A group of undergrad students taking part in the BISA climate sim 2024

Donate to the BISA AspIRing Scholars Fund

Fostering the future of International Relations scholarship.

Through our conferences, journals, working groups and Postgraduate Network (PGN), we play a crucial role in advancing research, sharing knowledge and influencing policymakers. The new BISA AspIRing Scholars Fund is designed to empower the next generation of early-career researchers and PhD students by supporting research - whether this be via research grants or funding to attend conferences.

In these challenging times, new scholars face barriers to pursuing their ambitions. Every donation makes a real difference, helping to cover:

  • Travel and accommodation for workshops and conferences
  • Research grants for individuals and groups
  • Grants for those in exceptional circumstances.

With your support, we can ensure that talented scholars get the opportunities they need to thrive.

Ways to donate

Online

Make a one-off donation right here on our website.

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If you pay tax in the UK, BISA can reclaim the basic rate tax (25p for every £1) you donate - at no extra cost to you. Gift Aid is reclaimed by the charity from the tax you pay for the current tax year. Your home address is needed to identify you as a current UK taxpayer.

Please tick this box if you are happy for your name to be associated with the donation. We would like to, for example, thank donors in the monthly BISA newsletter.

Direct debit

Automate a regular donation by filling in a direct debit form. 

Once you've completed the form, send an email to office@bisa.ac.uk stating the amount you'd like to donate and how often. You'll be notified three working days before each payment is taken.

Leave a gift in your Will

Leaving just 1% of your estate to BISA allows you to make a meaningful impact while ensuring your loved ones inherit the remaining 99%. Of course, you can choose to give more if you wish.

Gifts in Wills to BISA are free of inheritance tax, and any donations you make during your lifetime can be tax-efficient through Gift Aid. As a registered charity, we are committed to using every gift to transform lives and further the field of international relations. Including BISA in your Will is simple. Just share our charity name (The British International Studies Association) and number (1151260) with your solicitor.

If you’d like to discuss how your legacy could support BISA’s future, or need further guidance about making a legacy gift in your Will, please don’t hesitate to contact us: office@bisa.ac.uk. Together, we can ensure that the next generation of scholars have the tools they need to thrive.

See how some of our previous funds have helped to empower the next generation of scholars.

Gift aid and tax relief

Great news! If you gift aid your donation, it will work extra hard - boosting your gift by 25% at no extra cost to you. That means a £100 donation becomes £125 for the cause!

But here’s something many people don’t realise: If you’re a higher-rate taxpayer (40% or 45%), you can claim back the difference between the basic rate (20%) and what you actually pay. That means you get tax relief on your donation - a win-win!

You can claim this back through your Self-Assessment tax return or by asking HMRC to adjust your tax code.

"The BISA Founders' Fund provided me with the crucial support I needed in the final stages of writing up my thesis. It relieved some of the financial pressure and stresses which accompany the last few months of the PhD, helping to finance my living expenses and other maintenance costs. I'm very grateful to receive this fund—it has made a huge difference to getting me to the finish line."
Julia Carver, Oxford University, DPhil Candidate in International Relations
Julia Carver Headshot
"I was delighted and deeply appreciated the funding, which I perceived as more than a personal award but as a great contribution to feminist scholarship, as my research is Critical Feminist Intervention in Sri Lankan Peacebuilding. The fund was used to cover my daily expenses during my writing-up period, saving me time and energy from the hard labour work at the cake factory, where I had been employed during my PhD study. This support empowered me to successfully complete my PhD thesis, which brought out the voices of an oppressed group of women in the Global South. I am now pleased to share that I graduated with my PhD in Political Science and am looking forward to my early-career stage."
Aruni Samarakoon, University of Hull
Aruni Samarakoon in a beige suit jacket and black top
"I am deeply grateful to BISA for the funding. It has helped me to purchase equipment that will facilitate the completion of my doctoral dissertation at the University of Cambridge. This is an assistance I will forever cherish."
Promise Frank Ejiofor, University of Cambridge
Photo of Promise Frank Ejiofor