Grants

The Roman Society has two grant-giving committees:

• HUGH LAST and DONALD ATKINSON FUNDS COMMITTEE
  Applications are considered for financial assistance towards the undertaking, completion or publication of work that relates to any of the general scholarly purposes of the Roman Society, i.e. to promote the study of the history, archaeology, literature and art of Italy and the Roman Empire, from the earliest times down to about A.D. 700. Grants usually range from £400 to £1,500.

In addition, postgraduate students may apply for small grants for visits to conferences and other research expenses. Grants for the organisation of conferences, colloquia and symposia will be made only in exceptional circumstances.

Application forms are available from the Secretary of the Society, but applications in the form of letters are also welcome. Applications, together with two references, should be completed in typescript and sent - to arrive before 15 January in any year - to the Secretary. It is the responsibility of applicants to arrange for their references to reach the Society by the same date; the absence of references may adversely affect the Committee's view of an application. Referees should – with the exception of applications from postgraduate students – come from outside the applicant’s institution and not be connected with the project for which funding is sought.

• SCHOOLS COMMITTEE
  The Society’s Schools Committee makes grants to schools to help promote the teaching of Latin and Roman studies. Most of the grants are awarded for the purchase of textbooks and other books on Roman topics, but the Committee also makes awards to groups and schools organising lectures or study days on Roman themes, and has recently made money available for archaeology fieldwork bursaries (see below). Applications from schools planning to start courses in Latin are particularly welcome.

The annual budget is c. £6,000, and the usual level of award is £50 to £500. The Committee meets three times a year. Applications should be sent to the Secretary, Roman Society, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HU to arrive by 1 February, 1 July or 1 November in any year. There is no special application form, but applicants should provide information about the level of their departmental budget, the type of courses taught, and in the case of applications for books, a list of the books wanted with their prices.

ARCHAEOLOGY FIELDWORK BURSARIES

The Schools Committee of the Roman Society, in conjunction with the Roman Research Trust, invites applications for its archaeological fieldwork bursaries for 16 to 18 year olds. These bursaries are made available partly by funding from the Roman Society, and partly by funding from the Roman Research Trust. All eligible applications will be considered for support from both funds; successful candidates will be told which fund their support comes from. The bursaries are designed to cover costs of up to £150 per week to enable applicants to participate on an archaeological project. The project should have some link to Roman studies.

To apply candidates should contact first the director/principal investigator of the project they wish to join. The director should then write a short letter (no more than one side of A4) confirming his/her willingness to take the candidate on the project.  This letter should also specify what and how training will be provided, noting the staff/supervisor: digger/student ratio. It should also confirm that the candidate, if accepted on the project, would be fully insured. Finally, a copy of the project risk assessment/health and safety guidelines should accompany the letter from the director.

The candidate should then send a copy of the director’s letter and risk assessment, with a covering letter to Dr Helen Cockle, Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies, Senate House, University of London, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HU by 15 May 2008. The covering letter should outline the applicant’s reasons for wishing to apply, their other sources of finance, and the amount requested. It should be clear from the letter exactly what costs the award is expected to cover. Candidates are advised that in the event of strong demand for these bursaries, it may not be possible to award grants to cover more than one week at a time.

Information on fieldwork opportunities may be found at www.britarch.ac.uk/briefing/field.html or www.archaeology.co.uk/directory. Alternatively, candidates may seek information on opportunities in their local museum, library or university. The Roman Society is not able to make recommendations concerning individual projects.

For a report on bursaries awarded in 2004 and comments from some of the bursary holders, which indicate the range of sites visited and the enthusiasm of the participants, click here.

REPRESENTATION of the SOCIETY ABROAD
The Society also invites applications from members to attend a conference of a sister body in another country or to undertake a lecture tour as an official representative of the Society. The Society is willing to pay up to a maximum of £500 for a single conference or lecture tour, to help cover the travel costs. The delegate will be required to submit a report to Council on the state of Roman studies in the country concerned. Preference will be given to a delegate going to a country where the subject may benefit from the Society's representation.

Applications should be sent to the Secretary, at least 6 months before the conference or lecture tour, for approval by Council.

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