The Science and Technology Facilities Council’s (STFC) Panel for the Allocation of Telescope Travel (PATT) allocates access to users of a variety of astronomy facilities for the UK community. PATT is an advisory body set up to consider the allocation of telescope travel and subsistence costs in support of those allocations to enable UK investigators to access specific astronomy facilities.

PATT Travel Grant applicants may use the awarded funds, without seeking further approval, in support of observing runs on the following:

• Facilities in direct receipt of STFC funds (eg e-MERLIN, Liverpool Telescope (LT)).
• PATT approved telescopes (located in Australia, Chile, France, Germany, India, Japan, Netherlands, South Africa, Spain and United States).

Travel funds should only be used when the presence of a UK observer is essential to the observing programme or required by the facility. PATT approval must be gained if wishing to apply for travel funds in support of observing runs on non-approved telescopes.

Applicants are eligible to apply provided that they are permanent member of staff or otherwise hold a fully tenured post within an eligible UK institution (ie higher education institution, research council institute or independent research organisation).

Observers are eligible to use the funds awarded in support of an approved programme of observations provided that they are:

• The project lead, project co-lead or their nominated representative.
• A member of academic or research staff within the project lead’s institution.
• A student attached to the project lead’s institution whose credentials have firmly established them as a bona fide observer.

PATT travel funds can only be used in support of UK-based observers.

Funding is available for groups with travel and subsistence costs of more than £7,500 a year. The full economic cost (fEC) of the application must be more than £10,000 over a two-year period. STFC will fund 100% of the fEC. Grants must start on 1 April 2026.