Conferences Experience

Attending conferences offers a chance for students to meet and talk to leading experts in their area of biology as well as network with scientists in their field.

Conferences can be held annually and some member organisations offer conference grants or travel awards to support students in attending these. They are normally competitive and need to be applied for at least a month in advance of the conference, below are details:

The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour (ASAB) – Conference Grants

To help postgraduate students, and others, attend ASAB conferences.

Eligibility: Applicants must be ASAB members or have applied for membership.

Award: Awards will provide a contribution towards the cost of accommodation and meals at the conference and the cost of travel to and from the conference, up to a maximum grant of £400.

Application Deadline: Must be received by 1^st March for the Easter meeting, 1^st July for the Summer meeting and 1^st November for the Winter meeting.

Biochemical Society – Student Travel Grants

Available for you to attend a Biochemical Society Focused Meeting, Workshop, Annual Symposium, Young Life Scientists' Symposium or a Biochemical Society- supported Independent Meeting.

Award: The maximum grant available for a Focused Meeting or Annual Symposium is £150 in the UK and £250 overseas.

British Andrology Society (BAS) – Travel Awards

BAS Travel Awards are available to successful applicants for travel to national and international conferences - so apply today!

Award: Maximum award value per application is £250.

Application Deadline: 1^st August

British Mycological Society – Awards for Young Members (Under 25 Years Of Age)

The awards take the form of a voucher giving discount on the accommodation and other charges set out on any booking form for a meeting or foray of the society. Travel expenses will not be met.

Application Deadline: Must be received at least 2 clear months before the meeting.

British Pharmacological Society – The Bain Memorial Fund

Provides bursaries and travel grants to support the attendance of undergraduate, postgraduate and post-doctoral members of the BPS at pharmacology-related symposia, conferences and meetings.

Application Deadline: Received between 6-26 weeks prior to event.

British Society for Neuroendocrinology – Student Travel Grants

To give travel money to enable postgraduate students to attend the annual BSN meetings in the UK.

Award: £150.

Application deadline: After the annual meeting.

Experimental Psychology Society (EPS) – Grindley Grants

Finances travel to any academic conference relevant to the applicant's work that falls within the domain of EPS interests as defined by the content of the Society's journals.

Award: Limited to £500.

Laboratory Animal Science Association – Bursaries

Available for individuals who wish to attend meetings, conferences or for other travel (in which a substantial proportion of the activity must be devoted to science relating to the use, care and/or welfare of laboratory animals). Postgraduate students or those with limited funding are encouraged to apply.

Award: Up to £1000.

Physiological Society – Travel Grants

To attend and present at a scientific conference. (Please note: Undergraduates are not required to present work).

Award: Maximum award value of £100 for Undergraduate Associates per calendar year.

Application Deadline: Submission deadlines are on the last day of each month. Applications must be received in advance of the deadline that falls at least one month before the event takes place.

Society for Applied Microbiology – Conference Studentships

Is it for me? - if you are student member who would like to attend a Society meeting but cannot afford the fees or travelling expenses.

Award & Application Deadline: Contact the Society for more details.

Society for Applied Microbiology – Scientific Meeting Grant

The purpose of the Scientific Meeting Grant is to financially assist members to attend an appropriate applied microbiology scientific meeting. Why not apply for the fund?

Award: Maximum grant available is £300

Application Deadline: Six weeks prior to the event.

Society for Endocrinology – Annual Meeting

Members of the Society are invited to put forward candidates for a limited number of free places where the candidate is a trainee scientist, clinician or nurse who has not yet chosen endocrinology as their specialty.

Award: The package is worth up to a maximum of £750.

Application Deadline: See website.

Society for Experimental Biology - Conference Travel grants

The Society for Experimental Biology offers all its members a discounted registration fee to attend its conferences. In particular it student rate is very generous with associated travel grants available to those presenting a paper or poster. The SEB also offers up to £500 to attend any conference (including non-SEB) – we have 4 rounds of applications per year.

Society for General Microbiology (SGM) – Life Sciences Careers Conferences

Undergraduate student members of the SGM are eligible to apply for careers conference grants to attend the Life Science Careers Conferences (co-organised by the Society of Biology and learned societies. Grants cover the registration fee and £25 towards travel.

Award: Conference registration fee and a contribution towards travel expenses (maximum £25).

Application Deadline: Email for more information.

Society for General Microbiology (SGM) – SGM Scientific Conferences

Undergraduate student members of the SGM are eligible for free registration at SGM scientific conferences and those members who are presenting a scientific poster (presenting either their project work or perhaps their vacation studentship project work) are eligible to apply for a grant to attend the conference (which contributes towards accommodation and travel costs).

Award: See website.

Application Deadline: Email for more information.