PRIA seedcorn funds for 2025-26 now open
PRiA is delighted to announced that our Research Funds are now open for applications for 2025-2026
The Research Funds will be released in two phases during the academic year:
- PHASE 1: October 20 2025 – Jan 31 2026.
- PHASE 2: Feb 1 2026 – 31 July 2026.
All awarded funds must be spent by 31 July 2026.
Applications must be submitted via this application form and returned to Lorraine Seymour before 12 December 2025 (for phase 1) or 1 May 2026 (phase 2).
Funding can be applied for via two streams:
- Standard seedcorn funding to support small-scale pedagogical research projects, for up to £500
- * (Phase 1 only): We have ringfenced funds (up to £500 per application) for colleagues working in student education and engagement, technician areas and other support services. We encourage such applicants to discuss their projects in advance with Edward Venn, e.j.venn@leeds.ac.uk
We especially welcome applications from colleagues new to pedagogical research, and from a diverse range of colleagues in the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures, including colleagues working in teaching, research, student support, technician areas and other support services. Applications from groups constituted from across these areas are particularly welcome. Details of PRiA's funding, and previous seedcorn funded projects, can be found on the PRiA Sharepoint.
Further considerations:
It is a requirement of funding that successful applicants will disseminate their results in a case study on the PRiA sharepoint (and possibly via an event or Podcast); PRiA will be in touch to support you with this if your application is successful.
For both phases, funding must be spent by 31 July 2026. Funding in each phase is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Funding applications are reviewed by two reviewers. Decisions are based on the quality of responses to the questions in the application form. Increased numbers of applications mean that we would advise applicants to respond as directly to the questions as possible.
We encourage applications which propose diverse and innovative use of the funding, and to collaborative applications, though it remains the case that this should directly support development in teaching and learning.
Suggested uses of the funding include but are not limited to: teaching and research assistants, training and conference fees, supporting a particular resource for teaching, documenting practice for later, discipline-specific developments. In all cases, the application should make clear how the use of funds supports pedagogic research and/or its dissemination.
It is possible to use PRiA seedcorn funding for follow-on activities from previous PRiA projects, but priority will be given to new projects.
The usual restrictions on funding apply (personal equipment cannot be applied for.)
You must apply for and receive ethical review via the Faculty Research Ethics Committee, where necessary, before submitting your PRiA funding application. If you are not sure whether ethical review is required for your project, please discuss with your School ethics lead.
If you intend to survey students as part of your work, you should consult the PRiA guidelines on using students as research participants.
If you are applying for teaching or research assistants, the usual HR processes apply, including a case for the developmental nature of the work. The funding cannot be used to cover regular teaching.
All posts funded via PRiA must be advertised via Faculty HR. PRiA will support you with this procedure. Applications cannot be made for named assistants.
If you have any questions about application for PRiA funding or any of PRIA's work please contact Edward Venn. You can also join the PRiA TEAMS area.
We look forward to reading your applications!
Pedagogic Research in the Arts (PRiA) at the University of Leeds.
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