Applying for an ELDP grant

Funding cycles | General guidance | Grant types | Information and application packs | Contact information

This document last updated: 5 January 2011

Funding cycles

ELDP offers one granting cycle in 2011.

Important information for applicants

Applications should be submitted online. The online submission system will be available on February 10.

If you currently hold a grant with us, or have held a grant with us before, and you want to apply for further funding, you need to ensure that your documentation is in the process of being deposited or has been deposited with our archive, ELAR. If you apply and your application is recommended for funding by the Panel, ELDP will not make a formal offer until your other project supported by us has been completed or is in the process of completion. Please get in touch with us (eldp@soas.ac.uk) about the status of your deposit of the previous or current grant if you have any questions regarding this regulation.

General guidance

Every application is reviewed according to these criteria:

• the degree of endangerment of the language(s)
• the nature of the project as a contribution to language documentation
• the training and preparation of the applicant(s)
• the goals for the project and whether they can be realistically achieved
• a clear methodology for project work
• a detailed list of equipment, including model names
• a clear justification of equipment relative to methodology (refer to the guidelines for equipment)
• clear evidence of institutional support (what the institution will provide for you)
• attention to ethical issues

See the guidance in the Information pack for each grant type for further details. We strongly encourage first-time applicants to apply for a Small Grant before applying in any other category.

Grant types

There are now important changes to grant categories, application forms, guidance notes, and terms and conditions.

Small Grants (SG)

Small grants are a new category and replace the previous field trip grants and pilot projects. They can be used for a range of purposes related to the documentation of endangered languages, such as to carry out fieldwork, develop a pilot project, or complete a project already begun. The maximum grant awarded is £10,000. See the table below for the application information pack.

Individual Graduate Scholarships (IGS)

IGS applications are invited from individuals seeking scholarship funding for up to 3 years. Individual Graduate Scholarship projects last for 12 to 36 months; field trips are normally involved. In addition to field trip costs, you may apply for a stipend to cover the period while undertaking field research and processing the results. A stipend provides funding to cover direct living costs and is not a salary; as such, employment-based taxes should not be claimed. See the table below for the application information pack.

Major Documentation Project (MDP)

MDP funding can cover elements including fieldwork costs, equipment, researchers' salaries, and graduate students' stipends (stipends should be included only for activities contributing to the project while in the field or processing the documentation materials). Project duration is from 6 to 36 months. Funding for these projects typically ranges from less than £40,000 up to £130,000 (the maximum is £150,000). We encourage you to submit quality proposals that provide value for money and are clearly justified. See the table below for the application information pack.

Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship (IPF)

IPF grantees are typically researchers at an early stage in their academic career (e.g. who have held a PhD less than 5 years), with qualifications in linguistics and experience in linguistic fieldwork. IPFs are available for between between 12 and 24 months. See the table below for the application information pack.

Information and application packs

Forms for 2010 are available below.

Contact information

You can email Jean McGarry, the ELDP adminstrator, at eldp@soas.ac.uk

Or write to ELDP at:

Endangered Languages Documentation Programme
School of Oriental and African Studies
Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square
London WC1H 0XG
UK