Award
Literary Encyclopedia Research Awards
Deadline: October 1, 2026
The Literary Encyclopedia Research Award grants travel bursaries worth between £500 and £750 each to assist both emerging and established scholars in defraying the costs of archival research on a literary or related matter. This programme is funded through the donation of royalties by contributors and editors to the Encyclopedia.
Applications are accepted from members of an institution which subscribes to The Literary Encyclopedia, contributors to our publication, or individual subscribers. Scholars of Victorian literature are strongly encouraged to apply.
Starting in 2025, and in line with The Literary Encyclopedia’s commitment to lowering its carbon emissions and fostering greater inclusivity among researchers, our awards will also be offered to help fund research assistance to consult archives remotely and/or additional research costs, such as those arising from caring responsibilities.
Awards of between £500 and £750 are available to fund a range of research activities within these categories:
- Travel costs for archival research
- Research assistance to consult archives remotely
- Training in new techniques/skills
- Additional research costs, such as caring responsibilities
- Support for access needs
Conference attendance will not be covered.
Applications are considered by the Editorial Board of The Literary Encyclopedia whose decision is final. Money will be paid on presentation of receipts.
Successful applicants will be expected to write a formal report of their work to be published on our website. The contribution of the LE Research Award should be acknowledged in any publications resulting from these awards.
You can read about the winning candidates and research proposals from previous years HERE.
Successful applicants to this round must complete their research travel by June 30th 2027. Recipients will be expected to provide formal reports on their work by start of October 2027.
Applicants should please download and complete the application form attached HERE, and email it to The Managing Editor no later than 1 October 2026. We will announce the winners by mid-November.
