Identify Your Research Needs
Before looking for a funding scheme, it is helpful to think about what you want funding to enable you to do. You might be looking for time to develop your own research, funding for a larger collaborative project, support for an event or network, or resources to increase the impact and reach of your research.
The Faculty’s Research Support team can help you identify suitable funding opportunities and think through the best route for your research. We support applications from researchers at different career stages, including both current Oxford researchers and external applicants who are interested in applying for funding through the Faculty of Law.
For longer-term research activity, external funding will usually be required. Smaller activities may also be supported through internal University or Faculty funding schemes.
What do you need funding for?
Fellowships (time to pursue your own research) – fixed-term grants for individuals to conduct independent research as an employee at Oxford.
Project grants (a larger research programme) – funding for a defined programme of research, led by a PI, involving research staff, collaborators and a range of research activities over several years.
Seed funding and smaller grants (developing an idea and getting it off the ground) - smaller awards that can help you test an idea, undertake preliminary research, develop a collaboration or prepare the ground for a larger project.
Knowledge exchange and public engagement funding (engagement and impact) - support for activities that connect research with policymakers, practitioners, communities or other audiences beyond academia.
What are the purposes of funding?
Some research grants have specific aims, such as:
Early Career – the definition of an early-career scholar differs between funders, but typically such schemes focus on funding researchers moving on from their doctorate and seeking to establish themselves in academia.
Collaboration – grants specifically designed to build research collaboration across different institutions, either nationally or internationally.
Impact / Knowledge Exchange / Public Engagement – schemes to make difference beyond academia, promote mutual exchange between academia and industry, or the dissemination of academic research.
Capacity Building – This could be defined as building the skills and experience of individual researchers or building research capacity institutionally or nationally.
Career Development – some fellowships can be aimed at career development specifically, while project grants can include the aim of career development for junior researchers employed on the project.
Each funding scheme has its own rules, eligibility criteria, duration, and award amount, depending on the funder and the purpose behind the grant. Many early career grants require applicants to have an institutional mentor, who will support the application and provide mentoring should it be funded. It is important to read the guidance notes which accompany all funding schemes to check these details before starting an application.
Where does research funding come from?
Law researchers receive funding from a wide range of organisations, including UK Research and Innovation (particularly AHRC and ESRC), the British Academy, charitable foundations such as the Leverhulme Trust and Nuffield Foundation, European funders including the ERC, government departments, and internal University funds.
Rather than starting with a particular funder, we recommend first thinking about your research needs and then identifying schemes that are a good fit.
UK Research and Innovation
- Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)
- Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)
Government Departments
Charity
- Independent Social Research Foundation
European Union
Can I apply as a PI or Co-I?
Eligibility to apply as a Principal Investigator (PI) or Co-Investigator (Co-I) depends on both the funder’s rules and Faculty approval. The Faculty will normally allow permanent postholders and fixed-term researchers at grade 7 or above to be a PI, although each application is considered on a case-by-case basis. If you are on a fixed-term contract, you should discuss your plans with your PI or line manager and the Research Support team before applying. Where a grant is intended to support your post, the duration and FTE of your University contract will normally need to align with the salary funding provided by the grant
Not sure what type of funding you need?
You do not need to have identified a particular funder or funding scheme before contacting us. If you have a research idea but are unsure about the most appropriate funding route, the Research Support team can help you think through your options and identify potential opportunities.
Please also visit our Get Inspired page, where you can find ideas and insights from colleagues on what research funding can enable.