Solidarity Fund

As a Society, BRISMES is dedicated to encouraging and promoting the scholarly study of the Middle East and North Africa. The BRISMES Solidarity Fund was established in 2020 to help ensure that participation in this scholarly exchange is open to as wide and diverse a group of researchers as possible.  

The Fund reflects BRISMES’s commitment to inclusivity and to supporting the work of Global South, early career and doctoral researchers whose work is vital to the field of Middle East Studies and its future. By reducing financial barriers to participation, the Solidarity Fund strengthens our collective ability to discuss and share knowledge about the region. 

The Solidarity Fund is supported by member donations and BRISMES’s own contribution. The latter totals 25 per cent of all income from conference registration fees. While resources are limited, we seek to allocate funds in a way that is both fair and aligned with BRISMES’s aims of fostering collaboration and scholarly exchange.  

Eligibility and Priorities 

The Fund is open to BRISMES members attending the annual conference in person and who fall into one of the following priority categories:  

1) early-career scholars (students or those within 5 years of their PhDs);  

2) scholars in precarious employment; and  

3) members based in the Middle East and North Africa without institutional funding.  

Allocation Process  

From 2026 onwards, allocation will proceed in two stages: 

• Priority check: All applications will be assessed by the Solidarity Fund Committee to determine whether they fall into at least one of the priority categories listed above. 
• Random allocation: Where the number of priority applications exceeds available funds, bursaries will be allocated randomly among eligible applicants. 

This approach ensures that funds are directed towards those most in need while also reducing bias and promoting fairness among equally eligible applicants. We regret that not all applicants can be funded. 

Bursary amounts  

£200 for applicants based in the UK and Republic of Ireland;  

£400 for applicants based outside the UK and Republic of Ireland.  

Successful applicants will also have their conference registration fees waived. Bursaries can be used to cover conference-related expenses, including travel, visa, and accommodation costs. To receive reimbursement, applicants must submit receipts for these expenses, up to the maximum value of the bursary.