RGS Explore Grants

RGS Explore Grants

You get a one-off grant of about EUR 580 to EUR 5,800 (£500 to £5,000) for a team running an overseas expedition that advances geographical knowledge. The money is paid once, not monthly. Your total project budget must stay under about EUR 29,000 (£25,000). The grant you request must cover at least 20% of the total project cost, and equipment can take up no more than 20% of the grant. The award comes from the Royal Geographical Society in London and targets new explorers and field researchers, especially teams doing their first overseas project.

Who can apply

• Team, not individual: You apply as a team of at least three people. Everyone must be 18 or older when you apply.
• Team leader: The person leading the team lives in the UK.
• Where you go: The expedition takes place outside the UK and lasts at least four weeks in the field, ideally between April and October.
• Field of study: You do not need a geography degree, but the project must add to geographical knowledge. That means it deepens understanding of the world's environments, people and places. Plain species-mapping with no geographical insight does not count.
• Students welcome: Student teams can apply, including teams working with an academic or PhD student, as long as the project is an independent piece of field research.
• Membership: You do not need to be a member of the Society.
• Not funded: PhD fieldwork, departmental field trips, volunteering, charity fundraising and commercial ventures.

How to apply

You send the application form and a one-page CV by email by 8 January 2027 (11:59pm). Two referees also submit references: one a university academic, one a contact in the country you are visiting. Shortlisted teams are invited to an interview on 25 or 26 February 2027, and all applicants are told the outcome.

How realistic are your chances?

This grant is cut narrowly. You need a team of three, a UK-based leader, a genuine overseas field project of at least four weeks, and a clear geographical purpose. That means fewer complete applications than for open scholarships. An external panel judges originality, feasibility, team experience and safety planning, so a well-evidenced plan matters more than a polished pitch. If your team clearly fits the criteria and you show solid expedition planning, your prospects are good.