Travel Stipends

The British Society of Aesthetics invites postgraduate students, early career researchers, and those in temporary (i.e. fixed-term) positions to apply for stipends of up to £800 towards travel, registration fees and accommodation costs for participation in conferences, or research visits to other universities (which may include select summer schools), on topics in aesthetics and the philosophy of art. Registration fees for an online conference are also covered by the Stipend.

The BSA adopts the BPA/SWIP Good Practice Guidelines and we especially encourage women and members of other under-represented groups to apply. We also adopt the BPA Environmental Travel Policy and it is requirement of BSA funding that applicants adhere to the recommendations of this scheme for environmentally responsible university business travel.

Please note that applicants should apply to other sources of funding where available. It is a condition that applicants must take these sources instead of BSA funds if they are successful in both applications.

There is a rolling deadline for applications and applicants should apply as soon as their conference paper has been accepted or research visit confirmed. Retrospective applications – submitted after the event/research visit has taken place – cannot be considered.

Who can apply?

• UK-based BSA members seeking funding for UK or worldwide travel.
• Members based outside the UK who want to come to the UK.

To be eligible for a travel stipend, an applicant must:

• Be a member of the BSA;
• Either be enrolled in a postgraduate programme, or be a researcher within three years of having completed a PhD at a postgraduate programme (excluding career breaks), at the time of the event for which funds are being requested, or be in a temporary (fixed-term) position and without sufficient travel funding;

• Have had a submitted paper accepted for presentation at a conference, or been invited to participate in a panel or give comments at a conference, or have an arrangement with another university to visit for research purposes, on a topic in aesthetics or the philosophy of art;
• Have applied to other sources of funding where available.
• Adhere to the recommendations of the BPA scheme for environmentally responsible university business travel.

Applications for travel stipends must include:

• An indication of current enrolment or time since completion of the PhD (please provide dates and explanation of any career breaks). Applicants in a temporary position without sufficient travel funding must provide written confirmation, such as letter from Head of Department;
• Proof of acceptance of a paper, invitation to participate in a conference, or arrangement with a university for a research visit (which may include select summer schools);
• A brief abstract of the paper, if applicable;
• An indication of any other sources of funding for which the applicant has applied. Other funds must be taken instead of BSA funds if another application is also successful. If other sources of funding are not available, the applicant must confirm this.
• Applicants in a temporary position without sufficient travel funding must provide written confirmation, such as letter from Head of Department;
• A specification of the amount requested along with a breakdown of estimated costs (including full travel details);
• An explanation of no more than 200 words of how participating in the relevant conference or undertaking the research visit will contribute to the aims of the Society.
• An explanation of how the application adheres to the recommendations of the BPA scheme for environmentally responsible university business travel.

Apply now!

Each applicant is limited to £800 per calendar year. Priority will be given to applicants who have not previously received an award. The stipend may be used toward travel, accommodation and/or conference registration fees, plus the conference dinner if this is charged separately; it may not be used toward other subsistence costs. Applicants will be notified of results within three weeks of submission.  Payment will be upon receipt of completed claim form with receipts attached. Claims cannot exceed the amount awarded.

Please note that the American Society for Aesthetics provides funding for eligible students presenting at their Annual Meeting.  Students may want to apply for the BSA stipend if they are presenting at one of the ASA’s regional meetings (Eastern, Central or Pacific), which do not provide such funding, though they do reserve slots for postgraduate speakers. For details of forthcoming ASA meetings see: ASA Meetings and Conferences