Grants Scheme

Note: the SLSA now also offers Impact Grants. 

Applications will reopen in June 2025.

We are delighted that the SLSA Research Grants and Fieldwork Grants Scheme continues to attract applications from across the breadth of socio-legal studies from both junior and senior academics. Our aim in both cases is to support work for which other funding sources are not available and to encourage socio-legal research initiatives in a practical way. 

Note: a proportion of this funding pot is ring-fenced for those in precarious employment.

• Roll of honour: full list of past grantholders and project titles.

The chair of the Grants Subcommittee is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. All queries about the grants schemes should be directed in the first instance to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

• Applications
• How to apply
• Some 'do's' and 'don'ts'
• Grant Scheme Guidance 2024: how to write your project summary and final report for publication in the Socio-Legal Newlsetter – and alternatives to disseminating your findings to SLSA colleagues.

Applications

Applicants to the scheme must be current members in good standing of the Socio-Legal Studies Association, wherever they live, on 31 October in the year of the application.  You can check your membership status here.

Applications must be made using the Grant Application Package or the PhD Fieldwork Grant Application Package. 

• Research Grants Application Package 2024
• PhD Fieldwork Grant Application Package 2024

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How to apply

Subject to the section above, SLSA members interested in applying for a grant are reminded that the deadline is 31 October each year. Individual awards are up to a maximum of £3000 for Research Grants and £1500 for Fieldwork Grants. The Grants Subcommittee takes the following elements into consideration when judging applications:

• clarity of the aim(s) and objective(s) of the research; originality, innovativeness and importance of the research; methodology (including coherence with aim(s) and objective(s), practicability and, if applicable ethical considerations); budget; and potential impact;
• funding will not normally be provided for conference attendance or to subsidise postgraduate course fees;
• funding will not be provided via this scheme for one-day conferences or for seminar series;
• PhD students seeking assistance with fieldwork costs may apply for a PhD Fieldwork Grant but not for a Small Grant;
• feedback will be given to unsuccessful applicants;
• no member will receive more than one grant per year;
• Board members are not eligible for the scheme.

Decisions for each round of grants are made no later than 31 January each year.

You must use the prescribed forms for your grant application and you are advised to look at the titles, reports and summaries from past grantholders to help you decide whether your project is appropriate for a grant.

One condition of receiving a grant is that grantholders are required to supply a summary of their project aims on commencement and a report of their findings on completion. Both will be published in the Socio-Legal Newsletter. Please see back issues for past examples of these.

If you have any queries about this scheme, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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Applying for a grant: some 'dos' and 'don'ts'

Advice about applying by John Flood (SLN 45 2005), Dermot Feenan (SLN 66 2012) and Jess Guth (SLN 82 2017) has appeared in past issues of the the Socio-Legal Newsletter. It has been brought together here and contains many useful hints and tips about putting together a well though-out and polished application.

The guidance was updated in June 2024 by Rebecca Moosavian and Marie Selwood.