Royal Society Partnership Grants

Get up to £3,000 to bring VR science to your classroom

💰 Up to £3,000 Funding

🔬 For UK Schools

🤝 We Help You Apply

What Are Royal Society Partnership Grants?

The Royal Society Partnership Grants scheme funds projects that bring cutting-edge STEM experiences into schools. Schools can receive up to £3,000 to run investigative projects in partnership with a STEM professional from academia or industry.

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For Schools

UK state-funded schools with students aged 5-18 can apply for funding to enhance STEM education.

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STEM Partnership

Work alongside a scientist or engineer from a university or company to inspire your students.

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Investigative Projects

Design hands-on experiments and investigations that go beyond the standard curriculum.

Key Dates for 2026

There are three application windows throughout the year. Plan ahead and we'll help you prepare.

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Applications Open

23 February 2026

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First Deadline

30 April 2026

Spring round - ideal for autumn term projects

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Second Deadline

10 July 2026

Summer round - for winter term start

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Final Deadline

30 November 2026

Autumn round - spring term projects

How WhimsyLabs Helps You

We make applying for a Partnership Grant straightforward. From application support to providing the VR software, we're with you every step of the way.

Free Pilot Access

Get complimentary access to WhimsyLabs virtual lab software throughout your project period. No software costs eat into your grant — we'll also provide a free demo for your grant application.

Application Support

We'll help you craft a compelling application. Our team can provide project ideas, learning objectives, and evidence of VR's impact on science education.

STEM Partner Connections

Need a STEM partner? We can help connect you with researchers and scientists from universities who are keen to work with schools.

Project Planning

We'll work with you to design an investigation that makes the most of VR — from virtual chemistry experiments to physics simulations.

Training & Support

Receive full training for teachers on using WhimsyLabs, plus ongoing technical support throughout your project.

Impact Documentation

We'll help you gather evidence and document student outcomes for your project report to the Royal Society.

The Package

Here's how a typical WhimsyLabs Partnership Grant project works:

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Your Grant Covers

VR headsets for your classroom (typically 6-10 devices)
Optional: tablet for teacher control
Any physical materials for investigations
STEM partner expenses (travel, time)
Celebration event for students

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WhimsyLabs Provides FREE

Full access to WhimsyLabs VR science platform
All virtual experiments and lab environments
Teacher dashboard and student progress tracking
Curriculum-aligned lesson plans
Ongoing technical support

💡 Pro Tip: Most successful applications budget around £2,000-2,500 for VR hardware, leaving room for partner expenses and student celebration activities.

Are You Eligible?

Check if your school qualifies for a Royal Society Partnership Grant:

✅ You Can Apply If:

You're a UK state-funded school
Your students are aged 5-18
You can partner with a STEM professional
You haven't received this grant in the past 2 years
Your project is investigative (not just demonstrations)

🤝 STEM Partners Can Be:

University researchers or academics
PhD students or postdocs
Scientists from research institutes
STEM professionals from industry
Engineers from companies

Not sure if you qualify? Don't have a STEM partner yet?

Let's Chat — We Can Help!

Get Started

Ready to bring VR science to your classroom? Fill in the form below and we'll get in touch to discuss your Partnership Grant application.

Don't Miss Out on £3,000 for VR Science

The Royal Society Partnership Grants are one of the best-kept secrets in education funding. With our help, applying is easier than you think.

Start Your Application Royal Society Official Page