Applying for an Archaeological Archives Research Grant

In order to make an application for funding you will need to familiarise yourself with the ‘Guidelines for applicants’ document.

Please click here to access the online application form.

How to apply

Applicants are required to submit a detailed application form online, including:

• A letter from one named referee who is independent* of the project, verifying the applicant’s competence to undertake the research. *The exception is where an application is made by a PhD student, in which case that reference must be from their supervisor.
• Detailed costings of proposed research.
• Where relevant, a copy of a detailed quotation received from proposed specialist/s.
• Where relevant, correspondence from the NMI stating that the applicant has discussed the application and that there is permission in principle for the proposed work based on the project rationale. It is strongly advised, if a proposal will require licences to alter and/or export, that those discussions should include the methodology detail.

An application will be deemed ineligible if it does not include all required supporting documentation and confirmations.

Applications are accepted for the following:

Research and analysis connected to archival artefacts and other excavation-related material arising from non-RIA excavations of sites in Ireland (not including Northern Ireland).

Costs and activities which are eligible

• Research costs including specialist’s fees and services, materials, travel and subsistence expenses.
• Salary costs of grant recipients and research team members are considered an eligible cost if, in order to participate in the project they must have their time ‘bought out’, or they must take time out from their usual employment, or would not be funded to do this work without the grant funding and are not simultaneously in receipt of another income. As the Academy can only reimburse costs which are supported by evidence of payment any request to reimburse salary costs must be supported by evidence that the salary has been paid (in the form of payslips, paid invoices etc.) from the employing body.
• Applications will be considered for further research emanating from what were originally developer-led projects, provided all licensing requirements have been met in full.
• Applicants must list any current sources of research funding and justify why additional funds are sought from the RIA.

Costs and activities which are ineligible

• Costs of archaeological excavations or surveys or fieldwork.
• Applications for the funding of research as part of developer-led or commercial excavations that have not fulfilled their licensing requirements in full.
• The grant does not fund institutional overheads, and the grant cannot be used to cover any element that should be properly ascribed to institutional overheads.
• The purchase of items of equipment that researchers would normally be expected to have are ineligible.

Ineligible applicants:

Applications from any applicant with one or more excavation reports outstanding to the Licensing Authority unless they have agreed a submission date for outstanding licences and have an official Compliance Letter from NMS agreeing to this.

Applications from any applicant who has previously been funded by the Academy for projects which have not been completed to the standard required by the grant and/or licence conditions.

Who can apply

This scheme is open to archaeological researchers/archaeologists, including PhD students, undergraduate students, postgraduate students, for work in Ireland (not including Northern Ireland).

The Archaeological Archives  Research Grants Scheme opened on 4th September and will close on 12th October 2023.