BU Research Blog

As part of its European Research and Collaboration Programme, The British Academy is hosting targeted sessions for UK-based researchers in the humanities and social sciences.

These sessions are designed for those seeking European Research Council (ERC) grants and are led by British Academy Fellows with first-hand experience as ERC grantees and panel members. Offering a deep dive into the nuances of proposal development, providing strategic clarity on the evaluation process, proposal costing, and the critical themes required to secure high-level funding.

ERC Reading Day 2026

UK-based social science and humanities researchers preparing ERC Starting or Consolidator Grant applications are invited to the British Academy for a dedicated Reading Day. This event provides a rare opportunity to study 50 successful “gold standard” proposals, offering vital insights into effective structuring, research narratives, and project positioning.

The session is designed for individual, in-person study at the British Academy in London. During a two-hour window, participants can compare up to three different successful applications to help refine their own drafting process. To support attendees, the British Academy will reimburse standard rail travel.

To protect intellectual property, strict confidentiality is enforced. All attendees must sign a non-disclosure agreement; photography and recording devices are prohibited. Laptops are permitted for note-taking, provided cameras are covered with supplied stickers. This session is intended for those already familiar with ERC schemes and actively drafting a proposal.

ERC Reading Day 2026 | The British Academy

Event Details

Monday 1 June, 9am-5pm

You will be able to select one of the following timeslots during registration:

• 9:30-11:30am
• 12-2pm
• 2:30-4:30pm

To attend, please register here by Wednesday 20 May. Please use your institutional email address to sign up. As places are limited, please only book if you can attend, or cancel early to allow a colleague to take your spot.

If you have any questions, please contact: Barbora Krasova b.krasova@thebritishacademy.ac.uk

Webinar: ERC Advanced Grants

The British Academy is hosting a specialised webinar for UK-based researchers preparing for the ERC Advanced Grants 2026 Call. Led by Professor Patrick Haggard FBA and a panel of experienced Fellows, the session provides an in-depth look at the evaluation format and the strategic requirements for planning, writing, and costing a successful proposal. A unique feature of this session is the opportunity for a live B1 draft proposal review. Selected drafts will be anonymised and critiqued by the panel to provide practical, real-time feedback. While not every submission can be reviewed, the collective insights are designed to benefit all participants. Please note that as this is an interactive session, the webinar will not be recorded.

ERC Grants Webinars | The British Academy

Event Details

Friday 19 June, 10:30am – 12pm

To attend, please register here by Thursday 18 June, 12pm

If you wish to submit a B1 draft for consideration, you must register your interest and email your proposal to Barbora Krasova b.krasova@thebritishacademy.ac.uk by Thursday 4 June, 12pm