The travelling scholarship scheme is designed to strengthen collaborations and further training among early career researchers. Society members and associates can apply for a travelling scholarship of up to £2,500, which can be used for the purpose of travelling to international meetings when combined with visiting overseas research departments, laboratories, and/or clinics. The deadlines for 2025 will be announced shortly.
Eligibility
Members or associates are eligible if they are in the early–mid part of their career and not more than five years post-doctoral. Preference will be given to applicants who:
- combine their visit(s) to a laboratory(ies) and/or clinic(s) and/or to meeting with an expert associated with their field of addiction*
- are presenting their own scientific work at a meeting(s) they wish to attend
- are active members or associates of the SSA, as evidenced by attendance at our PhD Symposium or Annual Conference
*Shorter, simpler trips will be considered. Trips which include part-funding by other non-industry parties will also be considered.
Applications must be made at least 30 days before a planned trip in order to allow trustees sufficient time to review applications, query, clarify, and agree any modifications to the trip before an award is made.
The SSA encourages applications from people with lived experience and from a diverse range of backgrounds.
Information on eligibility and conflicts of interest
You are ineligible for this scheme if you are an employee of the alcohol, cannabis, gambling, nicotine, pharmaceutical, or tobacco industries. This exclusion also applies if you are an employee of an Industry Social Aspect Organisation*.
You are ineligible for this scheme if you have received funding of any kind, either directly from, or through representatives of, the alcohol, cannabis (except pharmaceutical), gambling, nicotine (except pharmaceutical), or tobacco industries. This exclusion also applies if you have received funding from an Industry Social Aspect Organisation*.
To be eligible, you must provide details about all potential conflicts of interest when requested. This information will be used to inform decision-making and applications may be rejected if the SSA deems there to be a risk of bias, ethical concerns, or a risk to the reputation of the SSA.
*Industry Social Aspect Organisations are those that are funded by addictive product industries – sometimes through secondary organisations – that often have a stated purpose to reduce the harms of those addictive products.
How it works
If you are successful, you will be asked to submit an expenses claim after you have taken your trip, and then coordinate with the SSA’s Website Editor to write a report or a blog about the trip for the website.
How to apply
Deadlines for 2025 will be announced shortly, at which point an online form will be available.
Please ensure your application includes the following:
- letter from tutor/line manager (preferably a member of the SSA) to confirm organisational support of the proposed study activity: this letter should show the benefit to the applicant or organisation, the employer’s position regarding funding, support for the time required to undertake the visit and associated work, and an opinion of the applicant’s ability to complete the activity
- fully costed and itemised budget
- letter of confirmation from employing authority that study leave will be granted if application is successful
- copy of submitted abstract
- supporting statement from proposed host centre (including letter of invitation where appropriate)
- brief CV, highlighting degrees, awards, and publications
Only costs personally incurred can be claimed for. The SSA will not reimburse costs paid by a third party.
Application assessment
The travelling scholarship coordinator and one other trustee will assess the application. The coordinator’s decision will be reported to the Board of Trustees, and applicants will be informed of the decision shortly after.
