The AHRC has expressed its commitment to individual researchers in its Strategic Plan 2007-2012. As part of this commitment, we are currently considering the best approach for supporting the individual scholar.

The AHRC currently supports individual researchers through the Research Leave scheme which provides salary and associated costs for periods of three or four months, to enable an individual researcher to bring a significant research project to completion. This scheme has remained essentially unchanged since its introduction in 1998. The most recent change was brought about by the introduction of Full Economic Costing in 2005. Since this date, applicants have applied for their salary costs for the AHRC leave period rather than replacement teaching costs.

In recent years, several issues have been identified with the Research Leave scheme which has led us to look again at our support for the individual researcher. One of the issues we are exploring is whether the Research Leave scheme in its current form is the best way of supporting high quality individual research and what value the scheme adds to QR funding.

We are currently seeking the views of the arts and humanities community to identify how we can best support individual researchers. A consultation event was held on  Monday 28 July 2008 at the British Academy, 10 Carlton House Terrace, London, SW1Y 5AH. 

For further information about this eventor consultation please contact Katherine Barkwith.