The Literary Encyclopedia Research Awards
The Literary Encyclopedia Research Awards aim to support research by PhD students, early career researchers*, and established academics on a literary or related matter. These awards are funded through the donation of royalties by contributors and editors to the Encyclopedia.
Applications are accepted from members of an institution which subscribes to The Literary Encyclopedia, contributors to our publication, or individual subscribers.
Starting in 2025, and in line with The Literary Encyclopedia’s commitment to lowering its carbon emissions and fostering greater inclusivity among researchers, our awards will also be offered to help fund research assistance to consult archives remotely and/or additional research costs, such as those arising from caring responsibilities.
Awards of between £500 and £750 are available to fund a range of research activities within these categories:
- Travel costs for archival research
- Research assistance to consult archives remotely
- Open access publishing
- Training in new techniques/skills
- Additional research costs, such as caring responsibilities
- Support for access needs
Conference attendance will not be covered.
Applications are considered by the Editorial Board of The Literary Encyclopedia whose decision is final. Money will be paid on presentation of receipts.
Successful applicants will be expected to write a formal report of their work to be published on our website. The contribution of the LE Research Award should be acknowledged in any publications resulting from these awards.
You can read about the winning candidates and research proposals from previous years HERE.
There are two rounds of The Literary Encyclopedia Research Awards each calendar year.
We will post further details about the first round of the Research Award in due course; these will be announced on our homepage and circulated among our subscribers and contributors.
(*An early career researcher is “an individual who is within eight years of the award of their PhD or within 6 years of their first academic appointment” (AHRC).)
