BSAVA PetSavers primarily funds UK-based companion animal research, with a strong emphasis on building the veterinary research pipeline from students through early-career researchers. Their grants support practical clinical questions in dogs and cats, especially studies that improve diagnosis, treatment, and management of common small-animal conditions, and many awards are tied to academic or practice-based supervision. The funder is distinctive for its structured, program-specific support and for helping researchers move toward independent careers rather than providing open-ended philanthropic grants.
Focus Areas
Companion Animal Clinical ResearchEarly-Career Veterinary Research FellowshipsVeterinary Student Research ProjectsFeline and Canine Disease Diagnosis and TreatmentVeterinary Research Training and Career DevelopmentBrachycephalic and Neurology-Related Dog Studies
Giving Approach
Competitive, program-specific grants with fixed deadlines; some programs are open year-round with cut-off dates, while others run on a cycle or are not offered annually. Awards are typically modest to mid-sized for research funding, ranging from small student stipends and consumables to larger fellowships up to about £80,000, and several programs require prospective supervisor or institutional involvement. No unsolicited proposals for most major schemes.
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How to approach this funder
Check the BSAVA grant calendar and program pages carefully, since deadlines vary by scheme and some calls are only offered in certain years. Most major awards are not open to unsolicited proposals, and student grants must usually be submitted by a supervisor at a UK institution. Applicants should frame projects around clear clinical relevance for companion animals and, where possible, demonstrate mentorship, protected research time, and a path to broader research impact.
Notable grantees:
• University of Cambridge
• University of Nottingham
• University of Oxford
• Harper Adams University
• Nationwide Laboratories
Open Grant Opportunities
Current and upcoming funding from British Small Animal Veterinary Association that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Open nowRolling / open intakeAward: $2K – $4K
Student research projects
companion animal sciencecompanion animal medicinestudent research+1 more
Who can apply: Applications should be made by prospective supervisors from UK universities. Projects are for undergraduate student vets, vet nurses and bioveterinary science students; ethical approval or proof of application is required; experimental animals are not permitted.
Deadline: Open all year with cut-off dates of 31 January, 30 April, and 31 August.
Student Research Projects (SRPs) — BSAVA PetSavers
Companion animal science and medicineVeterinary research trainingSmall animal health
Who can apply: Applications should be made by prospective supervisors from UK universities for undergraduate student projects. Stipends are available only for projects undertaken outside term time. Experimental animals and tissues derived from experimental animals are not permitted.
Deadline: Applications are open all year with cut-off dates of 31 January, 30 April and 31 August; dates may change. Decisions are targeted within six weeks of each cut-off.
Master's Degrees by Research (MDRs) — BSAVA PetSavers
Companion animal veterinary medicineVeterinary researchResearch training
Who can apply: Applications must be made by a prospective academic supervisor. Applicants need not be qualified veterinary professionals but must have veterinary experience appropriate to the project. The project must be carried out in the UK, and the grant may name a prospective student or be sought before recruitment. Experimental animals and tissues derived from experimental animals are not permitted.
Deadline: The 2026 call closes at midnight on 15 October 2026.
companion animal scienceveterinary research trainingmaster's research
Who can apply: Applications must be made by prospective academic supervisors. The project should be carried out in the UK. Applicants should have veterinary experience appropriate for the project; they do not need to be qualified veterinary professionals.
Deadline: The grant call is currently closed and will reopen in August 2026.
Companion animal scienceFeline ageingFeline health+1 more
Who can apply: Applications must be made by the prospective academic supervisor and include a main applicant, at least one co-applicant and a PhD student or prospective student. The team must include at least one vet or vet nurse and one feline ageing expert for the current Ageing Feline Toolkit project. The PhD student need not be a veterinary professional. The institution is responsible for other required funding. Experimental animals and tissues derived from experimental animals are not permitted.
Deadline: The scraped content does not state a closing deadline for the current PhD call.
Veterinary cardiovascular medicineSmall animal internal medicineVeterinary neurology+1 more
Who can apply: The scraped content does not provide additional eligibility criteria. The grants are offered in partnership with the Veterinary Cardiovascular Society, Small Animal Medicine Society and British Veterinary Neurology Society.
Deadline: 2025–26 joint-funded opportunity; deadline not stated.
Clinical Research Projects (CRPs) — BSAVA PetSavers
companion animal clinical researchdiagnosistreatment+2 more
Who can apply: Projects must be undertaken in the UK, not already started or completed, involve only naturally occurring disease in small animals, and be supervised by people with appropriate veterinary clinical skills and knowledge. Ethical approval must be obtained or actively sought. Experimental animals are not permitted.
Deadline: 2026 grant call is closed and will reopen on 1 March 2027. The program also offers joint-funded specialist-area grants in 2025-26.
Deadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.