STFC

Return to Research Support Bursary

Up to £2,500Up to 6 months

Last verified: 20 June 2026

Is this grant right for you? Check your personalised match score. 30s, no email. See my matches →

The STFC Return to Research Support Bursary funds researchers returning to academic research after a break of two or more years, with up to £2,500 for up to six months to develop a proposal for STFC fellowship schemes. Open to individual applicants in the UK, this scheme is designed to help mid-career researchers refresh skills and build competitive fellowship applications. It is a stepping stone explicitly tailored to the career-break transition.

Details

Funder	STFC
Budget	Up to £2,500
Duration	Up to 6 months
Consortium	No
Career stage	Early-career opportunity
Eligible countries	GB

Eligibility & scope

For researchers returning to academic research after a career break of 2+ years. Funds up to £2,500 for up to 6 months to develop a proposal for submission to the STFC fellowship scheme. Individual applicants only.

Who Should Apply

•Researchers returning to academic research after a career break of 2+ years
•Individual applicants based in the UK
•Researchers planning to apply for STFC fellowship schemes
•Early-career and mid-career physicists, astronomers, and nuclear scientists

Key Dates

•Up to six-month funding period per award

Tips for Applicants

✓Use the bursary to refresh methodological skills or rebuild networks before committing to a full fellowship proposal.
✓Frame your proposal development plan concretely, STFC wants to see a clear path from bursary output to a fundable fellowship application.
✓Identify your target STFC fellowship scheme (Future Leaders, Consolidated Grants, etc.) early; bursary planning must align with the actual scheme's requirements.