The Society offers funds to support the conference participation, research visits and other appropriate research-related expenses of postgraduate students, ECRs who are within 5 years of receipt of their PhD and are not in a permanent post, and colleagues in post (whether full- or part-time) without access to institutional research funding. There are no deadlines for this fund. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis, but applicants should bear in mind that consideration of their application may take up to two months from the date of application. They should therefore apply at least two months in advance of the start of the planned research activity.

Applications are judged by a subcommittee consisting of the officer responsible for this scheme, the President and the Vice-President.

The specific purpose of these awards is to support: (i) presentation of papers at conferences, (ii) expenses incurred through travel to libraries and archives necessary to the applicant’s research, and (iii) other costs incurred in the completion of advanced research in the field of French studies (especially that which the applicant intends subsequently to publish or to disseminate by other appropriate means).

SFS strongly encourages applicants to avoid flying when there are good alternatives, such as train travel between Paris and London.

Ineligible costs include expenses incurred in the preparation of a thesis for a higher degree, typing costs, the purchase of books, research assistance, publishing subsidies (including Open Access fees and image reproduction fees), or the purchase of IT equipment.

All applications must demonstrate a clear financial case for support, and must make costings as precise as possible. Please asterisk or clearly identify any item for which grant support is sought in the application, and explain and justify why SFS support is requested. Priority may be given to early career scholars in temporary or hourly-paid positions and to postgraduate students.

In order to apply, please send a letter or email giving the following details:

1. name and institutional affiliation;
2. brief statement of career and/or short abstract or summary of PhD project;
3. details of the research to be undertaken for which support is required, and (for postgraduate students) its relation to PhD project;
4. anticipated publications, outputs and other outcomes;
5. a draft budget, clearly detailing the amount requested, and the purpose to which it will be put;
6. details, where relevant, of current or recent funding relating to the research in question;
7. details of any other financial support for which the applicant has applied/will apply in support of the trip, and/or an indication that the applicant’s institution does not provide appropriate support for the activities outlined;
8. an undertaking to abide by the conditions of the award, if successful; and
9. confirmation that the principal applicant is a member of the Society for French Studies and is eligible to apply (see above).
10. Postgraduate students are also asked to provide a letter of support from their supervisor / referee, who must be based in a Department / Unit of French Studies (or equivalent).

The names of recipients will be announced in the French Studies Bulletin, and successful applicants will be asked to submit a short report to the SFS Executive Committee, and to acknowledge where appropriate SFS in their thesis and/or any publication arising from the research trip. In addition, successful applicants are to submit a copy of the detailed final accounts to the Treasurer of the Society. Should the research activity not require the full sum awarded, the Society would expect to be reimbursed accordingly, and up to an amount not exceeding the original grant. The Society reserves the right to request a refund, should costs not reach the expected level.