This introductory session will highlight key UK and EU funding opportunities that are available to you, such as early career fellowships and grants. We’ll walk you through the different types of postdoctoral funding and share important upcoming deadlines to help you plan ahead including:

• A deep dive into the ESRC Postdoctoral Fellowships Ideal for those nearing submission or recently awarded their PhD, this session will outline eligibility, timelines, and what makes a competitive application.
• Guidance on wider postdoctoral opportunities for SHAPE ECRs Learn about additional UK and EU fellowship schemes and early-career grants that could be a strong fit for your research trajectory.

Co-hosted by the Research Development Team, the PhD Academy, and LSE Careers on an annual basis (Autumn Term). This session also gives you direct insight into the full range of support services available across LSE.

Curious about how UK research funding works? In this information session, you’ll get a clear, accessible introduction to major UK research funders such as the Leverhulme Trust, Nuffield Foundation, UKRI Funding Bodies, and the British Academy; and the funding opportunities they offer that may be relevant to your research agenda.

We’ll also break down the core principles that underpin the UK funding system, walk you through the key terminology of from funder guidance and what they actually mean(!) and show you how to find opportunities that align with your interests and career goals. Designed to demystify the complex UK landscape, this session will navigate the key funding pathways offering you greater confidence and insight.

The Research Development Team deliver these sessions on a bi-annual basis (Autumn Term and Winter Term).

 This information session introduces the Research Excellence Framework (REF): outlining what it is, why it matters, and how it aligns with the School’s strategic priorities. It explores the REF’s implications for LSE as an institution as well as for individual researchers, helping LSE staff understand how REF processes, expectations, and assessments shape our research environment.

The Research Governance and Culture Team deliver this session on an annual basis.

 These clinics are designed for small groups of researchers who are preparing a draft application to a specific funding opportunity with a set deadline. Together, we’ll dive into proposal with shared peer-review time to provide tailored, actionable feedback on each participant’s proposal.

You will assess an application to identify strengths, highlight areas for development, and share your feedback with your peers. Throughout the session, facilitators will guide the process, framing feedback through the lens of funders’ expectations and drawing on their experience of what makes a proposal succeed.

The Research Development Team regularly deliver these clinics for selected applicants to funding opportunities that require internal selection, and funding opportunities that generate extensive interest from prospective applicants.

Learn what it takes to design a well-structured, competitive funding bid! This interactive workshop demystifies the essential ingredients of a successful research proposal.

Through practical exercises with your peers, you’ll refine your research question and ideas, explore what funders look for, and step into the role of a reviewer to gain insight into the evaluation process.

Expect collaborative discussions and greater confidence and vision in how to win research funding.

The RISe Programme can help build custom training for your academic unit. Our Delivery Partners can advise on the best sessions to meet your learning outcomes including workshops, seminars, panels and learning materials (virtually and in-person). For support with bespoke training please contact your Research Development Manager in the first instance.