Applications for Archaeology Research Grants 2026 are now open.

You can apply for funding for small‑scale archaeological research projects related to
archaeology in Ireland and/or Northern Ireland.

Aims and priorities:
• Supporting archaeological research that helps build knowledge, in the context of the
finite nature of the archaeological resource*
• Funding is intended for small, self‑contained research projects that aim to answer
focused questions and make a new or innovative contribution to archaeological
knowledge.
*including applications which research archaeological sites impacted by climate change in
line with the goals, objectives and actions of The Built and Architectural Heritage Climate
Change Adaptation Plan (CCSAP

Who can apply?
This scheme is open to archaeologists and archaeology researchers, including undergraduate,
postgraduate, and PhD students, for work based in Ireland (including Northern Ireland).
Priority will be given to proposals led by researchers based on the island of Ireland.
Applications from researchers based elsewhere will still be considered, but will be examined
for their feasibility on a case-by-case basis.
Applicants must not have any overdue statutory, consent, or licence reports. If reports are
outstanding, applicants must have an agreed submission date and an official Compliance
Letter from the National Monuments Service (NMS) or the Historic Environment Division
(HED) in Northern Ireland confirming this agreement.

What you can use the funding for:
You can apply for funding to cover:
• Research costs, such as specialist fees and services, materials, travel, subsistence and
accommodation.
• Salary costs* for you or your team, if:
o You need to take time off your regular job to do the project,
o You wouldn’t be paid otherwise, and
o You are not being paid from another source at the same time.
*To claim salary costs, you must provide proof of payment (such as payslips or paid
invoices) as the Academy can only reimburse costs which are supported by evidence
of payment.
• Follow-up research from developer-led excavations, as long as all licensing
requirements have been fully met.

For more information, please visit Archaeology Research Grants – Royal Irish Academy

The deadline for application is Wednesday 25 March 2026