Breaking down financial barriers to participation at research meetings
Access career-defining genomics learning and training with Connecting Science financial support options
It’s a stark reality for scientists and academics that ongoing economic pressures are presenting increasing financial barriers for those keen to attend global research conferences or training courses. Worryingly, this serves to deepen inequities for those already poorly funded, or affected by other challenging circumstances.
As a leading provider of genomics learning and training, Wellcome Connecting Science is committed to actively breaking down barriers to participation, ensuring equitable access to our events through flexible financial support options.
We are working to ensure everyone in the global genomics community has access to the right courses and research meetings, enabling career development at the forefront of discovery science.
Read our Insights into the Experiences of Different Groups at research Conferences, to discover more about our commitment to addressing disparities in access to learning and training.
It’s important to understand that whatever career stage you’re at, our bursary scheme is accessible to you!
Michelle Bishop, Associate Director, Connecting Science learning and training programme
Reach your full professional potential with one of our financial assistance options
Below is all the information you need to understand the support we have available, and how to access it.
Conferences and training courses bursary scheme
Our event bursaries are available to anyone facing financial barriers to accessing learning and training opportunities. These bursaries cover up to 50% of the registration fee for in-person conferences or UK-based course application fees.
Bursaries for our courses held in the UK are awarded to researchers, clinicians or healthcare professionals who have been successfully selected for a course place, through our fair and impartial application process. Our aim is to to remove the financial barriers that might prevent you from accepting a course place with us, ensuring you have full access to the training opportunity already awarded to you on merit. Although bursaries for UK courses do not cover travel costs, they do make a huge difference to the overall course fee.
Our courses hosted in partner institutions in Africa, Latin America, and Asia, are fully subsidised by Connecting Science, and free to attend for eligible candidates. Travel and accommodation bursaries are also available, and these are awarded on merit.
Carers’ grant scheme
Our carers’ grants scheme covers the costs of care you would normally provide to children or a dependent, enabling you to attend one of our conferences or courses, without worrying about the additional financial burden.
This grant also covers the costs incurred for bringing a carer to one of our events, should you require assistance for yourself or an accompanying child.
We accept applications from scientists based across the globe, and you can apply for care costs up to the value of £500.
Helpful answers to common questions about our financial support
Whether you are applying for a bursary or carer’s grant, the money you are awarded at the end of the application process will never need to be repaid.
Our bursaries and carers’ grants are open to anyone facing financial barriers to attending research meetings or training courses, irrespective of your career stage.
If we receive a high number of course or conference bursary applications, we give priority to early-career researchers, PhD students, and scientists based in parts of Africa, Asia, and Latin America. However, no one should feel they are excluded from making an application, as we consider each case carefully.
Once you start the bursary application process the steps are clear and simple, and support is always available from our friendly learning and training team should you need it.
The application form for our carers’ grants is short, clear and easy to complete.
Information about how to apply for a specific course or conference bursary can be found at the bottom of each of our event information pages on our website. Look for the section labelled ‘financial assistance’.
The bursary deadline is usually earlier than the conference abstract or registration deadlines, so it’s best to take note of when the application is due, to ensure you get your submission in on time.
For certain conferences additional funding through external sponsorship is available, and this will be clearly marked on the event page, if offered.
You can access the carers’ grant application form on our website, by clicking here to reach more information on our financial support.
All applicants are required to provide a justification for how an award will support your attendance – ensuring considered and fair selection. We are keen for you to illustrate in your application what the course or conference offers you in terms of:
- Overall value to your career development.
- Potential opportunities to advance your research through collaboration.
- Opportunities for presenting your own research to practice your communications skills, and gain feedback from field leaders.
- Opportunities to network with influential members in your field.
If you are applying for a carer’s grant, we ask you to complete a very simple application form outlining your situation, and how the grant will be used to support your attendance at one of our events. This information enables us to assess your eligibility, and whether this form of funding is right for your personal circumstances. Please note that you will be expected to demonstrate the expenses for the caring duties we fund.
The application process for a bursary or a carer’s grant is considered separately from your course application, or a conference registration. A place at one of our events is never contingent on economic factors!
When applying for a course place, this means your eligibility for selection will never be impacted by your request to be considered for a bursary.
Our bursary selection committee will carefully and impartially review each application. While the majority of applications are approved, you will receive a clear explanation should you be declined.
We do not cover travel or accommodation costs for our courses held in the UK.
For our courses hosted in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, we offer some financial support to assist with travel to the host institution, and accommodation for the duration of your stay. This is awarded on merit to non-commercial applicants only.
Successful applicants will typically be informed of their award in conjunction with their course acceptance.
- Any form of additional home help required for a dependant whilst you are away.
- Nursing, medical and/or respite care necessary for a dependant whilst you are away.
- Expenses to enable a relative or carer to accompany you to one of our events, to care for dependants during the event.
- Childminder services (or equivalent) to cover extended hours after school, to enable you to arrive home later than normal.
- Care costs up to the value of £500.
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