Nowlan Digitisation Grant scheme 2026

Kevin B. Nowlan Digitisation Grant scheme
Submission deadline: 17:00pm (GMT) on Wednesday 15th April 2026

Please carefully read the 'Guidelines for Applicants' before completing this application.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: This form must be completed in one sitting. It is advisable to prepare your report in a Word document to ensure your information is not lost should your session close unexpectedly.
2026 APPLICATION FORM
SECTION ONE: Applicant details
Name*

First NameLast Name
Email Address*
example@example.com
Address*

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityCounty

Postal / Zip Code
Phone Number*
Please enter a valid phone number.Format: (000) 000-0000.
SECTION TWO: Project details
ArchaeologyHistory
Criterion A

Applicant's experience: whether the applicant has the skills and background needed to complete the project.
2. Institution (if applicable)
3. Current Position (if applicable)
4. Please give a brief summary of your academic career to date, listing (if applicable) previous appointments, academic training (including degree name and date) and publications that would demonstrate to the panel your ability to conduct the research you are proposing (Maximum 1000 words)*
5. Relevant experience: please use this space to detail any relevant experience that would demonstrate to the panel your ability to undertake the specific project you are proposing
Criterion B

Academic merit: how original the project is and how important the digitised material could be for future research.
The digitisation of a historical or archaeological source or sources (including making it searchable and freely available online)The updating of existing digital historical or archaelogical resources to enable continued online public access
7. Please provide a title for the project *

0/100
8. Please provide a brief abstract to aid in the promotion of successful projects (Maximum of 350 words)*

0/350
9. Please provide a longer summary of the project taking into account its originality and contribution to scholarly knowledge (Maximum 1,000 words)*

0/1000
10. Please upload a letter from the copyright holder/owner of the source confirming their permission for you to digitise and make this source publicly available*

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11. Please upload a letter from the institution that will host the website for the project*

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Criterion C

Methodology: whether the proposed approach to digitisation is suitable and well thought out.
12. Please describe the proposed methodology for the project, clearly identifying all stages - from preparing metadata to transcription to presentation - as well as the software and search mechanism to be used, and the data, scanned documents and contextual information etc. that will be available on the website. You should also set out a realistic schedule, describing the different stages of the project and how they will be achieved. (Maximum 750 words)*
13. Please also include details of the form of index proposed and the rationale for it in the context of your project*
Criterion D

Feasability: whether the project can realistically be completed within the required timeframe.
14. Please outline the timeline of the proposed project taking note that all projects must be completed, and all associated reports and invoices/financial details are submitted by end May 2027*
Criterion E

Benefit of digitisation: the added value of making the material available online, or the benefit of restoring an existing digital resource for public use.
15. Please explain the significance of the proposed digitisation project. (Maximum 750 words)*

0/750
Criterion F

Expected outcomes: what the project aims to deliver and why those outcomes matter.
16. Please provide a concise list of the intended outcomes from the proposed research activity*
Section three: Previous RIA Awards/Fellowships

Please note: Only one Nowlan Digitisation grant may be held, or applied for, at any one time. An application cannot be accepted if the applicant has a report or any outstanding requirement in relation to any previous RIA grant.
17. Please give details of any research grants which you have received from the Academy within the last five years.*
Section four: References
18. Please provide the names and contact details of two referees who have confirmed that they are happy to be contacted in relation to this application*
Section five: costings
Applicants should prepare accurate costings for the proposed research expenses. Funding is offered competitively, and proposals on the margin for award may have a greater chance of success if they are accurately and modestly costed. Costs should be clearly itemised and justified in terms of research.

If the RIA is being asked to support only a proportion of the total costs, please list all the expenses connected with the research, as assessors will gauge the costs with reference to the scale of the whole project. Please indicate which costs are being sought from the Academy.

Points to note:

In assessing value for money, the working group will consider the intended outcome relative to the amount requested. However, it is appreciated that some modes of research are more expensive than others and proposals will not be discriminated against on these grounds.
19. Please upload your proposed project budget providing as much detail as possible to aid assessment.

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Subsistence Rates:

The Academy will offer no more than €2,000 per month for expenses away from home if applicable. Eligible expenses, which must be itemised and receipted include food, accommodation and local daily travel and cannot exceed the daily totals within the guidelines provided by the department of Public Expenditure and Reform: For a full list of maximum potential subsistence allowances abroad please see here: https://circulars.gov.ie/pdf/circular/per/2017/07.pdf

IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Academy does not pay per diem rates and will only cover expenses that are vouched by receipt.
Section six: research ethics
The Academy requires the research it funds be conducted in an ethical manner. It expects accurate reporting of findings and a commitment to enabling others to replicate results where possible; impartiality of researchers to the subject of the research; fair dealing in respect of other researchers and their intellectual property. Applicants should indicate whether their proposed research raises any special ethical issues.
That they have secured approval for the proposed research from their respective institutions Research Ethics Committee (or its equivalent)That they are aware of, and signed up to, their respective institutions Code of Good Research Practice.
Independent researchers without access to formal ethical scrutiny and approval should briefly describe any special ethical issues and explain how they will be addressed. Independent researchers should observe, where appropriate, the standards of research practice set out in guidelines published by scientific and learned societies, and other relevant professional bodies. All researchers should be aware of the legal requirements that regulate their work.
Diversity and inclusion monitoring (optional)
The Royal Irish Academy is committed to supporting excellence in science, humanities and social sciences and empowering the next generation of researchers and scholars. It strives for a culture of equality and inclusion in all of its activities. To ensure we continue to uphold these values in a meaningful way, and to identify areas for improvement, we believe it is essential to gather reliable data on our applicants.

We therefore kindly ask you to complete the following form, which addresses the nine protected characteristics under Irish equality legislation (Equal Status Acts 2000–2018). While we are also committed to the principles of Northern Ireland’s equality laws, this questionnaire does not include questions on political opinion, which is also a protected characteristic in Northern Ireland.

The terminology used in this form aligns, where possible, with the standards of the 2021 Census in the Republic of Ireland. All data provided will be securely stored in anonymised, statistical formats, with access restricted to authorised personnel. Your input in this monitoring is voluntary, anonymised, and used solely for statistical - not evaluative - purposes. For more information about our data protection practices, please contact us at dataprotection@ria.ie.

Your input is greatly appreciated and will help the Royal Irish Academy to assess and monitor diversity, ensuring we continue to foster an inclusive community of researchers.
Under 3030-3536-4546-5556-6566-70Over 70
FemaleMaleNon-binaryTransgenderPrefer not to sayOther
White IrishBlack IrishAsian or Asian IrishWhite non-IrishBlack non-IrishIrish traveller or RomaPrefer not to sayOther
HeterosexualBisexualHomosexualPrefer not to sayOther
NoneRoman CatholicChurch of IrelandIslamOrthodox ChristianPresbyterianPrefer not to sayOther
Single (never married or in a civil partnership)Married (first marriage)Re-marriedIn a registered civil partnershipSeparatedDivorcedWidowedPrefer not to sayOther
A parent of a person under 18 years of ageA resident primary carerA parent of a person with a disabilityPrefer not to sayNone of the aboveOther
Blindness or vision impairmentDeafness or hearing impairmentA difficulty with basic physical activities such as walking, climbing stairs, reaching, lifting or carryingAn intellectual disabilityA difficulty with learning remembering or concentratingA pyschological or emotional condition or a mental health issueA difficulty with pain, breathing or any other chronic illness or conditionPrefer not to sayNone of the aboveOther
Declaration

Please note that submitting the application form constitutes confirmation that the information provided is complete and accurate, and acceptance of all terms, conditions and notices contained in the Guidelines for Applicants. Subsequent discovery of any deliberate falsehood will automatically render the application null and void. If an award has been made, the RIA may require a full refund.

A full list of successful projects will be published on the Academy website.
I accept all terms, conditions and notices contained in the Guidelines for Applicants. The information I have provided is complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge.
I confirm that I have read and that I accept the 'DRI Deposit Terms and Conditions' [at below link]
Single Collection Terms and Conditions of Deposit (Licence version) - Digital Repository of Ireland
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Kevin B. Nowlan Digitisation Grant scheme