* Within 5 years of the date on PhD certificate or equivalent. Eight years, in case of documented significant career interruption for: maternity or parental leave; carer’s responsibility; illness; National Service; or non-research employment but no additional time allowance will be made for part-time employment.
PhD award date is taken to mean the date of the award by the University – usually the date on the PhD certificate a copy of which may be requested.
Networking & Community
- Reach a global audience of academics, policymakers and practitioners at RSA events and via our publications
- Benefit from on demand professional development training via the Professional Development webinars
- Access on demand presentations by acclaimed experts in the field via the RSA Webinar Series such as the Regions, Cities and Industry webinars
- Connect with others via RSA funded research networks, search the Expert Register and network via the RSA’s Engagement and Events App (RSA Hub)
- Link up and extend your networks via the RSA’s International divisions, country sections, ambassadors and UK Sub-National branches
- International territorial networks: Link up and extend your networks via the RSA’s International divisions, country sections and UK-Sub national branches & sections
- Join the RSA email list to receive our monthly e-Bulletin: All entries are moderated
- Publish in the RSA Blog and share your research / insights with the global RSA community
- Connect with others via the Women’s Early Career and Mid-Career Researchers Network (with regular meetings and an active WhatsApp group) and via the Student and Early Career Facebook group
Funding Opportunities
- Up to £10,000 Early Career Research Grant
- Up to £7,500 for a Fellowship Research Grant (FeRSA)
- Up to £10,000 of renewable Research Network funding to organise events to discuss key questions in your area of interest
- Up to £15,000 Policy Expo Grant to reach global audiences and to connect your work and wider communities to societal questions and policy needs
- Conference bursaries taking the form of a free conference place at charged RSA conferences
- Up to £500 Travel Grant towards travel costs when attending a non-RSA event**
- Apply for the annual RSA & Routledge Early Career award for a chance to win £500 and a certificate
- Benefit from an article publishing charge (APC) waiver when publishing in ‘Regional Studies, Regional Science’s mentored Early Career Paper Section
Publications
- Annual subscription of Regional Studies (12 issues)
- Annual subscription of Spatial Economic Analysis (4 issues)
- Annual subscription of Territory, Politics, Governance (8 issues)
- Regional Studies, Regional Science (Open access journal, online)
- Annual subscription of Area Development and Policy (4 issues, 1 volume online)
- Regions eZine, the Association’s e-magazine (online only)
- Access to 23 subject-related e-journals
- Policy Impact books (online and hard copy)
I joined the RSA as a doctoral student and have remained a member since then. RSA is particularly supportive of its student and early career members. Some of the benefits I enjoyed as a student member was the Conference Bursary and help with my research publication. The RSA journal, Regional Science Regional Studies, has a program where student authors are assigned an editor who patiently guides them to improve on their manuscript until it is good enough for publication. That was how I came by my first article as a doctoral student, and for this I am eternally grateful to the editor and the RSA. The RSA team is also very accessible and provides tailor-made support to members. So, for students and early career academics in regional studies broadly defined, you can find no better home than in the RSA. Research today, policy tomorrow, join the RSA.
Early Career Member Laura Norris describes how her research is helped by her RSA Membership
Early Career member and Annual Conference Bursary winner, Maria Rastvorova describes what she enjoys about her RSA Membership
Opportunities & Development
- Participate in professional development training sessions and access on demand recordings of the professional development webinars
- Present your work and network at our open and interdisciplinary conferences and webinars
- Present your work and network at student and early career events
- Get actively involved with your Association – we welcome pro-active membership – to shape the field and support innovation
- Win one of a number of prizes (e.g. RSA Routledge Early Career Award) awarded each year by the Association and take part in some of the judging
- Use of the post-nominal MeRSA or FeRSA following your family name
- Build a global reputation via RSA article marketing, recognition through RSA awards and our ECR plenary speaker competition
- Publish via the early career mentored publishing route with waived Article Processing Charge (APC) for those who are accepted for the mentored papers section in Regional Studies, Regional Science
- Apply for the post of Early Career representative on the RSA board
- Apply to become an RSA ambassador or territorial chair
- Participate in the RSA’s Online Writing Group
- Apply to become an RSA journal, Blog, Regions editor
- Benefit from knowledge exchange activities at EU level via the RSA’s European Foundation (RSA Europe)
Discounts
- 20% discount off Article Processing Charge (APC) when publishing in the Open Access journal Regional Studies, Regional Science for RSA members (who should be members at the point of submission and acceptance of an article. Please email us at membership@regionalstudies.org for the discount code)
- Obtain discounted members’ rates to RSA conferences
- 30% discount on books and e-books in the Association’s Regions and Cities Series
- 30% discount on all subject-related Taylor and Francis Books including Routledge
- 30% discount on all subject-related Edward Elgar Publications books
- 35% discount on selected subject-related Wiley books
- 35% discount on all books from Policy Press at the University of Bristol
New Members
Renewing Members
Find your band
Join the RSA
Membership fees are for one year on a rolling basis (this means your membership will expire a full year from when you join). Membership is open to all.
Country band is determined by place of residence (not place of origin).
Those renewing their membership are eligible for a 10% discounted rate. You have the option to pay for multiple years in advance, taking advantage of the 10% discount and this year’s fee for several years. Please email Alex if this is something you wish to arrange, or if you wish to pay via Direct Debit.
Online payments by credit or debit cards are made in Sterling and we can provide an invoice for bank transfer payments.
If you have any membership queries please contact us on +44 (0)1273 698 017 or e-mail membership@regionalstudies.org.
2025 Membership Rates
| BAND | A | B | C | D |
| New Members | 108 | 78 | 53 | 29 |
| Renewing Members | 97 | 70 | 48 | 26 |