Society for Research in Higher Education Prize for Newer Researchers

Applications for the 2026 Awards have now closed.

Each year the Society for Research into Higher Education (SRHE) invites applications from Newer Researchers to enter a research proposal for a small scale project under an SRHE Award scheme. All entries are reviewed by an expert panel of experienced researchers. Successful SRHE Award winners receive a number of benefits from the Society in addition to the award money awarded to fund the selected project. Entry is open to all and not restricted to current SRHE Members. The SRHE Award for Newer Researchers is jointly sponsored by SRHE and Routledge Taylor & Francis Group.

In 2026 there will be up to three awards of £3,000 available for a research project of one year’s duration. These awards are intended to provide support for early career stage researchers in the field of higher education research to enable them to:-

• undertake a research project in their own right
• develop research skills which will help advance their research career.
  
  

Benefits of the Awards

The primary purpose of these awards is to offer support to Newer Researchers intending to pursue a career in higher education research by providing funding for an initial research project and offering access to the resources of the Society. Successful award holders are provided with the support of a mentor and, for UK based applicants, invited to become a member of the Society’s prestigious Research & Development Committee which affords a wider involvement in higher education research developments.

Value of the Awards

The SRHE Award for Newer Researchers provides:-

• £3,000 research funding
• the support of a SRHE senior researcher as mentor
• publication by the Society of the final report on the research project undertaken
• one year’s free membership of the SRHE
• one year’s free subscription to the Society’s journals: Studies in Higher Education, Policy Reviews in Higher Education & Higher Education Abstracts
  
  

Eligibility

Eligible researchers are those with a minimum of a first undergraduate degree and currently registered as a student with, or undertaking research associated with, a university or college department and with an interest in pursuing a career in higher education research.

These awards are not available to support study towards a postgraduate qualification or to support research work intended as the basis for a PhD submission. Research proposals submitted for these awards must demonstrate that they relate to different research questions than those covered by a PhD, or equivalent, if this is yet to be awarded or completed. To qualify as a newer researcher you should be within 6 years of the completion of your PhD or equivalent professional qualification. This time limit excludes any formal career breaks taken for family responsibilities. Joint applications and multiple applications are not permitted.

Timetable for the 2026 SRHE Newer Researcher Awards

Call for applications opens December 2025 Call closes 31 March 2026 Short Listing May-June 2026 Awards Announced 30 June 2026

Assessment Criteria

The following criteria will be taken into consideration:-

• capacity of the applicant to complete the proposed research project
• originality of the research questions proposed
• a sound theoretical framework and research design
• appropriateness and clarity of the research methodology proposed
• inclusion of detail on realistic costing and achievable timescale
• capacity for wider application of research
• relevance of research proposal to future career development
• relevance to the work of the SRHE.
  
  

Note also that these awards are intended to cover the direct costs of the research proposed, so we recommend that budgets should NOT include full Economic Costing (fEC), indirect, or overheads/estate costs. The award are made strictly on the merit of the proposed project under the guidelines outlined above. The benefits of this award are developmental and tailored towards individuals, so joint applications are not recommended. Multiple applications from the same individual will not be accepted. The decision of the SRHE Research & Development Committee is final. The Society reserves the right not to offer the award if applications do not meet the required standard

Members Application Library – Samples Of Previously Successful Applications

Responsibilities of Award Holders

Recipients of the SRHE Newer Researchers Award must:-

• fully account for all expenditure on the project (quarterly payments are paid against presented accounts and receipts)
• provide quarterly reports on progress
• attend meetings of the Research & Development committee if UK resident (funding additional to the award money is only available within the UK for travel costs associated with these meetings)
• submit an abstract on research for presentation at the Society’s Annual Research Conference in December 2026
• provide a fully referenced research paper on the outcome of their research project for publication by SRHE and possible presentation to a relevant research group or Society Network.
• Submit a brief article for SRHE news (the Society’s newsletter) and contribute to an SRHE Network event.
• Submit a journal article or book chapter within 12 months of completing the final report.
  
  

Application Process

Applications for the 2026 awards have now closed.

All enquiries about the SRHE Award for Newer Researchers should be addressed to srhe@srhe.ac.uk

• Click here for Application Form
• Click here for Award Information