The Leverhulme Trust, which considers requests from all academic fields, is spending more than Pounds 2.5 million on two schemes to give hard-pressed academics time for research.

The Leverhulme Study Abroad Fellowships are in their first year. Twenty-nine, worth Pounds 350,000, have been awarded for between three and 12 months. They are designed to offer time for research planning, exploration of new avenues, or the learning of new research techniques.

The awards cover cost of replacement staff as well as travel. Their future is, however, under review with a decision due at the end of July.

There were 480 applications this year for the 120 established Leverhulme Research Fellowships and Grants, which support experienced researchers. The fellowships - tenable for between three and 24 months - provide a contribution towards replacement teaching costs, while the grants provide research expenses.

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Details: leverhulme.org.uk

* The Royal Society offers seven Leverhulme Trust/ Senior Research Fellowships a year.

These are funded by the Leverhulme to the tune of about Pounds 180,000 a year for senior scientists - including mathematicians and engineers - to undertake full-time research. Again, replacement staff costs are offered for up to a year.

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The deadline for applications is December 2000.

Forms available from royalsoc.ac.uk from October * The British Academy offers several schemes in the humanities and social sciences for academics to take sabbaticals.

Grants are made directly to the award-holder's employer to cover the costs of replacement teaching.

Up to 13 Research Readerships will be awarded this year and are tenable for two years. Seven Senior Research Fellowships, again funded by the Leverhulme, are available for one year, while one Thank-Offering to Britain Fellowship - initiated by the Association of Jewish Refugees - is available for up to a year. The closing date for applications is July 31.

Details: britac3.ac. uk/guide/index.html * The Wellcome Trust offers Research Leave Awards for a specific piece of peer-reviewed research. Last year, 12 awards, which cover replacement teaching costs, were made, with the recipient expected to remain based in their university department.

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The awards normally last for up to a year, but may be for up to three years. Applications are considered five times a year.

Details: wellcome.ac.uk * The Economic and Social Research Council provides funds for a university academic to be released full time to work on an ESRC project.

Applicants may apply for full-time release from their normal university duties for between three months and two years. If successful, their salary will remain the university's responsibility, while the ESRC will pay for a replacement for the grant-holder.

Details: esrc. ac.uk/home.htm