Bursaries

Apply for support to attend RSECon26 in-person.

Bursary Overview

We are excited to continue to provide an accessible and inclusive conference for everyone. We are offering a rich remote experience for those unable to join us in person in Sheffield and a limited number of bursaries for those who would otherwise be unable to attend RSECon26. Last year, we were able to support over twenty (20) people to attend due to generous donations from individual supporters and the SocietyRSE.

Types of Bursaries Available

  • UK bursaries for domestic travel + accommodation (up to £500)
  • International bursaries for travel + accommodation (up to £1,000)
  • Hidden costs bursaries for expenses that are not covered by standard funding opportunities (up to £500)
  • Free in-person and remote registration

Key Dates to Keep in Mind

  • Call opens: Monday, 13 April 2026
  • First deadline: Monday, 1 June 2026
  • Final deadline: Friday, 10 July 2026
Noifications

Rolling - we will review applications and notify applicants on an ongoing basis from 1 June until the final deadline.

Thinking of applying? Read on for more details of the scheme, including our selection criteria and tips for applicants. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the conference Equality, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility team at [email protected].

Who Can Apply?

Our bursaries are designed to help people who might otherwise miss out on attending RSECon26 in person. We warmly welcome applications from anyone who identifies with one or more of the following:

  • An early-career RSE or researcher (see our definition below)
  • A student with an interest in RSE-related topics
  • An RSE, researcher, or student based outside the UK
  • Someone facing additional costs beyond travel, accommodation, and registration that would make attending difficult

To be eligible, you should fall into at least one of the above categories and feel that you would be unable to attend in person without support. If you’re unsure whether you qualify, please don’t hesitate to get in touch, and we’ll be happy to help you figure that out!

A note on who counts as an RSE: We consider anyone who writes research software as part of their work to be an RSE, regardless of job title. We follow UKRI’s approach to early career in RSE, and encourage anyone who considers themselves to be at an early stage of their RSE career to apply.

How We Select Recipients

We assess all applications against three equally important criteria:

  • Widening participation - we want RSECon26 to reflect the full diversity of our community, across backgrounds, career stages, skill levels, and more. We will prioritise applicants from underrepresented groups and those who face structural barriers to accessing funding.
  • Encouraging interaction - conferences thrive when everyone feels empowered to contribute. We’d love to hear how you’re hoping to engage, whether that’s through attending workshops, presenting a talk or poster, connecting with other attendees, supporting its delivery as a volunteer, or simply showing up and taking part. Please indicate in your application how you anticipate being able to do this.
  • Demonstrating need - we aim to ensure that bursaries reach those who need them most. We ask that applicants show they have explored other funding options before applying, such as checking with their institution, research group, or employer, or looking into relevant travel grants. Please indicate in your application what steps you have taken to seek alternative funding and why these have not been successful, so we can fairly assess the level of financial need.

Bursary Award

What your Bursary Covers

The bursary is to be used for:

  • The costs of transport to and from the conference venue
  • Accommodation during the conference
  • Subsistence during the conference
  • Other “hidden” costs on a case by case basis
  • Conference registration

Important: If you are applying for free registration, please do not register for the conference until your bursary has been confirmed and you have received your discount code.

How Claiming Works

Full terms and conditions can be found in the Guide to Claiming Expenses for Bursary Holders 2026.

We encourage you to apply by completing this application form