Deadline: October 8, 2025
Are you a researcher in the Humanities or Social Sciences looking to expand your methodological skills, explore digital tools, or collaborate across disciplines? The British Academy Talent Development Awards 2025–26 present a unique opportunity to access up to £10,000 in funding to support your professional development.
Whether you’re early-career or more established, this scheme supports researchers in enhancing their expertise and sharing skills across the academic community. Funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), the programme specifically targets training in digital humanities, data science, languages, and quantitative methods.
What Are the British Academy Talent Development Awards 2025-26?
The British Academy Talent Development Awards 2025-26 are designed to fund innovative, skill-enhancing activities for researchers working in SHAPE disciplines (Social Sciences, Humanities and the Arts for People and the Economy).
Applicants may request up to £10,000 to pursue:
- Training courses (digital, linguistic, quantitative, etc.)
- Methodological skill-building
- Interdisciplinary collaborations
- Dissemination of newly acquired skills
Unlike traditional research grants, the focus is on your development proposal, outlining how this funding will expand your methodological capacity and benefit your professional community.
Key Dates and Timeline
- Applications Open: 16 July 2025
- Submission Deadline: 8 October 2025 at 17:00 BST
- Project Start Window: 1 March – 31 March 2026
- Project Duration: 6 to 12 months
Applicants are strongly advised to begin preparations early, allowing time for institutional approvals and securing referees.
Who Can Apply?
To be eligible, applicants must:
- Be ordinarily resident in the UK
- Hold a long-term academic or research post at a UK-based Higher Education Institution (HEI) or Independent Research Organisation (IRO)
- Be actively engaged in Humanities or Social Sciences research
- Submit a strong Development Proposal (not a research plan)
PhD holders and non-PhD researchers with equivalent academic experience are eligible. Current PhD students, however, are not eligible.
You must also nominate a referee (outside your current institution and not a former supervisor). You may include co-applicants—UK-based or international—with expertise that contributes to your development plan.
Funding and Eligible Costs
Each award is valued at up to £10,000, covering:
- Skill-building training and coursework
- Travel and collaboration costs
- Hosting workshops or dissemination activities
Ineligible costs include:
- Salary buyouts or stipends
- Publication costs
- Retrospective expenses
All projects must demonstrate value for money and show how the proposed activity leads to long-term research benefits.
Why Apply for the Talent Development Awards?
The Talent Development Awards are an excellent springboard for researchers who want to:
- Gain access to cutting-edge tools or training
- Pilot new methodologies
- Build capacity for larger future grants
- Share skills across academic networks and institutions
Successful applicants are expected not only to benefit individually, but also to embed their new skills in broader scholarly communities.
Application Process
To apply:
- Carefully review the full programme guidance and FAQs
- Draft your Development Proposal, CV, timeline, and budget
- Secure referee and institutional approvals
- Apply through the official portal before 8 October 2025
👉 Click here to apply now
👉 Click here to read more about the programme
Final Notes
If you’re ready to advance your research career and broaden your methodological toolkit, the British Academy Talent Development Awards 2025-26 offer the support you need to take the next step. This programme is a strategic investment in researcher-led development and cross-disciplinary innovation.
Contact grantsdatabase.org for proposal drafting, refining and review.
