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Providing funding for research trips in and outside the UK

The Society will consider applications from Fellows for a limited number of grants for travel within and outside the United Kingdom to attend conferences and visit laboratories. The recipient of a Travel Grant must have been a Fellow of the Society for at least one year previous to the closing date for applications.

Applications for Travel Grants must now be submitted using the CASC-FAS* online application system. We will no longer be able to accept applications by email or hard copy. (*Colleges Administrative Consortium – Fellowship Application System).

Please ensure you read the following notes to Travel Grant applicants before you commence your application using the CASC-FAS log in:

Please read the following notes to Applicants

Applicants are required to complete the CASC-FAS online Travel grant application and submit a brief statement of the relevance of the proposed travel to their research as a .pdf attachment. The remit of the Philosophical Society is ‘to promote research in all branches of science and to encourage the communication of the results of scientific research’.  If there is any doubt whether your field of work qualifies under this rubric, for example if your departmental affiliation is not necessarily scientific (e.g. Geography, Education,  Archaeology or the Judge Business School), your statement must demonstrate that your particular research project counts as “science” and you must ensure that your supporting referee reinforces this.

Each applicant should ensure that a supporting reference is submitted online by their referee using the CASC-FAS online system.  In the case of a Graduate Student the supporting reference should come from their Supervisor. For early career post-doctorates and others the reference should  be from a person of appropriate standing who knows the applicant in a professional capacity.   It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that referee provides a reference by the closing date using the CASC-FAS online system.  Applications that are not submitted using the CASC-FAS online system by the closing date, or are incomplete will not be considered.

Please ensure that your application is submitted before you travel

Make full enquiries about the availability of air or rail tickets at low cost, to ensure that the estimated travel expenses given in the application form are the lowest that are possible

Notify the Society’s office as soon as the result of any other application for funding is known

The Society is unlikely to be able to meet the full costs of travel and grants are usually between £50 and £350

Preference will be given to applications where the Fellow will be undertaking research activity, or presenting their work at a conference, rather than simply attending a meeting.

Travel Grants will not normally be considered for fieldwork. The funded trip should be additional to the core requirements of the research project: funding to cover the core requirements should have been factored in from the inception. Such funding is the responsibility of the supervisor, funding agency and student, not of an external party like the Society. In the case of any application for travel that might appear to fall under this restriction, it is essential that both the applicant and the referee provide a clear and explicit justification. In the absence of this information, such applications will be rejected.

Preference will be given to graduate students and early career post-doctorates

The closing dates for Travel Grant applications are 1 November, 1 February, 1 May and 1 July for travel.

For the 2021 awards the Cambridge Philosophical Society will continue to fund applications for virtual online conference registration fees. 

IMPORTANT ADDITIONAL NOTE FOR INTENDED TRAVEL DURING COVID-19.

Whilst the current restrictions on actual travel are still in place, we will be able to consider applications for travel provided that the following conditions are met by the applicant:

(1)          At the time of travel your destination is in the green category as defined on the University travel page:     

                https://www.cam.ac.uk/coronavirus/students/travel

 (2)         Your supporting referee must confirm in his or her statement:

                i)             that your travel will be authorised by your department,

                ii)            that a risk assessment will be done,

                iii)           a valid travel insurance policy will in place at the date of travel.

(3)          The applicant should ensure that they have read the document: Guidance on Managing Risks from Travel, Fieldwork and Work Away: 

                https://www.safeguarding.admin.cam.ac.uk/files/hsd089m.pdf

(4)          At the time of travel your department must confirm by email to the Executive Secretary that you have been authorised to travel.

(5)          Payment will only be made to the applicant upon presentation of proof of travel.

For the purposes of the new CASC-FAS application system please read the word “competition” as “grant application” where applicable.