THE ROYAL IRISH ACADEMY IS IRELAND'S LEADING BODY OF EXPERTS IN THE SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES

The Royal Irish Academy/Acadamh Ríoga na hÉireann champions research. We identify and recognise Ireland’s world class researchers. We support scholarship and promote awareness of how science and the humanities enrich our lives and benefit society. We believe that good research needs to be promoted, sustained and communicated. The Academy is run by a Council of its members. Membership is by election and considered the highest academic honour in Ireland.

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Applying for an Archaeology 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.

Applications are accepted for the following:

Proposals for smaller-scale archaeological research associated with the archaeology of Ireland and/or Northern Ireland.

Aims and Priorities

  • The furtherance of archaeological knowledge in the context of the finite nature of the archaeological resource*

  • Smaller-scale standalone questions into which research might provide an original/innovative contribution to archaeological knowledge

*including applications which research archaeological sites impacted by climate change in line with the goals, objectives and actions of The Built and Architectural Heritage Climate Change Adaptation Plan (CCSAP)

How to apply

A completed application form including:

  • A letter of verification from one named referee confirming the applicant’s ability and suitability to undertake the research.

  • 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. Considering the short timescale of this scheme, it is advisable, if a proposal will require licenses to alter and/or export, that those discussions should include the methodology detail.

  • Where relevant, correspondence confirming permission in principle for fieldwork from both the landowner and from NMS, or from both the responsible Senior Archaeologist and Senior Architect in the case of research in proximity to a National Monument, or from the relevant Senior Inspector within the Historic Environment Division of DfC in the case of research in proximity to a scheduled historic monument or a monument in State Care/Guardianship.

  • Where relevant, a copy of the Ordnance Survey map with the site or sites marked.

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

Funding available

All applications will be assessed in a competitive context and no one grant will exceed 50% of the total grant funding for the year. It is expected that grants will be made in the region of €5,000.

Grant decisions will be subject to funding available in the two separate jurisdictions.

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

  • Applications for the funding of research as part of developer led or commercial excavations

  • 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 (e.g. cameras or survey equipment) that researchers would normally be expected to have are ineligible

Who can apply

  • This scheme is open to archaeological researchers/archaeologists, including undergraduate students, postgraduate students, and PhD candidates.

  • Proposals led by researchers based on the island of Ireland will be prioritised. Applications from researchers outside the island of Ireland will be examined for their feasibility on a case-by-case basis. Applicants must have no outstanding requirement to submit a report, under a statutory/consent or licence, unless they have agreed a submission date for outstanding reports and have an official Compliance Letter from NMS agreeing to this. 

Submission deadline

The Archaeology Research Grant Scheme opens on 9th February and the deadline for applications is 29th March 2024.

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