General Travel Grants

Applications will be assessed according to three main criteria: 

1. Benefit to career gained from attendance 

Applicants should try to include answers to the following key points in their application: 

• How will you be participating in the conference or training event, e.g., presenting a poster or giving a talk?
• Are there any specific sessions that you think will be particularly useful and/or any speakers that you intend to network with at the event? 
• How will attending this conference/training course further your career? Give details of whether the aim is to form collaborations or further knowledge in an area that is not currently being pursued. 
• Are there any other achievements and/or outputs that are relevant? 
  
  

2. Financial need for support 

This refers to the applicant's current funding available for travel. Key points that should be incorporated in the application include: 

• Details of the applicants provision for travel in their research grant or PhD programme. 
• Why funds are being sought from the Society and why the level of support is being requested. 
• The applicant is encouraged to apply for other funding to help attend the conference/training and give details of this so that the committee may see that the applicant will be able to attend if only partial support is provided by the General Travel Grant fund. 
  
  

3. Letter of Support from Supervisor or Head of Department (required for Postgraduate and Early Career applicants) and/or host lab  

A strong letter of support will demonstrate the following: 

• Case for financial need and the justification for the amount requested. 
• Promise of the applicant.
• What the benefit of attending that particular conference/training course would be to the applicant's career. 

Applications are considered six times a year, the deadlines for which are: 

• 1 January for conferences/events after 1 February 
• 1 March for conferences/events after 1 April 
• 1 May for conferences/events after 1 June 
• 1 July for conferences/events after 1 August 
• 1 September for conferences/events after 1 October
• 1 November for conferences/events after 1 December 

Applications can be submitted early, up to six months before the conference date. For example, applications for a July event can be submitted in the January deadline. 

The Biochemical Society does not fund applications made retrospectively. 

Please note we aim to send round the outcome of applications three to four weeks after the deadline of the round that has been applied to.

Please keep the following in mind when applying for a General Travel Grant:

• This is a highly competitive grant scheme and funding is not guaranteed.
• Applications should be for meetings or workshops with a molecular bioscience focus.
• We accept applications from anywhere in the world, however please note that we are unable to pay grants to recipients in jurisdictions, countries or regions subject to sanctions, embargoes or other political trade restrictions put in place by the United Nations, the EU or the UK.
• The Biochemical Society will only consider applications for the organisation or attendance of meetings believed to be genuine. More information on 'predatory' conferences can be found below.
• The Biochemical Society does not fund any applications made retrospectively.
• Incomplete or late applications will not be accepted.
• Travel insurance fees, visa fees and subsistence are not covered by this grant. Please only submit breakdown of costs for travel to/from the conference venue and accommodation for the nights of the conference or workshop.
• We encourage applicants to apply for funding from other funding bodies (including your own institution) to accompany your application. This should include the amount requested, the name of the organisation/grant scheme applied for, and the outcome (or date outcomes are expected). You agree that if the funding received exceeds the total needed for this meeting, you will return any unspent funds to the Biochemical Society.
• A General Travel Grant is non-transferable and can only be used to support the attendance of the named applicant. Applications can not be made on behalf of other individuals, or to support a group visit.

If successful:

• The Biochemical Society cannot be held responsible for any of the Recipient’s debts or liabilities.
• The Biochemical Society logo will be provided by the Biochemical Society and the Recipient must ensure the logo is featured on the poster or presentation slides presented at the conference or workshop. Recipients must provide a photo of the poster/presentation slides at the meeting to demonstrate the use of the Society logo.
• The Recipient is required to send a 300 word report about their experience at the conference or workshop. This report should provide an overview of the themes of the meeting, highlight any key presentations or sessions of relevance, and the main outcomes of the meeting on their future studies and/or career. The report and photographs may be published on the Biochemical Society website, social media channels or considered for publication in our community magazine, The Biochemist.
• The Recipient is required to submit a letter/certificate confirming attendance at the specified meeting or workshop.