Arts and Humanities Research Council Placement Scheme Application guidance presented by Sam Lambshead and Allie Brown

1. AHRC International
Placement Scheme
Application Guidance
Presenters
Sam Lambshead & Allie Brown, AHRC
Date
14/12/2011

2. History of the scheme
•Originally began in 2005 as the Library of
Congress (LoC) scheme, run jointly with ESRC
•National Institutes for the Humanities (NIHU),
Japan launched 2008 as a separate but
analogous AHRC only scheme
•A total of 153 awards have been made under
both schemes to date

3. Aims of the Scheme
• Provide dedicated access to the internationally
renowned research collections/ programmes/
expertise held at the four scheme institutions
•Through such access, to enhance the depth, range
and quality of research activities conducted by
scholars
•Create opportunities for networking with other
international scholars at those institutions

4. Benefits
• Placement between three and six
months (Sarai capped at 3 months)
• Access to host institute’s research
facilities and scholars/curators
• Includes flight & living costs

5. Places available
Up to:
• 25 Library of Congress
• 11 NIHU
• 10 Huntingdon
• 5 Sarai

6. Who can apply?
• Existing AHRC/ESRC* PhD or early career award
holders or a research assistant on a funded project.
• Award must be ‘live’
• IPS placement must be within the period of the AHRC
award – no extra time awarded
• Placements must take place between 1st October 2012
and 30th September 2013
• Full and part-time; full and fees-only
*ESRC applicants may only apply to LoC scheme

7. Assessment
Joint process:
- Applications peer reviewed by host institutions
- AHRC make funding decision – outcomes 1st August 2012
• Proposed research must be demonstrably relevant to
the collections/ programmes/ expertise
• Must ‘add value’ to the existing work of the applicant
• Personal development opportunities through networking
with the institute’s other research scholars
• Effective use of the candidate’s time and at appropriate
point in research
• Language expertise where appropriate (NIHU)

8. How to apply
•Scheme will go live in January 2012
•Deadline 15th March 2012
•Applications submitted electronically online via the
RCUK Je-S system
•There are two main parts to the form
•Applicant section
•Supervisor/mentor Statement
•Application is submitted by the supervisor/mentor
•Be aware that submitting the application to
your institution is not the same as submitting it
to AHRC!

9. General Advice
•Quality of applications received is high, so competition is tough
•2011 had a 63% success rate, though the overwhelming majority of
applications received a fundable grade.
•Clearly identify the collections/research programmes/expertise you
wish to access
•Time spent at the institution must be of appropriate length
•Make a case that the visit will take place at an appropriate time
•Can address any potential networking or personal development
opportunities.
•It must be clear that the work to be done relates directly to and
enhances your existing project

10. Contact
ips@ahrc.ac.uk