The Challenger Society Virtual Conference Award

With this new award (set up in 2021), the Challenger Society provides support to delegates attending virtual conferences and aims to cover the costs of registration and administration.

Virtual conference attendance awards (VCAAs) are available to assist postgraduate students, Masters Degree students in their 4th year, and early career researchers within their last 3 months of employment or currently unemployed in attending conferences or workshops virtually. Applicants need to be members of the Challenger Society and be based at a UK research institution. Priority is given to students/ECRs who have had a paper or poster accepted for a recognised conference. The Society cannot guarantee that an award will be made, and this should not be assumed in applying for funding elsewhere.

It is possible to apply for awards to the value of up to £250.

VCAAs cannot be made retrospectively, the application must be submitted prior to conference attendance.

During their period of study,

  • Masters Degree students in their 4th year of study may apply for one award;
  • MSc students may apply for one award;
  • PhD students may apply for two awards.
  • Early Career Researchers may apply for one award.


Please submit your application to one of the following deadlines: January 15th, April 15th, July 15th and October 15th. Each deadline will have a total budget of around £600. Monies can be rolled over if not fully used in anyone period. If you have any questions regarding the scheme, please contact Dr Sophie-Berenice Wilmes s.wilmes@bangor.ac.uk

Guidelines for applicants can be found here, and the Application form for the award is here


(page update 08-12-2021)

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