Deadline: March 3, 2026
The Regional Studies Association (RSA) Early Career Research Grant 2026 is a competitive funding opportunity designed to support emerging scholars undertaking a focused research project in regional studies or regional science. With a maximum award of £10,000 and a project duration of up to 18 months, the grant enables early-career researchers to advance their academic profile, generate impactful outputs, and contribute to regional research knowledge and policy.
About the Grant
The Regional Studies Association (RSA) created this scheme to provide financial support for a discrete research project that aligns with its thematic focus on regional development, spatial policy, economic geography, territorial governance and related fields. The grant is open to researchers who are within five years of PhD completion and currently affiliated with a recognised higher-education institution.
This funding call is ideal for those seeking to strengthen their research trajectory, generate publications, enhance policy influence, or pilot a larger research study at early-career level.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the Regional Studies Association (RSA) Early Career Research Grant 2026, applicants must:
- Be within five years of receiving their PhD at the time of the application deadline.
- Be affiliated with an eligible higher-education institution (HEI).
- Hold RSA Early Career membership, or be willing to register when applying.
- Propose a stand-alone research project that can be completed within the 18-month maximum timeframe.
Only individual researchers may apply. The proposed work must clearly demonstrate academic merit, relevance to the RSA field, and feasibility within the budget ceiling.
Grant Value and Duration
- Funding amount: Up to £10,000
- Project length: Up to 18 months
- The budget can cover research costs including fieldwork, data acquisition, travel, research assistance, dissemination, and other eligible expenses.
- Funding is not intended for large-scale institutional projects or long-term programmes. It must support a clearly defined, time-bound research activity.
Application Process
The application follows a two-stage format:
- Expression of Interest (EOI) – All applicants must submit an initial EOI by the deadline.
- Full Proposal Submission – Only shortlisted applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal with detailed methodology, workplan, outputs, and institutional support.
Final selection is based on academic quality, relevance to regional studies, feasibility, funding justification, and applicant track record.
Key Dates
- Deadline for Expression of Interest (EOI): 3 March 2026
- Shortlisting notification: After EOI review
- Full proposal deadline: Provided directly to shortlisted applicants
- Project start date: Subject to final award approval
Why Apply?
- Opportunity for early-career researchers to secure independent funding
- Enhances academic portfolio, publication output and policy engagement
- Connects grantees to the RSA global research network
- Provides a platform for future collaborations, fellowships or larger grants
- Supports research in an under-funded but highly relevant field (regional development, territorial change, spatial inequality, innovation ecosystems, etc.)
Recommended Preparation Steps
- Ensure RSA Early Career membership is active before the submission deadline
- Develop a realistic budget aligned with the 18-month limit
- Secure institutional support early (internal approvals, budget oversight, ethics if needed)
- Choose a research topic that is precise, time-bound and clearly situated within regional studies/regional science
- Prepare a dissemination plan (journals, conferences, policy briefs, community or stakeholder outputs)
How to Apply
Applications are submitted online via the RSA application portal. An Expression of Interest form must be completed first, after which shortlisted candidates will be contacted to submit a full proposal.
At the end of this post you will find both required links: Apply and Read more.
Final Notes
- The principal applicant must remain an RSA member throughout the funded period
- Award recipients will be required to submit progress and final reports
- Outputs should acknowledge RSA support in all publications and presentations
- Research may be single-country, comparative, conceptual or empirical, as long as it addresses a regional dimension
(contact us for proposal drafting, refinning and review)
