Within the QRA grants, funds are set aside for early career research workers in Quaternary science. This scheme has been running successfully for over fifteen years and has supported many postgraduate research activities.

Typical awards are to support field expeditions, geological surveys, coring activities, visits to laboratories, purchase of essential field equipment and laboratory analyses. Please note that we are not able to accept applications for radiocarbon dates under this scheme.

These awards are aimed at researchers studying for higher degrees and preference will be given to those who have no source of fieldwork funding or whose access to such funds is limited.

To be eligible for the scheme you must have been a QRA member for at least 6 months by the time of application and must not hold a doctoral degree or a tenured academic position. Postgraduates are only eligible to apply once for the NRWA during their studies. A letter of support from the applicant's PhD supervisor must accompany the application. The scheme is not open to undergraduate researchers.

Successful applicants will be expected to submit a brief report (500-800 words) for publication in Quaternary Newsletter during the 12 months following expenditure of the grant. Applicants are encouraged to submit full-length articles to Quaternary Newsletter. These will be subject to the normal refereeing procedure for QN articles. Applicants submitting full-length articles are not required to submit the brief report in addition.

No further applications will be considered until 6 months have elapsed from the time of receipt of written reports and/or statements of expenditure, assuming that a report for the Quaternary Newsletter has been received within the required 12 month deadline (exceptions apply to Postgraduate Conference Fund and for postgraduate recipients of a Radiocarbon Short Course Bursary).

All applications must include the following:

• An application form
• A case for support with the file name 'NAME_NRWA_MonthYear_case' 
• A letter of support from your supervisor with the file name 'NAME_NRWA_MonthYear_los' 
• QRA Applicant Details Spreadsheet with the file name 'NAME_NRWA_MonthYear_ads'

A number of awards are made each year to assist attendance at conferences and field meetings. Applications are particularly encouraged from students in their first year of study. Priority will be given to those with limited alternative sources of funding, and to QRA-sponsored conferences and field meetings. Any registered postgraduate who is a current member of the QRA is eligible to apply, regardless of duration of membership or whether other QRA awards are currently held. 

The main criteria for the distribution of awards will be (i) relevance to research topic, and (ii) financial need. A brief supporting letter from your supervisor must accompany the application. Please note that postgraduates are not permitted to apply for funds to attend the QRA Postgraduate Symposium, since this meeting already receives financial support from the QRA.

Recipients will be required to submit a short report of expenditure to the Awards Officer (for files only) not more than 3 months after completion of the meeting. Once the report has been received, members will be eligible to apply immediately for other QRA awards (i.e. the usual 12 month moratorium on further applications will not apply).

All applications must include the following:

• An application form
• A case for support with the file name 'NAME_PQCF_MonthYear_case' 
• A letter of support from your supervisor with the file name 'NAME_PQCF_MonthYear_los' 
• The Applicant Details Spreadsheet with the file name 'NAME_PQCF_MonthYear_ads'

The Quaternary Conference Fund is available to all members of the QRA of at least one year's standing to assist attendance at conferences and field meetings. Priority will be given to those with limited alternative sources of funding. Priority will also be given to QRA-sponsored conferences and field meetings. 

Successful applicants will be required to provide a brief statement of expenditure and activities undertaken within 3 months after the event has taken place.

All applications must include the following:

• An application form
• A case for support with the file name 'NAME_QCF_MonthYear_case' 
• The Applicant Details Spreadsheet with the file name 'NAME_QCF_MonthYear_ads'

The Quaternary Research Fund is available to all members of the QRA of at least one year's standing, irrespective of age and status, to foster research in any area of Quaternary studies (NB postgraduates should apply to the New Research Workers' Awards).

Grants can be used for any purpose deemed suitable by the Awards Panel (typical claims might be to fund field expenses, hire equipment to clean sections, etc.). Please note that: (i) we are not able to accept applications for radiocarbon dates (these are normally expected to be routed through NERC); and (ii) we do not generally fund labour costs, except in exceptional circumstances.

Successful applicants will be expected to submit a brief report (500-800 words) for publication in Quaternary Newsletter during the 12 months following expenditure of the grant. Applicants are encouraged to submit full-length articles to Quaternary Newsletter, which will be subject to the normal refereeing procedure for QN articles. Applicants submitting full-length articles are not required to submit the brief report in addition.

No further applications will be considered until 6 months have elapsed from the time of receipt of written reports and/or statements of expenditure, assuming that a report for the Quaternary Newsletter has been received within the required 12 month deadline (exceptions apply to Postgraduate QRA Meetings Awards and for postgraduate recipients of a Radiocarbon Short Course Bursary).

All applications must include the following:

• An application form
• A case for support with the file name 'NAME_QRF_MonthYear_case' 
• The Applicant Details Spreadsheet with the file name 'NAME_QRF_MonthYear_ads'

The Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) also provides a range of grants to support geographical research and scientific expeditions. The Society supports both field and desk-based research projects, from established researchers undertaking cutting edge fieldwork, to early career academics working on smaller projects or attending geographical conferences. Grants for researchers range from £5,000 to £15,000.

For further information visit the website - www.rgs.org/grants