Rules and guidance
Scope and purpose
The Cromwell Association was established in 1937 in order to advance the public
understanding of the life and legacy of Oliver Cromwell (1599-1658) and the wider
history of the seventeenth century. The purpose of the Research Grant is to further a
charitable purpose of the Association by providing encouragement and support to
postgraduate students engaged in research on a topic relevant to the Association’s core
objective of promoting understanding of Cromwell and his times.
Eligibility
We welcome applications from postgraduate students currently enrolled at a university
in the UK or overseas, and also non-affiliated researchers, who are seeking to conduct
research on an aspect of the life and legacy of Oliver Cromwell, or a topic related to the
British Civil Wars, the Interregnum (1649-1660) or the Restoration period.
Funding amount
It is the Association’s intention to award grants from a total fund of £1,500. Applicants
can apply for the full sum or for any amount below the total. The grants are intended
for expenses associated with research, such as travel, accommodation etc. but not, for
example, to write up material already researched, to pay publication fees, or to
contribute towards tuition fees.
Completing the application
Applications can be downloaded in either PDF or DOCX format here…
Application (docx)
Application (pdf)
Whichever format you use, please note there are two template application forms, one for postgraduate students and one for non-affiliated researchers. Complete the one which is appropriate.
Applicants are asked to provide a brief summary of their proposed research (we suggest
600 to 800 words) and to provide a detailed breakdown of costs, indicating the amount
of funds being sought and how it will be spent.
Applicants are also asked to provide an indication of the intended benefits/outcomes of the grant (including any outputs, such as conference papers, articles, monographs, podcasts, or other digital media).
Applicants should provide contact details of an academic or professional referee who
has knowledge of the area of research and who, if approached, will be able to support
the reason for the application for a grant. However, in the case of non-affiliated
researchers this is not compulsory.
Completed applications must be sent via email to [email protected] no later than 30th April 2026. Please state “Cromwell Association Research Grant” as the subject of your email.
Applicants will be notified of rejected and/or unsuccessful applications. An unsuccessful application may be re-submitted in improved form in a subsequent round. The grant will be made available to the successful applicant(s) in late May 2026.
Administration
All applications will be considered by a sub-committee of academics from the Council
of the Cromwell Association. Awards will be made strictly on merit based on the
content of the Application, and on no other criteria. The amount of money and timing
of the awards may be varied by the Association’s Council at its discretion.
Successful applicants are also asked to provide a report on the research conducted to
the Cromwell Association’s Council within a year of receipt of the grant award.
Successful applicants will also receive one year’s free membership of the Cromwell
Association and will also be invited to contribute a paper, based on an aspect of their
research, for publication in the Association’s journal, Cromwelliana. Membership of
the Society, though welcome, will not be a matter of an advantage over applicants who
are not Members.
All matters and queries relating to the Cromwell Association Research Grant should be
addressed to the grant administrator via [email protected].