The Barakat Trust Grants

The 2026 Barakat Trust Grant Cycle Has Closed

Every year The Barakat Trust offers various types of grants to support heritage preservation, research, education and more. Explore this page for information on how to apply, eligibility criteria, and the scope of our grants. Please also visit the detailed sections below and browse our FAQs section to guide you through the application process.

Please only consider applying if you meet the criteria in the 'Scope of Awards' webpage.

Announcements of the 2026 Barakat Trust grantees will be made by the 31st May 2026.

Applications for our 2027 grant cycle will open on 1st January 2027.

who can apply
how to apply
scope of awards
types of grants
apply for grants
faq

Questions & Answers Sessions

We hold six Q&A sessions (in Arabic and English) between January and March of every year so applicants can ask questions about The Barakat Trust Grants or the application process. See our Events Page during this period to book the free online events.

Find a Q&A

What do our grant categories cover?

Publications (A4 Grant)

Studentships & Scholarships (A1, A2, B1, B2, B3 Grants)

Major projects: fieldwork, research, exhibitions, conservation, digitisation, training, dissemination (A3 Grant)

who can apply

1
Individuals
2
Registered charities
3
Registered community interest companies
4
Registered charitable incorporated organisations
5
Social enterprises
6
Education institutions including universities
7
Museums, libraries, and archives
8
Companies

We fund individual and institutional efforts to promote and preserve artistic culture and heritage related to the Islamic world as outlined in our Scope of Awards.

While we have a long track record of supporting projects and initiatives driven by individuals, including but not limited to research trips, publications, and training opportunities, individuals applying for grants from The Barakat Trust need to identify an institution to which grant monies can be transferred on their behalf.

We cannot make transfers to personal bank accounts but are strongly committed to the support of individual professional development and projects led by individuals.

We comply with AML and CTF regulations to maintain transparency and integrity in cross-border transactions.

For more information about our requirements for transfers of funds please contact us at applications@barakat.org

how to apply

1
Download the correct type of application form

Select the correct application particular to the grant category for which you wish to apply. Applications can be downloaded from the application subsection within each grant section.

If you intend to apply to more than one grant category you will need to submit the appropriate application form for that category. Only applications submitted using the correct application form will be considered.

2
Gather all the supporting documents required

Details of how to do this, and what supporting documents to include, are listed on the appropriate application form.

3
Have two referees willing to submit letters to support your applications

Please ask your referees to submit their references to our online reference letter platform here: https://barakat.org/submit-reference-letter/.

Reference letters should be submitted by the deadline for each grant category as follows:
The deadline for A1, A2, A4, B1, B2, and B3 grant categories is 31 March 2026.
The deadline for A3 grant categories is 15 March 2026.

Please note:
- We do not accept reference letters via email. Referees must submit their letters to our online reference letter platform.
- Applications not supported by two referees before the deadline will not be accepted.

4
Save as a pdf files the completed form and supporting documents

Please include your name and type of document when naming the pdf document. For example, K.Saleh_ApplicationForm , or K.Saleh_SampleOfWork

5
Submit your application and supporting documents

Submit your documents on the applications page by the deadline specified the grant category you are applying for.

31 March 2026 is the deadline for all grant categories with the exception of the A3 and B2 grant categories. 

The A3 Grant Category has two deadlines: 15 February 2026 for submitting an ‘A3 Expression of Interest Form’; then, shortlisted applicants will submit their full A3 applications on 15 March 2026.

The B2 Grant Category has two deadlines: 1st March 2026 for submitting an ‘B2 Expression of Interest Form’; then, shortlisted applicants will submit their full B2 applications on 31 March 2026.

Your submission should include the application form and supporting documents requested in your particular form.

Please note that every year we get more applications than we can fund; hence, we regret not being able to consider any incomplete or late applications after the deadline.

Before you apply

Overview

Before applying, please make sure you have carefully read the pages Who Can Apply and Types of Grants we support. We are unable to fund work that does not help us meet our grants criteria as identified by Types of Grants we support.

Additionally, please read our Frequently Asked Questions page. If you are still in doubt, you can register to attend one of our upcoming Q&A sessions here!

Attend one of our Online ‘Question and Answer’ sessions

Online Question and Answer (Q&A) sessions will be organised by The Barakat Trust in both English and Arabic to help answer any queries prospective applicants may have.

To register to attend one of our Q&A session please visit our Grants home page. Or you can visit our events page to attend our Q&A sessions or any of our events visit our Upcoming Events page

After you apply

How the application process works

Phase one

Once The Barakat Trust receives your application, we will assess if all requirements have been met. This includes checking if the application is complete; that it meets our criteria; has been submitted on time; and includes all required supporting documents and two references.

Phase two

When all the above has been met, your application will be referred to The Barakat Trust’s Academic Advisory Committee.

The principal criterion of assessment is academic merit and significance. Other criteria include budget, feasibility, and dissemination of results.

Phase three

Every year, The Barakat Trust receives applications for excellent and deserving projects that are more than it is able to fund. Therefore, we strongly encourage applicants to apply to as many funding bodies as possible, and not only to The Barakat Trust.

Once decisions have been made by the committee, all applicants will be informed in writing of the outcome of their applications as soon as possible after the grants meeting.

The decision of the Academic Advisory Committee is final.

Please note that, because of the early date of Ramadan in 2026, applicants are unlikely to learn the outcome before the end of May 2026.

Notes of finances

Many of our supporters place no restrictions upon the use of their donations. However, some donate in the form of religious alms-giving known as zakat. Such zakat-alms may only be distributed to Muslim recipients, and that is why some categories of grants are restricted to Muslim applicants.

Please note that non-Muslim applicants are encouraged to apply for zakat funds for distribution to Muslim recipients (e.g. a non-Muslim applicant may apply for zakat funds to support Muslim staff or trainees).

Scope of Awards

1
Research on Islamic Art, Architecture, and Archaeology

Research into the history of the art and architecture, and the archaeology and material culture of Islamic societies, including archaeological and other fieldwork, and research trips

2
Conservation and Restoration of Buildings and Sites

The conservation, preservation, restoration, and presentation to the public of artefacts, buildings and archaeological sites produced by Islamic societies

3
Preservation and Digitisation of Artefacts and Manuscripts

The work of libraries, museums and other public collections in the conservation, documentation, and presentation of artefacts and manuscripts produced by Islamic societies in their broadest sense, including the digitisation of archives and collections, and the training of conservation and curatorial staff

4
Organising Events for Further Historical Research

The organisation of events intended to further research in the history of the art, architecture, archaeology, and material culture of Islamic societies, including colloquia and conferences, lectures, seminars and workshops, exhibitions, and attendance at such events

Please only consider applying if you meet the criteria in the Scope of Awards.

For grant-related queries contact us at: applications@barakat.org

Please Note: Apportionment of funds – Some of our donations are Zakat (alms traditionally given to support Muslim communities) while others are general charitable donations whose uses are unrestricted. The restrictions outlined in some of the grant categories relate to the nature of the charitable donations we receive.

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    types of grants

    A1
    A2
    A3
    A4
    B1
    B2
    B3

    The Barakat Trust has various grant categories. Each category has its own separate application form and specific guidelines.

    If you are applying to more than one category of grant you will need to submit the appropriate application for each category.

    We regret that we can only consider applications submitted using the correct application form.

    Once we open our next grant cycle (in 2027), applications for each category will be made available under the application subsection within each grant section.

    To submit your application and supporting documents, you will go to the Application subsection within each grant section below and submit the documents by the deadline; usually no later than midnight GMT on 31 March of each year with the exception of the A3 and B2 categories which have different deadlines. 

    Before making an application, please read carefully the sections Who Can Apply and How to Apply. If you have any questions, visit our Frequently Asked Questions section. If still in doubt, you can attend one of our upcoming online Q&A sessions in both English and Arabic (dates to be confirmed in January 2027).

    Explore all of our grants below:
    A1

    Barakat International Studentship

    Overview

    One scholarship of up to £25,000 to a student from the Islamic world who has already been accepted on a taught Masters courses in a subject relevant to the history of Islamic art and architecture and/or the study of Islamic archaeology, material culture and/or heritage.

    Students MUST demonstrate a clear focus on at least one of the above subjects in order to be considered for this grant. Prospective applicants who are unsure about the relevance of their proposed course of study are strongly advised to contact the Barakat Trust before applying.

    Applicants must provide evidence of acceptance before any grant can be made.

    Notes of finances

    The grant may be spent on fees or living expenses or a combination of both. Where a student has been accepted on a two-year course, the grant may be awarded or renewed for the second year of the course, on the condition that the student demonstrates outstanding performance during the first year of the course.

    Applicants are advised that grants cannot be paid directly to personal bank accounts. Grants can be paid to the institution which an applicant belongs or the institution at which an applicant is applying to conduct research or to study. Whichever is the case, a representative of the institution, to which the payment will be made, will be required to affirm the cooperation and support of the institution on the application form.

    Important Information

    • A1 Submission Deadline: 31 March 2026
    • Deadline for Referees to submit reference letters online (here): 31 March 2026
    • Information on the application process: attend one of our Q&A sessions (Arabic or English) 
    • Application enquiries: please only contact us at applications@barakat.org
    • Announcement of results will only be made on the 31st of May, 2026

     

    Downloading & Submitting your A1 application

    Click on the ‘Download‘ button and enter your email to access the application form.

    Important! Before filling out your downloaded application, you must first save it on your device (via “save as” or “duplicate”). Otherwise, the application will not allow you to enter your information in the required fields.

    Applications / expression of interest currently closed for this grant.
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    A2

    Barakat Postgraduate Student & Early Career Award

    Overview

    Postgraduate students, early career professionals, and early career scholars who were awarded a doctorate after 30 June 2021, may apply for grants with an upper limit of £2500 towards the costs of travel for fieldwork, research and study relating to:

    1. History of the art, architecture, and material culture of the Islamic world before circa 1920 CE
    2. Archaeological investigation of the Islamic world
    3. Conservation of artefacts, buildings and material culture produced in or for the Islamic world before circa 1920 CE
    4. Libraries, museums, and other public institutions exhibiting the art and material culture of the Islamic world before circa 1920 CE
    5. Education and training associated with (1) to (4) above
    6. Conferences, exhibitions, and publications associated with (1) to (4) above

    Notes of finances

    Applicants are advised that grants cannot be paid directly to personal bank accounts. Grants can be paid to the institution which an applicant belongs or the institution at which an applicant is applying to conduct research or to study.

    Whichever is the case, a representative of the institution, to which the payment will be made, will be required to affirm the cooperation and support of the institution on the application form.

    Important Information

    • A2 Submission Deadline: 31 March 2026
    • Deadline for Referees to submit reference letters online (here): 31 March 2026
    • Information on the application process: please attend one of our Q&A sessions (Arabic or English) 
    • Application enquiries: please only contact us at applications@barakat.org
    • Announcement of results will be made on the 31st of May, 2026

     

    Downloading and Submitting the A2 application

    Click on the ‘Download‘ button and enter your email to access the application form.

    Important! Before filling out your downloaded application, you must first save it on your device (via “save as” or “duplicate”). Otherwise, the application will not allow you to enter your information in the required fields.

    Applications / expression of interest currently closed for this grant.
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    A3

    Barakat Major Awards

    Including Digital Projects, Conservation, and Conservation Training

    Overview

    Scholars normally attached to research institutions, curators, and heritage professionals may apply for grants with an upper limit of £10,000 for fieldwork, research, study, exhibitions, conservation and documentation projects, and training of professionals in fields associated with history, heritage, conservation and archaeology relating to:

    1. History of the art, architecture, and material culture of the Islamic world before circa 1920 CE
    2. Archaeological investigation of the Islamic world. Please note: Grants for archaeology projects are normally awarded for a) the first year of an archaeological project, as a start-up grant, or b) for a clearly-defined component or sub-project within a larger archaeological investigation. The Trust will not normally support the same archaeological project for a number of consecutive seasons.”
    3. Conservation of artefacts, buildings and material culture produced in or for the Islamic world before circa 1920 CE
    4. Digital and Digitisation Projects that focus on disseminating or making the heritage and material culture of the Islamic world more accessible to various audiences. For example, this can include broader types of digital content such as video recordings of crafting or conservation processes.
    5. Exhibitions in libraries, museums, and other public institutions to present the art and material culture of the Islamic world before circa 1920 CE
    6. Education and Training associated with the points 1 to 5
    7. Dissemination of Knowledge through conferences, exhibitions and publications associated with points 1 to 5

    For this grant category (A3), scholars are normally expected to be attached to research institutions, including but not restricted to universities, museums, and libraries.

    Notes of finances

    Applicants are advised that grants cannot be paid directly to personal bank accounts and must instead be paid either to:

    1. the institution to which an applicant belongs; or
    2. to the institution at or through which an applicant is applying to conduct research or to study; or
    3. in the case of independent researchers, the grants can be paid to an approved organisation by the Barakat Trust and which is relevant to the applicant’s field of work and which is willing to receive the funds on the applicant’s behalf. This can include any relevant organisation such as but not limited to: companies, registered charities, registered community interest companies, registered charitable incorporated organisations, social enterprises, educational institutions including universities, museums, libraries, and archives).

    In all cases above, a representative of the institution to which the payment will be made will be required to affirm by email or a letter the cooperation and support of the entity that will receive the funds on their behalf. Please read our Who Can Apply section for further information on grant payments.

    All applicants will receive 90% payment at the start of their grant, with 10% paid on presentation of an acceptable final report and an actual expenditure form supported by receipts and/or documentation.

    Important Information

    Deadlines: the A3 grant category has two deadlines:

    – First deadline: for submitting the A3 ‘Expression of Interest‘ is 15 February 2026

    – Second deadline: If your expression of interest is strong and relevant to our scope of interest, then you will be sent, via email, the full A3 grant application to fill and submit online with supporting documents by 15 March 2026.

    • Information on the application process: please attend one of our Q&A sessions (Arabic or English) 
    • Application enquiries: please only contact us at applications@barakat.org
    • Announcement of results will be made on the 31st of May, 2026

     

    Downloading and Submitting the A3 Expression of Interest Form

    Please download the A3 Expression of Interest Form (EOI Form) here and submit it by the 15th of February 2026. The full A3 grant application form will be sent via email to applicants who have been invited to proceed to the next phase. 

    To download the A3 EOI Form, click on the download button and enter your email to access the form.

    **Important! Before filling out your downloaded form, you must first save it on your device (via “save as” or “duplicate”). Otherwise, the form will not allow you to enter your information in the required fields.

    Applications / expression of interest currently closed for this grant.
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    A4

    The Iradj Bagherzade Publication Grant

    Overview

    Grants with an upper limit of £6,000 towards the costs of a major publication on the history of the art, architecture and material culture of the Islamic world before circa 1920 CE, the archaeological investigation of Islamic world, and the conservation of artefacts, buildings and material culture produced in or for the Islamic world before circa 1920 CE.

    Notes of finances

    Applicants are advised that grants cannot be paid directly to personal bank accounts, and must instead be paid either to the institution to which an applicant belongs, or to the publisher.

    A representative of the institution or publisher to which payment will be made will be required to affirm their cooperation and support on the Application Form.

    Important Information

    • A4 Submission Deadline: 31 March 2026
    • Deadline for Referees to submit reference letters online (here): 31 March 2026
    • Information on the application process: please attend one of our Q&A sessions (Arabic or English) 
    • Application enquiries: please only contact us at applications@barakat.org
    • Announcement of results will be made on the 31st of May, 2026

     

    Downloading and Submitting the A4 application

    Click on the ‘Download‘ button and enter your email to access the application form.

    Important! Before filling out your downloaded application, you must first save it on your device (via “save as” or “duplicate”). Otherwise, the application will not allow you to enter your information in the required fields.

    Applications / expression of interest currently closed for this grant.
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    B1

    Barakat Senior Scholar

    Overview

    One visiting scholarship of £10,000 to enable an established scholar from the Islamic world to reside in Oxford for three months to carry out a specific programme of research and to deliver a lecture on their research.

    Important Information

    • B1 Submission Deadline: 31 March 2026
    • Deadline for Referees to submit reference letters online (here): 31 March 2026
    • Information on the application process: please attend one of our Q&A sessions (Arabic or English) 
    • Application enquiries: please only contact us at applications@barakat.org
    • Announcement of results will be made on the 31st of May, 2026

     

    Downloading and Submitting the B1 Grant Application

    Click on the ‘Download‘ button and enter your email to access the application form.

    Important! Before filling out your downloaded application, you must first save it on your device (via “save as” or “duplicate”). Otherwise, the application will not allow you to enter your information in the required fields.

    Applications / expression of interest currently closed for this grant.
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    B2

    Barakat Postdoctoral Scholarship

    Overview

    The Barakat Postdoctoral Scholarship provides a grant of £20,000 to enable a post-doctoral scholar from the Islamic world, who was awarded a doctorate after 30 June 2021, to reside in Oxford for nine months (normally October to June) to carry out a specific programme of research on Islamic art and/or architecture, or to prepare such research for publication.

    What to expect

    The successful applicant shall normally have been awarded a doctorate after 30 June 2021, although the committee may consider exceptions (e.g. for maternity leave).

    Who can apply

    The Barakat Postdoctoral Scholarship is designed to be an opportunity and a platform for scholars to conduct their research in Oxford, using relevant Oxford resources as appropriate. It is obviously up to each individual to make of this opportunity what they will – The Barakat Trust cannot provide a taught course of study or of meetings and contacts for each scholar, nor supervise their work. We are merely facilitators – and we hope that each recipient will make best use of the exciting opportunities that conducting research in Oxford will bring.

    The Barakat Scholar will not be an employee of the University of Oxford, but will normally be made a Research Associate of the Khalili Research Centre (KRC) and an associate of the Faculty of Oriental Studies of which the KRC is part. He or she will be allocated a desk and workstation in the Khalili Research Centre in Oxford. Several members of the Academic Advisory Committee of the Barakat Trust are based at the KRC. It is also a teaching centre, and the venue for regular lectures and seminars relevant to the art and culture of the Middle East. The Barakat Postdoctoral Scholar will be required to contribute at least one lecture or seminar to the KRC Research Seminar.

    The Barakat Scholar will normally be given most of the standard University privileges, such as use of the University libraries and I.T. system, and access to lectures and seminars. The Barakat Scholar is also eligible to apply for membership of an Oxford college as a visiting scholar or research member of common room.

    Travel to relevant events, activities or conferences during each tenure is obviously welcomed. However, Scholars are expected to be normally resident in Oxford for the duration of the Scholarship, and participation in weekly seminars during the Oxford term time will be greatly welcomed.

    Notes of finances

    The grant of £20,000 is intended to cover travel from the recipient’s home to and from Oxford, and accommodation and living expenses in Oxford for nine months. (Applicants planning to conduct research outside Oxford during the tenure of their scholarship may apply for an additional research grant in the regular manner.) The grant will normally be paid in nine monthly instalments directly into the recipient’s U.K. bank account.

    Visa requirements

    The Barakat Postdoctoral Scholar must comply fully with the relevant UK laws governing visas and immigration, and the Barakat Trust Administrator will assist him or her to do so. This can be a complicated and lengthy process, therefore it is important to begin the process as soon as possible after being awarded.

    Accommodation

    The Barakat Trust regrets that they are unable to arrange accommodation for the Barakat Postdoctoral Scholar, but the Administrator will supply a list of various accommodation agencies.

    Important Information

    Deadlines: the B2 grant category has two deadlines:

    – First deadline for submitting the B2 ‘Expression of Interest‘ is 1st March 2026

    – Second deadline: If your expression of interest is strong and relevant to our scope of interest, then you will be sent, via email, the full B2 grant application to fill and submit online with supporting documents by 31st March 2026

    • Information on the application process: please attend one of our Q&A sessions (Arabic or English) 
    • Application enquiries: please only contact us at applications@barakat.org
    • Announcement of results will be made on the 31st of May, 2026

     

    Downloading and Submitting the B2 Expression of Interest Form

    Please download the B2 Expression of Interest Form (EOI Form) and submit it by the 1st of March 2026. 

    To download, click on the download button and enter your email to access the EOI form.

    **Important! Before filling out your downloaded EOI form, you must first save it on your device (via “save as” or “duplicate”). Otherwise, the form will not allow you to enter your information in the required fields.

    Applications / expression of interest currently closed for this grant.
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    B3

    Barakat Oxford Masters Studentship

    Overview

    One studentship to cover one year’s fees for a student from the Islamic world already accepted by the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies of the University of Oxford to read for an MSt or MPhil in Islamic Art and Architecture. Renewal for the second year of the MPhil may be granted to candidates who perform well in the qualifying examination, but the grant may not be extended to cover doctoral studies.

    Before applying

    • B3 Submission Deadline: 31 March 2026
    • Deadline for Referees to submit reference letters online (here): 31 March 2026
    • Information on the application process: please attend one of our Q&A sessions (Arabic or English) 
    • Application enquiries: please only contact us at applications@barakat.org
    • Announcement of results will be made on the 31st of May, 2026

    Download the B3 Grant Application

    Click on the ‘Download‘ button and enter your email to access the application form.

    Important! Before filling out your downloaded application, you must first save it on your device (via “save as” or “duplicate”). Otherwise, the application will not allow you to enter your information in the required fields.

    Applications / expression of interest currently closed for this grant.
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    frequently asked questions

    General
    • What happens if my application is successful?

      All applicants are advised in writing of the decision on their application within a few working days of the relevant Academic Advisory Committee meeting.

      If the application is successful, the letter will be accompanied by a copy of The Barakat Trust’s standard Terms and Conditions of grant, which must be signed and returned promptly.

      You will also be required to complete a Payment Request Form detailing the bank details of the institution that will receive the grant money on your behalf, as well as provide a copy of an ID/ passport and a letter of consent from an institution stating that they are willing to receive the grant money on your behalf.

      Please note that we will only make payments to institutions.

      Payments are made by bank transfer and may take a couple of weeks from receiving your acceptance package documents ––provided that all relevant conditions have been met and checks have been carried out.

    • We have been rejected, when can we re-apply?

      We have an annual grant round and you can re-apply one year from the date that The Barakat Trust received your original complete application. You are free to contact The Barakat Trust to ask for feedback on your unsuccessful application before re-applying.

    • If I am awarded a scholarship, can I defer?

      Subject to the approval of the Academic Advisory Committee, under certain circumstances, it is possible for applicants who have received a grant to support an academic programme of study to defer for a year. In the past this has been where the grant awarded by The Barakat Trust did not fully cover tuition and living expenses and the applicant needed more time to secure additional sources of funding.

    • I do not know how to fill in the financial information. What should I do?

      What we need is a clear idea of how you will spend the money for which you are applying. A simple, clear budget is required. This does not need to be overly long or detailed and we understand that during the delivery of a project, things may change.

      For Scholarship applicants, one thing we are keen to know is how any shortfall of funds will be covered.

      We use the information in this section to help us assess the financial strength of your proposal and whether or not it is realistic, so, if necessary, ask for help.

    • How do I find out more about the sorts of projects you fund?

      Many examples of projects we have funded can be found here: (https://barakat.org/projects/). However, we are open to new ideas and are happy to consider new and innovative approaches so long as they fit within our scope and meet our strategic aims.

    • Do you make grants to individuals?

      Due to strict financial regulations, grants cannot be paid directly to individuals or personal bank accounts. Instead, they must be paid to either the institution to which an applicant belongs, or to the institution at which an applicant is applying to conduct research or to study.

      This does not mean that individuals cannot apply, but simply that the payment is to be made to institutions on their behalf. Individuals applying for grants need to identify an institution to which the grant money can be transferred on their behalf.

      Some examples include the following:

      - Registered charities
      - Registered community interest companies
      - Registered charitable incorporated organisations
      - Social enterprises
      - Education institutions including universities
      - Museums, libraries, and archives
      - Companies

    • Do you make grants only to Muslims?

      No.

      We make grants to a wide range of recipients and institutions.

      However, some of our donations are Zakat (alms traditionally given to support Muslim communities) while others are general charitable donations whose uses are unrestricted.

      The restrictions outlined in some of the grant categories relate to the nature of the charitable donations we receive and their intended purposes.

    • Do you have deadlines for receiving applications?

      Yes. The Grants programme for 2026 will open on 1 January 2026. The deadlines for each category are as follows:

      Grant Deadlines:
      • A1 Category: 31 March 2026
      • A2 Category: 31 March 2026
      • A4 Category: 31 March 2026
      • B1 Category: 31 March 2026
      • A3 Category: A3 Expression of Interest: 15 February 2026, if invited to proceed, then the A3 category deadline is 15 March 2026
      • B2 Category: B2 Expression of Interest: 1 March 2026, if invited to proceed, then B2 category deadline is 31 March 2026
      • B3 Category: 31 March 2026

      No applications after that date will be considered.

    • Can you apply to more than one category?

      Yes, you can apply to more than one category. However, you will need to make a separate application for each category and use the correct application for each.

    • Are your grants limited to specific regions of the world?

      No. We have funded projects and people from over 40 countries, and will consider applications from around the world so long as projects are relevant to our aims.

      However, we do note that as a charity, we cannot pay any grant money to sanctioned countries. We refer to the FATF lists of high‑risk and monitored jurisdictions as a starting point, but we do not rely on FATF alone. FATF updates its lists only three times each year, and global risks can change quickly. Some sanctioned or high‑risk countries (such as Afghanistan, Syria, and Libya) may not appear on FATF lists, so we also use other reputable sources when assessing country risk rapidly. Therefore, please contact us in advance if you have any questions in this regard.

      To avoid confusion, it is also important to note that if a grantee originates from a country on the FATF black or grey list, we cannot pay her/him if they are residing in that country. However, if they are accepted into or work in a UK /EU/US university or institution and obtain a visa, we will still sponsor them because the funds are directed to a non-sanctioned country.

    • Are you only interested in academic projects, or projects run by academic institutions?

      No. While we support the academic study of the art, culture, architecture and heritage of the Islamic world, we are equally committed to supporting projects in the field and have a long history of supporting building and object conservation projects, training of conservators, exhibitions, archaeological digs, and other sorts of projects led by professionals with a wide range of specialisms. We are equally interested in projects that engage with the general public, and that involve local communities in safeguarding and understanding their heritage. However, all of the work we support needs to be of an excellent standard matching the aims and ambitions of The Trust.

    grantee profilesfor grantees