Funding opportunity

Funding opportunity: EPSRC Overseas travel grant

Opportunity status:: Open
Funders:: Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
Funding type:: Grant
Publication date:: 20 September 2020
Opening date:: N/A
Closing date:: 30 March 2023 4:00pm UK time

Last updated: 26 January 2023

The overseas travel grant is for researchers at UK higher education institutions, research council institutes, UKRI-approved independent research organisations and NHS bodies.

Funding can include travel and subsistence costs for visits overseas to learn new techniques or form and develop collaborations.

This opportunity will transition from Je-S to a new Funding Service after 30 March 2023. Find out more about our pathway for change.

UKRI must receive your application on Je-S by 30 March 2023 4:00pm UK time.

You will not be able to apply after this time until the opportunity reopens on the Funding Service in May 2023. Please leave enough time for your proposal to pass through your organisation’s Je-S submission route before this date.

You should ensure you are aware of and follow any internal institutional deadlines that may be in place.

Who can apply

The overseas travel grant is open to UK higher education institutions, research council institutes, UKRI-approved independent research organisations, Public Sector Research Establishments and NHS bodies with research capacity.

Find out more about institutional eligibility.

You can apply if you are resident in the UK and meet at least one of these criteria:

are employed at the submitting research organisation at lecturer level or equivalent
hold a fixed-term contract that extends beyond the duration of the proposed research project, and the host research organisation is prepared to give you all the support normal for a permanent employee
hold an EPSRC, Royal Society or Royal Academy of Engineering fellowship aimed at later career stages
hold fellowships under other schemes (please contact EPSRC to check eligibility, which is considered on a case-by-case basis).

Holders of postdoctoral level fellowships are not eligible to apply for an EPSRC grant.

Clinical applicants must be employed or be on a fixed-term contract longer than the proposed project at an NHS trust, hospital, board, primary care trust or general practice.

Find out more about individual eligibility.

We will not accept uninvited resubmissions of projects that have been submitted to UKRI or any other funder.

This funding opportunity is also subject to our policy on repeatedly unsuccessful submissions.

What we're looking for

We will provide funding for international travel and subsistence to study new techniques at recognised centres anywhere outside the UK and for travel to start or develop new international collaborations, such as for Horizon 2020 projects. Single visits of up to six months or several visits totalling up to 12 months could be to overseas universities or industrial organisations.

Your application for an overseas travel grant does not need to be linked to an existing EPSRC award, but it is expected that new techniques learned or collaborations formed will lead to future research proposals in areas we support.

We support excellent research in:

digital economy
energy
engineering
global uncertainties
transforming health and healthcare
information and communication technologies
living with environmental change
manufacturing the future
mathematical sciences
physical sciences
quantum technologies
research infrastructure.

Find out more about our research areas and themes.

We can support costs including:

travel
subsistence
salary of principal investigator
indirect costs
visas.

How to apply

Please read the EPSRC guidance on overseas travel grants before applying.

You must apply using the Joint Electronic Submission system (Je-S). We are always open to applications for overseas travel grants. You should apply at least 16 weeks before your first proposed visit.

When adding a new proposal you should select:

council: EPSRC
document type: standard proposal
scheme: overseas travel grant
on the project details page, you should select ‘none’.

Your application should include the following attachments:

case for support: eight pages – two on your track record and up to six on the case for travelling
workplan: one page
justification of resources: two pages
letters of support from all project partners included in the Je-S form: no page limit
cover letter: optional attachment, no page limit, not seen by peer review.

You should attach any documents as PDFs to avoid errors. They should be completed in single-spaced 11 font Arial or similar sans serif typeface.

We recommend you start your application in good time. You can save completed details in Je-S at any time and return to continue your application later. When you submit the application, it will first go to your host organisation for review.

See the Je-S handbook for advice on completing applications.

Find out more about completing your application.

How we will assess your application

Your application is assessed by peer review. It will be sent electronically to at least three reviewers, including at least one nominated by you. You will have the opportunity to respond to reviewer comments.

If your application gains enough support from reviewers, we may approve funding without the need to go to one of our review panels. We aim to provide a faster turnaround on overseas travel grants.

If it goes to a panel, your application is assessed first and foremost on quality (primary), followed by national importance (secondary major). It is also assessed on applicant and partnerships (secondary) and resources and management (secondary).

Find out more about the assessment process.

Contact details

grants@epsrc.ukri.org

01793 444120

Additional info

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