You can apply if you are an early career researcher, defined as follows: 

• A PhD student enrolled at a university offering RTPI-accredited courses. 
  
  
• A researcher within 5 years of receiving your PhD or equivalent professional training (measured from the date of successful PhD viva to the point of the RTPI’s receipt of your proposal) who is also: 
  • based at a university offering RTPI- accredited courses, or 
  • not enrolled or based at a university offering RTPI-accredited courses but a member of the RTPI (excluding affiliate membership). 
    
    
• Previous applicants and recipients may apply again if they are still eligible. We particularly encourage proposals from applicants who have not received this grant before. 
  
  
• NB: If you have spent time away from research within the last 5 years (e.g. for a career break, maternity leave, long-term sick leave), you may also apply. We will take this into account when considering your research proposal. 

If you are unsure about eligibility, or suitable uses of the grant money, please email research@rtpi.org.uk  

The maximum grant sum is £10,000 over 12 months.  

Applicants are asked to provide a project timeline indicating how they will complete their research project within the 12-month grant period.  

Proposals should demonstrate that RTPI funds are sought for a clearly defined, discrete piece of research which will have an identifiable outcome. 

We encourage proposals which demonstrate value to RTPI members, regions and networks.  

We also encourage proposals which include a case study or focus located geographically within at least one of the following English regions: North West, North East, West Midlands, South West, South East. 

Use of funds 

ECR grants may be used for: 

• paying for the lead researcher’s time; 

• hiring a Research Assistant; 

• facilitating data collection and conducting data analysis; 

• participating in workshops or conferences which advance the research; 
• travel to study sites, workshops or conferences. 

We encourage proposals which demonstrate support (financial or other) from researchers’ host institutions or academic departments.  

Funds may be used to carry out additional research activities for already-funded research schemes (e.g., ESRC or UKRI funding), so long as those activities produce a discrete standalone output. 

However, ECR grants may not be used: 

• solely for attendance at conferences or workshops where ECR grants are sought for topping up existing funds from other sources; 

• solely for travel; 

• for travel where there is no planned activity to meet a clearly specified research objective.  

Dissemination 

To support the research process and maximise benefits to the researcher and the planning profession, a range of dissemination activities and outputs are expected.  

These include: 

• presenting at a mid-project progress webinar in July/August 2026 

• presenting at the UK-Ireland Planning Research Conference in Sept 2026 

• presenting at a webinar / seminar led by an RTPI funding region in Nov 2026 

• writing a project report on your research aims, methods and findings 

• writing a blog project summary for your RTPI webpage 

Support and Mentoring 

Ongoing project support will be provided to ECR grant recipients by the RTPI Practice and Research Team.  

This support will be provided through: 

• keeping in regular contact with recipients via email; 

• initial project inception meeting and further project check-in meetings; 

• mid-project progress webinar with grant cohort and representatives of the RTPI funding regions in July/August 2026 (see ‘Dissemination’, above); 

• informal check-in at the 2026 UK-Ireland Planning Research Conference; 

• mentoring from an academic peer with relevant expertise (where possible); 

• providing feedback on your draft and final project report; 

• promoting your work via RTPI channels (website, bulletins, social media) 

Terms and Conditions 

• Full submissions must be received by 26 October 2025 at 23:59.   

• We reserve the right to claw back funds if researchers fail to deliver their agreed outputs within the agreed timeline. 

• The RTPI reserves the right to share submissions and entry forms with our assessment panel of RTPI members.   

• Submitted material will be retained electronically by the RTPI.   
• The RTPI is not liable for any costs you incur submitting this entry.    

Applications will be assessed primarily (though not solely) by reference to the research objectives set out in the 2022-2024 RTPI Research Strategy. Applicants are strongly encouraged to demonstrate how their proposed research project meets the following five objectives of the RTPI Research Strategy: 

Relevance 

How does the proposed research project address important issues faced by practitioners, policymakers and wider society? 

Impact 

How does the proposed research project advance knowledge across sectors? How will it help delivering information and expertise required   to policymakers and practitioners to deliver positive planning outcomes? 

Promoting the value of planning 

How does the proposed research project advocate the importance of planning and planners as essential to address current challenges? 

Improving Planning Practice 

How will the proposed research project enhance skills within the profession and beyond? 

Advancing Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity (EDI) 

How does the proposed project ensure that EDI is integrated at every stage of the research process? 

Please download and complete the application form and return it via email to research@rtpi.org.uk