• The furtherance of archaeological knowledge in the context of the finite nature of the archaeological resource*
  • Smaller-scale standalone questions into which research might provide an original/innovative contribution to archaeological knowledge

*including applications which research archaeological sites impacted by climate change in line with the goals, objectives and actions of The Built and Architectural Heritage Climate Change Adaptation Plan (CCSAP)

This scheme is open to archaeological researchers/archaeologists, including undergraduate students, postgraduate students, and PhD candidates.

Proposals led by researchers based on the island of Ireland will be prioritised. Applications from researchers outside the island of Ireland will be examined for their feasibility on a case-by-case basis. Applicants must have no outstanding requirement to submit a report, under a statutory/consent or licence, unless they have agreed a submission date for outstanding reports and have an official Compliance Letter from NMS or HED Northern Ireland agreeing to this.

Research costs including specialist’s fees and services, materials, travel and subsistence expenses.

Salary costs of grant recipients and research team members are considered an eligible cost if, in order to participate in the project they must have their time ‘bought out’, or they must take time out from their usual employment, or would not be funded to do this work without the grant funding and are not simultaneously in receipt of another income. As the Academy can only reimburse costs which are supported by evidence of payment any request to reimburse salary costs must be supported by evidence that the salary has been paid (in the form of payslips, paid invoices etc.) from the employing body.

Applications will be considered for further research emanating from what were originally developer-led projects, provided all licensing requirements have been met in full.

Applicants must list any current sources of research funding and justify why additional funds are sought from the RIA.

  • Costs of archaeological excavations.
  • Applications for the funding of research as part of developer led or commercial excavations.
  • The grant does not fund institutional overheads, and the grant cannot be used to cover any element that should be properly ascribed to institutional overheads.
  • The purchase of items of equipment (e.g. cameras or survey equipment) that researchers would normally be expected to have are ineligible.