • Outline how the bursary will enable you to complete your research and provide a full breakdown of actual or estimated costs (e.g. field work expenses, travel, books, library/archival costs.
  • How to apply:
  • Application closing date:
    • The call for applications will open 24 October 2022 with a submission deadline of 28 November 2022. Successful candidates will be announced 12 December 2022.
  • Enquiries: Please email any queries to the .