BPS opens £6,000 research grants for its members this summer

The British Psychological Society will launch a new Small Research Grants Scheme this summer, offering awards of up to £6,000 to support members with smaller-scale research projects that can act as a platform for larger work.

The scheme is open to all grades of BPS membership apart from subscriber-grade members. Funding can be applied to a broad range of costs including preparation work, staffing, materials, participant payments and additional research expenses. The BPS has positioned the grants specifically as a springboard for members who want to develop evidence and momentum before pursuing more substantial funding elsewhere.

A launch event is planned for 11 May 2026, featuring Chair of the BPS Research Board Dr Richard Stephens alongside Deputy Chairs Dr Sara Vestergren and Dr Kaz Brandt. The panel will introduce the scheme, explain what the funding covers, and take questions from potential applicants.

The announcement forms part of the Society's April 2026 member communications. By keeping the grants accessible and modest in scale, the BPS is reinforcing the view that meaningful psychological research does not always require large institutional budgets, and that members at any career stage can contribute to advancing the discipline.

Full information on eligibility and the application process is available at www.bps.org.uk/small-research-grants-scheme.