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AHSS Research and Impact Bulletin

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The AHSS Research and Impact Facilitation Bulletin provides updates on the latest funding opportunities and training events available to researchers interested in applying for a research grant. The Bulletin is sent out to researchers via Chairs of Faculties, Departmental Administrators, and RGAs.  

 

 

Archived Bulletins

AHSS Bulletin February 2026

AHSS Research and Impact Facilitation Bulletin

February 2026

 

If you want to discuss funding opportunities or you are working on an application for research funding and would like feedback on a draft, please do contact the School’s Research Facilitators – Anna Cieslik (UK Funding) and Elizabeth Penner (EU/International Funding). 

 You can find more information on the AHSS Research Website, search our External Funding Deadline Calendar and look at Previous Bulletins.  We are also now on Twitter! Follow us for updates on funding calls and information sessions.

 

UK Research Council Funding

EU Funding

Charity Funding

Internal Funding

Training

UKRI Translation: AHRC Proof of Concept

Summary: Your proposed activities should galvanise arts and humanities research previously funded by AHRC/UKRI to deliver meaningful real-world change through significant economic, social, cultural, or policy impact.

UKRI Translation: AHRC Proof of Concept Opportunity aims to:

  • facilitate ambitious arts and humanities projects to realise measurable, real-world change
  • provide flexible support for innovative pathways to impact, whether projects are pivoting to new contexts and collaborations, amplifying existing impact activity or at the early stage of developing commercialisation outcomes
  • sustain and maximise excellent models of co-design, co-development and partnership working to deliver tangible outputs that demonstrate the transformational benefits of arts and humanities research
  • encourage and enable a range of pathways to impact between arts and humanities research and a variety of user communities, including business, third sector and heritage sector, public policy, voluntary and community groups, or the general public
  • celebrate and support meaningful arts and humanities contributions to economic growth and government priorities.

Award: Up to £150,000. AHRC will fund 80% of the fEC for projects up to five years in duration.

Funder Deadline: Open call

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

Pre-announcement: Northern Ireland Election Study 2026 to 2031

Summary: This is a pre-announcement and the information may change. When the funding opportunity opens, more information will be available on this page. Please contact us if you are interested in this opportunity and we will notify you when the opportunity is updated and open.

The aims of this opportunity will be:

  • to identify a team and host institution to lead Northern Ireland Assembly and UK General Election studies in Northern Ireland between 2026 and 2036
  • to deliver data collection on the anticipated 2027 Northern Ireland Assembly election and the anticipated 2029 UK General Election in Northern Ireland

ESRC’s objectives for the successful applicant will be to:

  • produce high-quality data that meets the needs of the research, policy and practice communities, building on the existing politically independent time series data, and ensure those communities have timely access to the data
  • promote the use of the data by the research and wider stakeholder communities, including to maximise the public benefit of the data through informing policy, practice and the public
  • collaborate with the other UK election studies to facilitate meaningful comparison of elections in the UK and the views and behaviour of UK electorates

Award: The duration of this award is a maximum of 60 months. The scheme will fund: Staff costs; Data collection, distribution and promotion; Engagement and collaboration activity; Travel and subsistence.

Funder Deadline: TBC

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

Pre-announcement: British Election Study 2027 to 2032

Summary: This is a pre-announcement and the information may change. When the funding opportunity opens, more information will be available on this page. Please contact us if you are interested in this opportunity and we will notify you when the opportunity is updated and open.

The aims of this funding opportunity will be:

  • to identify a team and host institution to lead the British Election Study (BES) between 2027 and 2037.
  • to deliver data collection on the anticipated 2029 UK General Election in Great Britain, and surveys aligned to local elections.

Our objectives for the successful applicant will be to:

  • produce high-quality data that meets the needs of the research, policy and practice communities, building on the existing politically independent time series data, and ensure those communities have timely access to the data
  • promote the use of the data by the research and wider stakeholder communities, including to maximise the public benefit of the data through informing policy, practice and the public
  • collaborate with the other UK election studies to facilitate meaningful comparison of elections in the UK and the views and behaviour of UK electorates

Award: The duration of this award is a maximum of 60 months. The scheme will fund: Staff costs; Data collection, distribution and promotion; Engagement and collaboration activity; Travel and subsistence.

Funder Deadline: TBC

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

DISKAH Fellowship scheme 2026-2027

Summary: The UKRI-funded DISKAH Fellowship scheme is a one-year long programme for UK-based Arts and Humanities (A&H) researchers, research technical professionals (RTPs), creative technologists and computationally oriented artists. The scheme aims to provide an opportunity to broaden engagement with UKRI Digital Research Infrastructures (DRI), including data-services and compute services, to underpin large-scale computational methods to support innovation. 

Funding is available to enable the DISKAH Fellows to join the programme and gain access to resources to develop their projects through cutting-edge Digital Research Infrastructures (DRI), build capacity, and deliver training to their communities. 

We particularly encourage project ideas which either:

  • Explore data in addition to or beyond text-based sources, such as visual, multidimensional, or multimodal data.
  • Leverage large-scale data, already available or in the process of becoming available through national data DRI, or data that you plan to deposit in national DRI services.
  • Connect or integrate data from multiple data DRI services.
  • Explore creative use of data with potential applications in the creative industries.

Award: £6,500

Funder Deadline: 20 February 2026

Research Facilitation Contact: If you need to discuss project ideas, please email DISKAH's PI, Dr Karina Rodriguez Echavarria K.Rodriguez@brighton.ac.uk, to book a meeting.

Metascience Sandpit: scientometrics for research assessment

Summary: The aim of this sandpit is to develop research projects that develop, validate, and critique novel scientometric indicators for use in research assessment and in metascience research.

The increasing availability of scientific output data and metadata, combined with advances in artificial intelligence and machine learning abilities in analysing semantic content, is creating the conditions for a paradigm shift in scientometrics. These developments offer the opportunity to develop new measures of research excellence and impact that go beyond traditional citation-based metrics.

This is reflected in a growing range of innovations in the measurement and understanding of research quality. These include indicators of novelty, disruption, interdisciplinarity, collaboration, quality, replicability, integrity, semantic relevance, research papers to to patents and policy and more sophisticated methods for classifying types of citations. In addition, a recent independent report REF-AI argues that there is a growing imperative to consider the potential for using large language models for assessment in the UK’s Research Excellence Framework 2029.

However, many of these indicators and methods lack validation, theoretical reflection, and deep engagement with end users and the research community. This sandpit seeks to address these challenges.

The sandpit will take place over four days, and attendance will be mandatory for selected participants over two weeks, in-person at UKRI Swindon on 15 to 16 April 2026, and remotely on 21 April and 23 April 2026.

Award: We expect to fund up to £3 million at 80% full economic cost for all research projects arising from the sandpit.

Funder Deadline: Applicants are asked to complete an expression of interest online survey to be considered for the sandpit. The closing date is 26 February 2026 at 4:00pm UK time .

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

Future Leaders Fellowship Round 11

Summary: UKRI has announced their Future Leaders Fellowship Round 11 call. This scheme aims to support the most talented early career researchers and innovators who are transitioning to or establishing research independence. The number of applicants that the University of Cambridge is permitted to submit is capped at 10 for this round.  The call is  managed according to the University’s restricted calls policy. 
 
Award: Fellowships run on a 4+3 year model. There is no minimum or maximum project cost. UKRI will fund 80% of the full economic cost (FEC). The host institution is required to provide match-funding for tapered salary support throughout the fellowship. They also need to confirm an open-ended position to be taken up by the Fellow at the end of the fellowship. These requirements need to be met from the resources within the Departments/Faculties. 

Internal Deadline: 02 March 2026, deadline for Departments to submit nominations to Schools.

Research Facilitation Contact: Interested candidates should contact the host department for further details on the nomination process.

ESRC New Investigator Grants

Summary: The ESRC have announced their New Investigator Grant scheme. This scheme is suitable for early career researchers who have yet to make the transition to be an independent researcher. Proposals are welcome in any topic which falls within ESRC’s remit, including projects at the “interface with the wider sciences”, provided that social sciences accounts for at least 50% of the proposed research.
 
University Internal selection
The ESRC expect the University to run an internal selection process to ensure that we submit only bids from outstanding individuals with the potential to become the research leaders of the future. The University may only submit a limited number of applications. To meet these requirements, this call will be overseen by a cross-school Committee, as decided by University’s Research Policy Committee. 
 
There are three internal calls every year (MT, LT and ET).  Only applicants whose proposals have been approved through the internal selection process will be allowed to proceed with submission of their applications to ESRC. 
 
Interested applicants should submit an online application.   
 
You will be required to upload the following:

  • Your research project proposal (template found here) 
  • A letter of support from your Head of Department 
    • This letter is very important to the success of the application as it is needed to confirm the details of the departmental support and the applicant’s eligibility. The letter must also specify a department/faculty based mentor, and a reviewer, both of whom have agreed to provide feedback on the full proposal, should the applicant be selected to proceed. The reviewer may be from within or outside the applicant’s department/faculty. Please note that naming a reviewer is an internal requirement, and the reviewer will not be named on the full application to ESRC. The mentor and the named reviewer will be expected to provide feedback on the full proposal prior to submission to ESRC. This will be coordinated by the School Research Facilitator.
  • A Worktribe report
    • The report should show the preliminary costing for the project, including the cost of the applicant’s salary and research assistance (if required).The costing should be created as a full project with submission set to 2150  - not a standalone costing. A UKRI Submission Report should be run. The Worktribe report should not be submitted for ROO approval at this stage; the costing is for indicative purposes only, to inform the internal selection. It will be possible to modify it after the internal selection. Please attach it as a .pdf document, rather than an Excel file. 

Award: The ESRC will award grants of between £100-350K (covered at 80%fEC).

Internal Deadline: 13 March 2026, internal selection deadline

Research Facilitation Contact: If you have any questions, please write to ESRCNewInv@admin.cam.ac.uk.

International Placement Scheme 2026

Summary: Apply for a funded placement at an international institution. Placements are available at the following institutions:

  • United States: Harry Ransom Center, Huntington Library, Library of Congress, Smithsonian Institution, Yale Centre for British Art
  • Japan: National Institutes for the Humanities (NIHU)
  • China: Shanghai Theatre Academy

Award: £1,000 for travel and visa costs (£1,200 for travel to Japan and China) and £2,500 for each month of the placement. Applicants can apply for two to six months of funding.

Internal Deadline: For Cambridge PhD students the internal deadline for applications is 05 March 2026. 

Current students should also notify the Student Funding and Fee Policy Team by emailing research.council.funding@admin.cam.ac.uk by the end of January 2026 at the latest.  Please also confirm which institution you will be applying to.

Research Facilitation Contact: research.council.funding@admin.cam.ac.uk

UK-Ireland collaboration in the creative economy: research networking awards

Summary: AHRC and Research Ireland are collaborating on a new research programme that will deliver transformational impact on creative economy research between the UK and Ireland. The programme will exploit complementary strengths in the creative economy between centres of excellence in both countries, leading to new and sustainable collaborations and strengthening world-class research and industry capacity across the UK and Irish ecosystems.

Award: Maximum £35,000. Each network must commence by 30 September 2026 and the grant will be for a fixed term of 12 months.

Funder Deadline: 24 March 2026

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

Metascience research grants round 2

Summary: This funding opportunity aims to accelerate the generation of evidence on how we can improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and inclusivity of the research and development (R&D) ecosystem. For this round, we are interested in how the adoption of AI is changing the research landscape , how to optimally design and lead research institutions; and how to measure and understand scientific progress at scale.
In this funding opportunity, we are focussing on three themes to build our metascience portfolio. Applications should fit under one of the following themes.

Science of AI for Science:
How the adoption of AI is changing the research landscape, how this helps and/or hinders scientific progress, and how governments, industry and funding organisations should respond.

Effective design and leadership of research organisations
This includes empirical comparison of institutional models, the drivers of programme manager and research performance, the application of evidence from management and behavioural science to improve organisational structures and practices in research environments, and the effectiveness of interventions to support inclusive, high-performing research cultures.

Scientometric approaches to understanding research excellence, efficiency, and equity
This includes the development, validation, and generalisable use of metrics and indicators to assess research quality, influence, and impact, the development or application of indicators to advance the curation and synthesis of science at scale, and the behavioural consequences of metric use in research evaluation and funding decisions.

Award: The full economic cost (FEC) of your project can be up to £250,000 or £350,000 with an international partner. UKRI will fund 80% of the FEC.

Funder Deadline: 23 April 2026

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

2026-27 Horizon Europe Funding Opportunities: with a focus on arts, humanities and social sciences research

With the publication of the 2026-27 Work Programme of Horizon Europe and the UK’s associated member status, there are numerous funding opportunities available to Cambridge researchers. Net4Society have published a document highlighting SHSS Opportunities that span across the different clusters. Please click here to read. This PDF [here] also outlines specific opportunities for AHSS researchers.

The European Commission adopted the main Horizon Europe work programme for 2026-2027, a €14 billion investment designed to drive research and innovation (R&I) across the EU's strategic goals. These goals include achieving climate neutrality, boosting the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in research and innovation, and ensuring resilience in a rapidly changing world.

If you are a researcher working in the Arts, Humanities or Social Sciences and you have any questions about applying to Horizon Europe funding, please do not hesitate to get in contact with Dr Elizabeth Penner, AHSS Research Facilitator (EU/Intl funding)

 

EU Grants Funding Newsletter

You can sign up for our free daily EU grants and funding newsletter (English) by filling out this form. A digest of upcoming funding opportunities will arrive directly to your mailbox. If you would like to access all funding opportunities on our portal, you need to subscribe to the membership.

ERC Proof of Concept

Summary: The ERC Proof of Concept funding is made available only to those who already have an ERC award to establish proof of concept of an idea that was generated in the course of their ERC-funded projects.

Frontier research often generates radically new ideas that drive innovation and business inventiveness and tackle societal challenges. The ERC PoC Grants aim at facilitating exploration of the commercial and social innovation potential of ERC funded research and are therefore available only to PIs whose proposals draw substantially on their ERC funded research.

Proof of Concept Grants aim at maximising the value of the excellent research that the ERC funds, by funding further work (i.e. activities which were not scheduled to be funded by the original ERC frontier research grant) to verify the innovation potential of ideas arising from ERC funded projects.

Award: A lump sum of € 150,000 for a period of 18 months.

Funder Deadline: 13 March 2026 and 17 September 2026

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Elizabeth Penner

ERC Advanced Grant

Summary:The ERC Advanced Grant is for established research leaders with a recognised track record of research achievements in the last 10 years. PIs should be exceptional leaders in terms of originality and significance of their research contributions.

Award: € 2.5 million for a period of 5 years. An additional € 1 million can be requested to cover start-up costs, the purchase of major equipment and/or access to large facilities. 

Funder Deadline: 27 August 2026

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Elizabeth Penner

ERC Plus Grant

Summary: The ERC Plus Grant supports outstanding principal investigators who address major scientific challenges. Applications for ERC Plus Grants should be for projects that could not be carried out with a regular ERC grant. Applicants should explain how the proposed project goes beyond the scope of a regular ERC project, for example because it aims to transform the field or open new avenues of research. 

Scholars at all career stages can apply for an ERC Plus Grant if they have an outstanding record of scientific achievement at the forefront of their field. Their intellectual leadership will be evaluated in accordance with their career stage. A researcher will be allowed to hold only one ERC Plus Grant in their lifetime. 

Applications can be made in any field of research. The ERC's grants operate on a 'bottom-up' basis without predetermined priorities. 

Award: Up to €7 million with no possibility to request additional funding for projects a minimum of four years (48 months) and up to seven years (84 months) and with no reduction for projects that are shorter than seven years. 

Funder Deadline: 02 September 2026

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Elizabeth Penner

ERC Synergy Grant

Summary: The aim of the Synergy Grant is to support a small group (hereafter, the Synergy Grant Group) of two to four innovative and active Principal Investigators jointly addressing ambitious research problems that cannot be tackled by any single Principal Investigator and their team alone. Principal Investigators of any professional seniority, and with a competitive track record matching their career stage can apply. One of the Principal Investigators (except the Corresponding Principal Investigator) of the Synergy Grant Group may be hosted and engaged by an institution outside of the EU or an Associated Country.

Award: Up to a maximum of € 10 million for a period of 6 years (pro rata for projects of shorter duration). An additional € 4 million can be requested in the proposal in total to cover eligible “start-up” costs for researchers moving from a third country to the EU or an associated country and/or the purchase of major equipment and/or access to large facilities and/or other major experimental and field work costs.

Funder Deadline: TBC, likely October/November 2026

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Elizabeth Penner

Philip Leverhulme Prize

Summary: The Philip Leverhulme Prizes are awarded to researchers at an early stage of their careers whose work has had international impact and whose future research career is exceptionally promising. The funding should be used for any purpose related to the advancement of the research or artistic practice of the Prize Winner, provided that the items of expenditure fall within the categories classically eligible for the support of the Trust. Funding is available over 2 to 3 years and is paid in two equal instalments to the Prize Winner’s employing institution. Prizes can be taken up on the first of a month between 1st December 2026 and 1st November 2027. 

Eligibility
Nominees must: 

  • have been awarded a doctoral degree not more than ten years prior to the closing date for nominations (some exceptions apply; see the eligibility requirements).
  • hold either a permanent post or a long-term fellowship in a UK institution of higher education or research that would extend beyond the duration of the Philip Leverhulme Prize. Those otherwise without salary are not eligible to be nominated. 
  • not have a clinical focus to their present and past work

Subject areas 2025
Applications will be considered within the six broad subject areas available each year. These rotate on a 3-year cycle (the current cycle is 2023, 2024 and 2025). Nominees may not be nominated for more than one prize subject in any 3-year cycle.

  • Biological Sciences
  • History
  • Law
  • Mathematics and Statistics
  • Philosophy and Theology
  • Sociology and Social Policy

Two areas are always excluded because substantial funding is available from other sources for applied medical research, and the Trust’s priority is to support investigations of a fundamental nature:

  • studies of disease, illness and disabilities in humans and animals
  • research that is intended to inform clinical practice or the development of medical applications

University Internal selection:  
The funder stipulates that the University can submit no more than three nominations in any prize subject. Therefore, this call will be managed according to the University’s restricted calls procedure. We therefore ask each Department/Faculty to register and rank up to 3 nominations per prize subject. Nominations are to be made by the nominee's head of department (or equivalent).

Please submit your Department/Faculty’s nomination(s) via this online form, by 3rd March 2026 (if requested, please log-in with your Raven details; please note that a Form cannot be saved and returned to). 
 
You will need the following documents and information to complete the Form:  

  • Nominee details including name, Department and prize category. 
  • Nominee's eligibility details including 1) date when the nominee's PhD was confirmed by the awarding institution and 2) whether the nominee has a permanent position or fellowship that will outlast the Leverhulme prize 3) that the focus of the nominee's present and past work is not clinically focused.
  • A letter of support from the Head of Department/Faculty/Institute confirming their support for the project and that the respective Department is happy to host it (max. 2 pages per nominee)
  • Brief summary of reason for nomination (max. 250 words per nominee)
  • CV including the nominee's four most significant publications asterisked (max. 2 pages per nominee). Nominees should consider DORA principles when presenting research outputs.

Internal Assessment Criteria: 
 
Please note that the assessment of internal applications will focus on the following core funder criteria: 

  • Criterion 1: the nominee's work has had international impact
  • Criterion 2: the future research career of the nominee is exceptionally promising

Funder deadline: 14th May 2026

Award: £100,000

Internal Deadline: 03 March 2026, internal restricted deadline

Research Facilitation Contact: If you have any queries, please don’t hesitate to contact us at researchstrategy@admin.cam.ac.uk

British Academy International Fellowships

Summary: The International Fellowships programme provides support for outstanding early career researchers to make a first step towards developing an independent research career through gaining experience across international borders. Each award is expected to involve a specific and protected research focus with the award holder undertaking high quality, original research. The objectives are to:

  • Attract talented International early career researchers to establish and conduct their research in the UK;
  • Support early career researchers to pursue high-quality and innovative lines of research;
  • Provide opportunities to acquire and transfer new skills and knowledge through training and career development;
  • Foster long-term relationships through networking opportunities and the International Fellowships alumni programme.

**Please note change in institutional process: each department may only submit one application to the scheme. Under exceptional circumstances, two applications may be submitted by a single department.

Award: The International Fellowships offer support for two years and the award is offered at 80% FEC. Applicants may apply for research expenses of up to £12,000 and relocation costs of up to £8,000. Applicants will need to justify the level of research expenses and relocation costs requested in their application.

Funder Deadline: 11 March 2026

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Elizabeth Penner

ISRF Flexible Grants for Small Grants

Summary: The Independent Social Research Foundation wishes to support independent-minded researchers to explore and present original research ideas which take new approaches, and suggest new solutions, to real world social problems. Principal Investigator(s) will lead a small group of 2-10 scholars (which may include graduate students). 

The Foundation supports innovative research which crosses established disciplinary boundaries and critically challenges incumbent theories and approaches, so as to address afresh empirical problems with no currently adequate theory or investigative methodology. Innovation may also come from controversial theoretical approaches motivated by critical challenge of incumbent theories. Projects ranging across the breadth of the social scientific disciplines and interdisciplinary research fields are welcome, and relevant applications from scholars working within the humanities are also encouraged.

Award: Up to a maximum of £7,500

Funder Deadline: 13 March 2026

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

Nuffield Foundation Strategic Fund

Summary: The Nuffield Foundation’s Strategic Fund is  open to ambitious, cross-cutting research  proposals that seek to address some of the  most pressing social challenges of our time.

The Strategic Fund is reserved for the funding of original, transformative ideas that have the scale and ambition to anticipate and address some of the most significant themes and  developments shaping the UK public policy agenda, now and in the future. These are major grants, typically in the range of £1–3 million and are expected to last between two and  five years. 

Strategic Fund applications should respond to one or more of our five priority questions, and/or explore the connections between them:

  • How can we build a prosperous and fair society, where people are secure
  • How can we build an inclusive society, where people thrive and feel they belong, in the context of changing
    demography and ways of life?
  • How can we ensure that rapid developments in science and technology work for people and society?
  • How can policies to address climate change be developed in a way that promotes a prosperous, fair and inclusive society? 
  • How can we build and maintain the effective, accountable and trustworthy institutions that our society and democracy need and can fulfil their potential?

Award: Between £1 million and £3 million

Funder Deadline: 16 March 2026

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

Wellcome Trust Genomics in Context Awards

Summary: These awards will support transdisciplinary teams to catalyse research discoveries at the intersection of genomics, humanities, social sciences and bioethics. Funded projects will be given the time and resources to create new research agendas and explore innovative ways of working.

There is a long history of exploring the social, legal and ethical contexts of genomics. This has made significant inroads into fostering more ethical and equitable practice. However, this has often been too limited and too late. Wider humanities and social science fields are underrepresented; communities or other social partners are often not centred; and these perspectives are often only included after key research decisions have already been made. This not only poses ethical challenges. It means that the discovery research potential of wider and earlier collaboration remains unrealised.

This call is aimed at addressing this issue and supporting novel, transdisciplinary teams to explore this area by enabling:

  • An increased breadth of collaborative partners – building inter- and transdisciplinary teams across genomics-related life sciences, humanities, social science and wider societal partners to purposefully engage in research at their unique intersections.
  • The earlier integration of partners – bringing new partners together at the conceptual stage of a research agenda (research ideation, design and partnership building), so that research ideas and avenues can be explored and co-developed in new and innovative ways.
  • A focus on Discovery Research – shifting the focus away from specific ethical questions, often applied at the end of a research lifecycle, to an emphasis on co-developing novel discovery research from the outset.
  • A plan for integrated collaboration across the research lifecycle that harmonises and leverages the skills and perspectives of diverse contributors. 

Award: Up to £500,000 for a project duration between 12 and 24 months.

Funder Deadline: 16 March 2026

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

Wellcome Trust Career Development Award

Summary: This scheme provides funding for mid-career researchers from any discipline who have the potential to be international research leaders. They will develop their research capabilities, drive innovative programmes of work and deliver significant shifts in understanding that could improve human life, health and wellbeing.
.
Award: Provides a salary for the grantholder (if required) and research expenses. Please request for level and duration of funding that's justifiable for your proposed research.

Funder Deadline: 26 March 2026

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

Wellcome Trust Discovery Awards

Summary: This scheme provides funding for established researchers and teams from any discipline who want to pursue bold and creative research ideas to deliver significant shifts in understanding related to human life, health and wellbeing. 

Research questions should generate knowledge that leads to a shift in understanding or delivers new insight into how human life and health work. We welcome proposals that may have a clinical or societal impact or have translational potential, but the focus should be on discovery research.   

We fund research into the: 

  • fundamental processes that underpin biology, to understand more about how human life works
  • complexities of human health and disease, including clinical and population-based approaches
  • burden of disease and its determinants where this brings new and transformational knowledge
  • development of methodologies, conceptual frameworks, technologies, tools or techniques that could benefit health-related research
  • needs, values and priorities of the people and communities affected by disease and health disparities
  • social, ethical, cultural, political, economic and historical contexts of human health and disease.

Award: The average size of a Discovery Award is £3.5 million. Applications above £5 million will be subject to additional scrutiny. Awards can be up to 8 years, but may be less for some disciplines, and may be longer if held on a part-time basis. The average duration of a Discovery Award is 7 years, although we have supported awards from 3 to 8 years.

Funder Deadline: 31 March 2026

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

Leverhulme Trust Visiting Professorship

Summary: For UK institutions to invite an eminent senior professor from overseas, to bring genuinely novel expertise and enhance the skills and knowledge of academic staff and students in an underrepresented area in the UK. Priority will be given to new or recent collaborations and visits with a variety of activities beyond research.

Award: Applications are invited for a minimum of £10,000 and a maximum of £150,000.  A Visiting Professorship must last at least 3 months. Grants between 3 and 6 months must be completed in one visit. Grants between 6 and 12 months can be spread over two or more visits, with 12 months being the maximum duration for a visit.

Funder Deadline: 01 May 2026

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

Wellcome Trust Early-Career Awards

Summary: This scheme provides funding for early-career researchers from any discipline who are ready to develop their research identity. The researcher will deliver shifts in understanding that could improve human life, health and wellbeing. By the end of the aware, they will be ready to lead their own independent research programme. Project duration is usually 5 years, but may be less for some disciplines and longer if held on a part-time basis.

Award: Your salary and up to £400,000 for research expenses.

Funder Deadline: 21 July 2026

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

Leverhulme Research Centre

Summary: The Trust invites applications for Leverhulme Research Centres that will not only conduct research of outstanding originality but also aspire to achieve a significant step-change in scholarship. The Trust aims to encourage new approaches that may establish or reshape a field of study and so transform our understanding of a significant contemporary topic. Applicants are, therefore, invited to be bold in compiling their bids. The centres should have the capacity to become recognised internationally for excellence in their chosen area. 

The Trust has a reputation for encouraging higher-risk research, which is therefore often fundamental or curiosity-driven – so-called ‘blue skies’ – and multi-disciplinary. The expectation is that centres will draw upon a range of disciplinary perspectives and expertise, perhaps bringing new disciplinary mixes to bear on a particular topic. 

Award: Up to £10 million is available for up 10 years.

Funder Deadline: February 2027. This will be a restricted call.

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik and the Research Strategy Office.

Large Grant Contribution Fund

Summary: Research grant applications for funding over £1 million for AHSS subject areas can request financial contributions from this fund. Funding may be requested for activities that are complementary to the external funding and contributions from Departments / Schools / Non-school institutions. Activities that add value in the following areas are particularly encouraged: widening participation and inclusion; improving partnerships locally / nationally / internationally; capacity and capability building; working with less advantaged partners. Leveraging funding for existing grant awards is not in the remit of this fund. All applications must include one or more external partners and only applications led by Cambridge PIs are eligible.

Award: Up to 10% of the award value. PI buyout and equipment are not eligible costs for request.

Funder Deadline: Minimum 4 weeks before funder deadline.

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik and Rpc@admin.cam.ac.uk

All Council Harmonised IAA Impact Starter Fund Call 2024-2025

Summary: Impact Starter funding will be available on a rolling basis to fund short-term projects of up to three months duration. Projects are expected to be short, cost-effective ways of kick-starting impact creation from research findings. The Impact Starter Fund will only consider projects that do not qualify for other IAA funding calls.

Award: Varies.

Funder Deadline: Rolling basis

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Lucy Sheerman

Impact Funding Callout

Summary: The University of Cambridge AHRC Impact Acceleration Account (IAA) and the Social Science Impact Fund (SSIF) will open during Michaelmas term. 

The overall purpose of this fund is to support ‘on the ground’ impact and knowledge exchange activities. Awards will be made available to fund work that will significantly increase the probability of the ideas and findings generated by the research having a non-academic impact on the private, public, and third sectors. Collaborative, innovative, and co-funded projects are encouraged.  

Full information on eligible projects and the application process will be circulated as soon as possible.  

Award: Awards will be made in the region of £5,000 to £25,000, covering 100% of directly incurred costs but not indirect costs.  

Funder Deadline: Rolling basis

Research Facilitation Contact: All interested applicants are strongly encouraged contact Dr Lucy Sheerman (Arts and Humanities Impact Facilitator) and Dr Tina Basi (Social Sciences Impact Facilitator) to discuss their proposal before application. Preliminary discussions ahead of the call opening are welcome.

Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Impact Starter Fund Call 2025-2026

Summary: The Impact Starter Fund sits within the schools of Humanities and Social Sciences and Arts and Humanities wider AHSS impact hub, providing a supportive space for researchers to explore early-stage impact and knowledge exchange ideas. As the first step to achieving impact, it helps researchers develop skills, explore approaches, build the collaborations needed for creating real-world impact, and longer-term engagement with partners and collaborators. 
 
At a glance: 

  • Funding available up to £15,000 per project   
  • Rolling call with no deadline  
  • Project duration can be up to 6 months, and all funds must be spent within the project timelines  
  • Activities must demonstrate a link with underpinning research  
  • Applicants are encouraged to consider novel and innovative approaches to participatory methods and knowledge exchange  
  • Applicants are encouraged to consider ways in which projects might contribute to the broader culture of engagement and collaboration,  develop researchers’ skills, partnerships, participatory methods, and knowledge exchange approaches. 

 
All AHSS Researchers (post PhD) and UTOs are eligible to apply.
 

Award: Between £10,000–£15,000 to support 3–6 month projects.

Funder Deadline: Rolling basis

Research Facilitation Contact: All interested applicants are strongly encouraged contact Dr Lucy Sheerman (Arts and Humanities Impact Facilitator) and Dr Tina Basi (Social Sciences Impact Facilitator) to discuss their proposal before application.

Local Government AI Accelerator

Summary: New funding scheme supports collaborative research projects between University of Cambridge and local authorities.

The University of Cambridge is launching a new funding scheme to support collaborative AI research and development projects with local government partners. The ai@cam Local Government AI Accelerator will provide grants of up to £25,000 for proof-of-concept projects that address shared challenges across multiple councils.

The fund represents a new approach to AI innovation in public services, connecting academic expertise with real-world operational needs. Projects must demonstrate clear buy-in from at least one local authority partner, be led by a University of Cambridge researcher eligible to hold funding, and deliver results within 12 months.

The initiative builds on ai@cam’s work with local government partners across Cambridgeshire and beyond. Early AI adopters in local government are already demonstrating the technology’s potential in areas like social care, planning consultation analysis, and infrastructure maintenance. This collaboration aims to support councils in identifying promising AI applications and developing appropriate solutions.

Award: Funded projects will receive up to £25,000 for 9-12 months of proof-of-concept development, with ongoing support through monthly community of practice sessions and technical support clinics with ai@cam’s machine learning engineers. A final showcase will document lessons learned and explore pathways for scaling successful solutions across the sector.

Funder Deadline: 13 February 2026

Contact: If you have any questions around eligibility or the application process, please contact Jess Montgomery (jkm40@cam.ac.uk).

Special Note:

ai@cam has received a number of enquiries from local authorities looking to connect with Cambridge researchers for potential collaborative projects. If any resonate with your research interests or expertise, please feel free to reach out directly to the council contacts provided.

  1. Computer Vision & Automated Detection

Automated Fly-tipping Detection (South Cambridgeshire District Council)
South Cambridgeshire DC is exploring AI-powered detection of fly-tipping using existing camera footage from refuse collection vehicles, with the aim of shifting from reactive to proactive identification of environmental issues.

The approach could extend to detecting potholes, street lighting faults, anti-social behaviour, and drainage issues. As Greater Cambridge Shared Waste operates across Cambridge City and South Cambs, solutions would already have multi-authority reach, with clear scalability to other councils with RCV fleets. They are looking for research support to validate technical feasibility, explore appropriate AI methods and model options, understand data and infrastructure requirements (including edge processing), and shape a realistic proof of concept.

Contacts: Nicole Stimson (nicole.stimson@scambs.gov.uk) and Conor Breslin (conor.breslin@scambs.gov.uk) 
 

  1. Assessment & Service Delivery Automation

Modular Assessment Engine for Local Government (Wokingham Borough Council)
Wokingham is developing an AI-based solution for local government assessments, built on Microsoft's ecosystem (Microsoft Search, Azure AI, Power Platform). They have a working prototype for Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) and are now focused on validation and expansion to other assessment types.
Most local authorities face significant demand pressures around EHCPs for children with SEND, Continuing Healthcare assessments, housing assessments, and safeguarding. The aim is to create a reusable, adaptable AI capability that improves consistency and reduces administrative burden while remaining compliant with statutory guidance.
They would be interested in collaborations on research into how other local government assessments are carried out in practice, including statutory guidance, and translation into scalable digital products.
Contact: Mirza Ahsan Baig (mirza.ahsanbaig@wokingham.gov.uk)
 

  1. Predictive Modeling & Risk Assessment

Social Housing Allocation Prediction (London Borough of Camden)
Camden is looking to conduct a machine learning project on predicting allocations of social housing based on demographic characteristics of households in housing need, an interactive web-based bidding process, and the physical and geographic attributes of available homes.
Contact: Murylo Batista (murylo.batista@camden.gov.uk)
 

  1. Early Warning System for Vulnerable Tenants (Cambridge City & South Cambridgeshire District Councils)

The councils want to develop an AI tool to identify vulnerable tenants earlier and prevent crises. As major social landlords responsible for over 12,000 homes, their key data—income, repairs, vulnerabilities, damp and mould—sits in disconnected systems, often leaving risks unnoticed until people are in crisis. The aim is to develop AI-powered early-warning alerts to support proactive, risk-based, human-centred interventions. 
Contact: Zoe Cox (zoe.cox@scambs.gov.uk) or Keryn Jalli (keryn.jalli@cambridge.gov.uk)
 

  1. Multiple Predictive Applications (Huntingdonshire District Council)

Huntingdonshire has identified several potential areas for AI-supported predictive modeling:

  • Forecasting for temporary accommodation (aiming to reduce homelessness)
  • Environmental health compliance: predicting which food businesses might fall below compliance standards
  • Predictive maintenance for parks and playground assets, with better optimisation of inspection schedules
  • Hotspot identification for ASB, fly-tipping, and graffiti for more targeted interventions
  • Climate and flood risk modelling to support planning and climate strategies

Contact: Harriet Robinson (harriet.robinson@huntingdonshire.gov.uk)

6. Evidence Synthesis & Research Methods
AI for Evidence Synthesis and Public Health Evaluation (Cornwall Council)
Cornwall's Health Development and Research Centre is interested in several projects related to AI applications in public health and research:

  • Evaluating the performance of AI evidence synthesis tools for rapid evidence reviews
  • AI applications to support evaluation of public health interventions (e.g., summarising qualitative survey data, designing RCT protocols, developing population sampling frames)
  • Using AI tutors for upskilling council officers in specific research methods (e.g., learning R for particular user needs)

Contact: Dugald Foster (dugald.foster@cornwall.gov.uk)

7. Planning & Governance
 Intelligent Planning Tool (Huntingdonshire District Council)
Huntingdonshire is interested in developing some kind of intelligent planning tool that would be scalable (especially for Local Government Reorganisation) and deliver time savings.
Contact: Harriet Robinson (harriet.robinson@huntingdonshire.gov.uk)
 

8. Local Plan Evidence Summarisation (Huntingdonshire District Council)
Automated summarisation of local plan evidence, with the potential to reduce external consultancy costs.
Contact: Harriet Robinson (harriet.robinson@huntingdonshire.gov.uk) 

9. Governance & Transport Assessment (Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority)
The Combined Authority has two proposals:

  1. Governance - Local Assurance Framework quality assurance review: A defined framework for the review and approval of investment decisions. Each local council/Combined Authority/public body has to follow a central government-agreed assurance model, so there's clear potential for scalability.
  2. Transport model data assessments: Assessments of new development or infrastructure schemes. Given the proposed scale of housing developments across Cambridgeshire, this is particularly timely.

Contact: Chris Bolton (chris.bolton@cambridgeshirepeterborough-ca.gov.uk)

10. Transport & Infrastructure
Transport Projects Support (University Estates Division)
Jess Cunningham from the University Estates Division (Strategic Transport Projects) is engaged with GCP/Connecting Cambridge SMART team as well as the University Transport Team and is keen to support or engage with relevant projects.
Contact: Jess Cunningham (jc2014@cam.ac.uk)

-------------------------------------------------
 
Next Steps
If any of these opportunities interest you:

  1. Reach out directly to the council contacts provided - they're keen to discuss collaborations.
  2. Consider the AI Accelerator funding: Applications are for up to £25,000 and the deadline is 13 February 2026. Find out more details on how to apply.
  3. Get in touch with ai@cam if you have questions about the programme or need support making connections.

Legacies of Enslavement: Small Grants Funding

Summary: The Legacies of Enslavement Initiative offers funding to support small‑scale projects and activities that advance the aims of the Initiative. Applications are  welcome from individuals or groups across the University undertaking work that contributes to research, engagement, or understanding in this area.

[Application Form]

Award: Up to £5,000

Funder Deadline: 27 February 2026

Contact: For further questions, contact legaciesnetwork@admin.cam.ac.uk.

Legacies of Enslavement, call for proposals: Two research projects

Summary: This call invites established researchers in the University of Cambridge to propose projects in the broad field of Legacies of Enslavement. Funding will be allocated to two projects. Proposers will be the Principal Investigator and the funding allocated will support the appointment of one Post Doctoral Research Associate in each project for a period of two years. The remit of these projects is wide, encompassing either historical work across any discipline, or research that addresses contemporary legacies and afterlives of systems of enslavement and forced labour. The criteria for selection will be the excellence of the selected project’s contribution to knowledge;  its feasibility within the timeframe; and its relationship to the objectives of the Legacies of Enslavement Initiative.

[Application form]

Award: Each research project will cover the salary of a PDRA for 24 months.

Funder Deadline: 27 February 2026

Contact: For further questions, contact legaciesnetwork@admin.cam.ac.uk.

CamPo Partnership Scheme

Summary: Interested researchers active in the arts, humanities and social sciences from the six schools in the University of Cambridge and within all of Sciences Po’s research centres are invited to apply online now for collaborative grants of up to £3,000. Projects must be completed by December 2026.

Applications may be submitted via the online form: Collaborative Research.

CamPo projects should align with the following criteria for success:
 

  • The production of academic publications and public policy contributions stemming from the various research collaboration efforts;
  • The development of applications for large scale externally funding projects that include Cambridge and Sciences Po academics as co-investigators or as leading members of a wider consortium;
  • A sustainable Anglo-French collaborative research partnership in their specific area.

 
Each proposal may be submitted by either the Cambridge or Sciences Po co-applicant but must include partners from both institutions in all cases.
 
Project completion & expenditure deadline: 1 December 2026.
Outcomes: week commencing 23 March 2026.

Full scheme notes are available via this webpage link.

Award: £3,000 per project (as per this call)

Funder Deadline: 27 February 2026

Contact: For questions or support, please contact: campo@admin.cam.ac.uk

Enhanced Funding Scheme

Summary: Enhanced funding to deliver researcher development activities for PhD students is available to Departments and Faculties by application to support high-cost events and any activities involving external speakers or specialists.

Examples of activities funded in the past include workshops on the topics of communication and managing difficult conversations, translating research into practice, unconscious bias, self-confidence, etc.

Award: The budget for Enhanced Funding is £60k per annum. There is no specific funding envelope per round of applications); decisions will be made based on the quality of the proposals received. Expenditure and available funds will be kept under review by the central PgED team and Schools will be kept informed of progress.

Funder Deadline: 13 April 2026

Contact: Dr Sonja Tomašković at st560@cam.ac.uk

Isaac Newton Trust Emergency Bridge & Underwriting

Summary: Designed to provide support for emergency bridging or underwriting needs for early career, postdoctoral, researchers. Such needs will be considered on a case-by-case basis and should focus on retaining exceptional staff members during funding gaps.

Award: Up to £30,000 for a project duration between 3 and 6 months.

Funder Deadline: 04 June 2026

Contact: Katie Barnes, Deputy Trust Administrator, at administrator@newtontrust.cam.ac.uk

Isaac Newton Trust Project Start-up Grants

Summary: Designed to support the establishment of new, stellar quality, visionary projects. Trustees will be looking for relevant expertise and the attainment of results in the time available. Applications could be for seed-corn funding, collecting pilot data, or similar start-up or exploratory research.

Award: Up to £30,000 for a project duration of up to 12 months

Funder Deadline: 04 June 2026

Contact: Katie Barnes, Deputy Trust Administrator, at administrator@newtontrust.cam.ac.uk

Isaac Newton Trust Fellowship Support

Summary: Designed to contribute match or top-up funding towards an externally awarded Early Career Fellowship to be held at the University. This may include salary or consumables support. Please note that the INT supports the Leverhulme Early Career Fellowships under a different scheme.

Award: Up to £30,000 for a project duration of up to 3 years.

Funder Deadline: 04 June 2026

Contact: Katie Barnes, Deputy Trust Administrator, at administrator@newtontrust.cam.ac.uk

Early and Mid-Career Academic Mentoring Scheme - Expressions of Interest
 

Currently open

Following a successful pilot, the Early-Mid Career Academic Mentoring Scheme will run for a second year in Easter Term 2026.
 
The scheme is designed to support early–mid career academics in their professional development, leadership capability, career confidence, and wellbeing. Mentoring conversations provide a confidential space for guided reflection, personal development, and exposure to new perspectives. Mentees will be matched with mentors from outside their department and immediate area of work, creating a supportive and impartial environment.
 
The scheme is open to prospective mentees who are staff at grades 9–10 on either a Research & Teaching or Teaching & Scholarship contract. We’re particularly keen to hear from new mentors who are Senior Academics (grade 11 and above).
 
If you are interested in being a mentee or mentor or would like to find out more, please complete this short Expression of Interest form or contact LOD@admin.cam.ac.uk. Please note that submitting an expression of interest does not guarantee a place on the scheme.

Creating Video Content for Social Media, two-day training session
 

06 February 2026, 10.00 to 13.00
06 March 2025, 10.00 to 13.00
West Hub

[BOOK NOW]

This bespoke two-session training programme is designed specifically for the West Hub community, empowering participants with practical skills and confidence in creating engaging video content for social media platforms.

Through hands-on learning, collaborative group tasks, and personalised feedback, participants will develop a comprehensive understanding of video content creation from concept to social media platforming. All training materials will be hosted on Google Drive/Google Classroom, enabling participants to access slides, make notes in real-time, complete interactive tasks, and build a collaborative learning environment throughout the programme.

NCACE Evidence Cafe: Knowledge Exchange Framework & KE Metrics
 

12 February 2026, 13.30 to 15.00
Online

In this Evidence Café session, we are delighted to invite colleagues from the Policy Evidence Unit for University Commercialisation and Innovation (UCI) - University of Cambridge to share key findings from the work they have been undertaking for Research England (RE) in developing the next generation of Knowledge Exchange (KE) data and metrics.
 
The session builds on a workshop held in collaboration between NCACE, UCI, and Royal Northern College of Music on 16th of September 2025 at The Warburg Institute that set out to explore the following questions:

  • What is the value delivered by university KE in the arts and cultural sectors
  • What types of KE should be captured in a modern KE framework?
  • How can we better assess the health of the KE system and the value it delivers?

This Evidence Café session presents an important opportunity for discussion and input to the draft report. It builds on key themes that emerged from the September workshop while creating a space for further input to the ways that knowledge exchange (KE) in the arts and humanities can be best measured, understood, valued and rewarded. You can read our blog from the September workshop.
 
Contributors include:
Dr Valeria Ramirez (UCI, University of Cambridge)
Dr Michelle Phillips (Royal Northern Conservatoire of Music)
Dr Patrycja Kaszynska (University of the Arts)
Evelyn Wilson (Co-Director, NCACE) and Dr Mai Musié (Senior Manager, NCACE)

Pathways 2 Programme
 

20 February 2026, application deadline

Pathways is a national UKRI funded programme designed to support the next generation of research and innovation leaders in the UK, for Project Leads funded by UKRI as an additional post-award development opportunity.
 
Through a combination of targeted workshops, expert-led sessions, and peer learning, the programme offers participants a semi-structured pathway to develop leadership capability, navigate career progression, and engage with the wider UK research and innovation landscape. Designed around an opt-in model, participants will have access to in-person and online activities.
 
A key feature of the programme is the creation of inclusive leadership cohorts, fostering long-term peer support, collaboration, and professional networks that continue beyond the formal programme. Participants benefit from a community of researchers and innovators who share knowledge, opportunities, and experiences, helping to accelerate leadership development across the UK.
 
The Pathways 2 programme is open to both UKRI Fellows and New Investigator Research Grant holders or equivalent targeted schemes supporting researchers in their transition to an independent research career, with the aim of helping them establish a research group, develop their own research vision, and build leadership capacity.
 
Applicants will also need to be a project lead on an active UKRI grant from January 2026 through July 2027, covering the duration of the Pathways 2 programme from point of application.
 
If you’re not sure if you’re eligible or have a query, feel free to contact us at HelloPathways@flfdevnet.com.

 

AHSS Bulletin January 2026

AHSS Research and Impact Facilitation Bulletin

January 2026

 

If you want to discuss funding opportunities or you are working on an application for research funding and would like feedback on a draft, please do contact the School’s Research Facilitators – Anna Cieslik (UK Funding) and Elizabeth Penner (EU/International Funding). 

You can find more information on the AHSS Research Website, search our External Funding Deadline Calendar and look at Previous Bulletins.  We are also now on Twitter! Follow us for updates on funding calls and information sessions.

 

UK Research Council Funding

  • Pre-announcement: Northern Ireland Election Study 2026 to 2031 (TBC) ESRC
  • Pre-announcement: British Election Study 2027 to 2032 (TBC) ESRC
  • Creative Industries Clusters: round two, outline stage (14 January 2026, internal workshop; 03 March 2026, outline stage) AHRC
  • Focal awards: multilingual futures for UK growth and connectivity (26 January 2026, internal expression of interest deadline) AHRC
  • Focal awards: art history, visual arts and creative practice (26 January 2026, internal expression of interest deadline) AHRC
  • Design Generators (05 February 2026, restricted internal deadline) AHRC
  • AHRC-DFG Research Grants: Round Eight, 2025 to 2026 (11 February 2026) AHRC and DFG
  • ADR UK Research Fellowships 2025 (26 February 2026) ESRC
  • Pre-announcement: International Placement Scheme 2026 (19 March 2026) AHRC and ESRC
  • Pre-announcement: UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship Round 11 (24 March 2026, internal restricted call) UKRI
  • Metascience research grants round 2 (23 April 2026) UKRI

 

EU Funding

  • 2026-27 Horizon Europe Funding Opportunities: with a focus on arts, humanities and social science research
  • EU Grants funding Newsletter
  • Proof of Concept (13 March 2026 and 17 September 2026)

 

Charity Funding

  • British Academy Call for proposals - Measurement of social and cultural infrastructure in the higher education sector (04 February 2026)
  • Wellcome Trust Early Career Award (17 February 2026)
  • Leverhulme Trust Research Project - Outline Application (27 February 2026) 
  • ISRF Flexible Grants for Small Groups (13 March 2026)
  • Nuffield Foundation Strategic Fund (16 March 2026)
  • Wellcome Trust Genomics in Context Awards: collaborative research at the intersection of genomics, humanities, social sciences and bioethics (16 March 2026)
  • Wellcome Trust Career Development Award (26 March 2026)
  • Wellcome Trust Discovery Award (31 March 2026)
  • Leverhulme Trust Visiting Professorship (01 May 2026)

 

Internal Funding

  • Large Grant Contribution Fund (rolling deadline; minimum 4 weeks before funder deadline)
  • REF Impact Fund (rolling deadline)
  • All Council Harmonised IAA Impact Starter Fund Call 2022-2026 (rolling deadline)
  • Impact Funding Callout (rolling deadline)
  • Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Impact Starter Fund Call 2025-2026 (rolling deadline)
  • Isaac Newton Trust Collection-based Research in the Humanities (30 January 2026)
  • University Diversity Fund (30 January 2026)
  • Isaac Newton Trust Strategic Awards (05 February 2026)
  • Isaac Newton Start-up Grants (05 February 2026)
  • Isaac Newton Fellowship Support (05 February 2026)
  • Isaac Newton Emergency Bridge & Underwriting (05 February 2026)
  • Local Government AI Accelerator (13 February 2026) ai@cam
  • Enhanced Funding Scheme (13 April 2026)

 

Training / Other

  • SHAPE Ideas Incubator 2025 (12 January 2026)
  • FameLab (16 January 2026)
  • Grant writing workshop – ECRs and PhD students in data science and AI (16 January 2026)
  • Applying to Nuffield Funding: Supporting Black Researchers (21 January 2026)
  • Cambridge InterActive Academy (23 January 2026, registration deadline)
  • Call for proposals: Research Culture Festival 29 April to 13 May 2026 (30 January 2026)
  • AI & SSH-STEM Collaboration Brokerage Event (25 February 2026)
  • Horizon Europe info days - Cluster 2 Culture, creativity and inclusive society (26 March 2026)

 

Pre-announcement: Northern Ireland Election Study 2026 to 2031

Summary: This is a pre-announcement and the information may change. When the funding opportunity opens, more information will be available on this page. Please contact us if you are interested in this opportunity and we will notify you when the opportunity is updated and open.

The aims of this opportunity will be:

  • to identify a team and host institution to lead Northern Ireland Assembly and UK General Election studies in Northern Ireland between 2026 and 2036
  • to deliver data collection on the anticipated 2027 Northern Ireland Assembly election and the anticipated 2029 UK General Election in Northern Ireland

ESRC’s objectives for the successful applicant will be to:

  • produce high-quality data that meets the needs of the research, policy and practice communities, building on the existing politically independent time series data, and ensure those communities have timely access to the data
  • promote the use of the data by the research and wider stakeholder communities, including to maximise the public benefit of the data through informing policy, practice and the public
  • collaborate with the other UK election studies to facilitate meaningful comparison of elections in the UK and the views and behaviour of UK electorates

Award: The duration of this award is a maximum of 60 months. The scheme will fund: Staff costs; Data collection, distribution and promotion; Engagement and collaboration activity; Travel and subsistence.

Funder Deadline: TBC

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Pre-announcement: British Election Study 2027 to 2032

Summary: This is a pre-announcement and the information may change. When the funding opportunity opens, more information will be available on this page. Please contact us if you are interested in this opportunity and we will notify you when the opportunity is updated and open.

The aims of this funding opportunity will be:

  • to identify a team and host institution to lead the British Election Study (BES) between 2027 and 2037.
  • to deliver data collection on the anticipated 2029 UK General Election in Great Britain, and surveys aligned to local elections.

Our objectives for the successful applicant will be to:

  • produce high-quality data that meets the needs of the research, policy and practice communities, building on the existing politically independent time series data, and ensure those communities have timely access to the data
  • promote the use of the data by the research and wider stakeholder communities, including to maximise the public benefit of the data through informing policy, practice and the public
  • collaborate with the other UK election studies to facilitate meaningful comparison of elections in the UK and the views and behaviour of UK electorates

Award: The duration of this award is a maximum of 60 months. The scheme will fund: Staff costs; Data collection, distribution and promotion; Engagement and collaboration activity; Travel and subsistence.

Funder Deadline: TBC

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Creative Industries Clusters: round two, outline stage and workshop

Summary: AHRC’s Creative Industries Clusters bring together universities, businesses, local and regional policymakers, and private funders to drive research, innovation and growth in the creative industries. Led by UK universities, the clusters create research and development (R&D) driven commercial opportunities, strengthen regional capabilities and deliver real world impacts. They are a proven route to co-investment, leverage and the creation of jobs, skills, products and experiences that bring economic, social and cultural benefits to regions and the UK.

This is a major, institution-level funding opportunity aimed at supporting regional innovation through the arts, humanities, design, and creative sectors. The scale and structure of the programme mean that any Cambridge involvement will need to be strategically coordinated across the University, but only if there is a clear and compelling academic case to do so. 

Early indications from the AHRC suggest a strong emphasis on: 

  • regions that have not previously received Creative Cluster investment; 
  • collaboration across 2–5 HEIs; 
  • partnerships with local government, cultural institutions, and creative SMEs; 
  • and new methodological approaches that show how arts and humanities research can energise and connect local and devolved economies. 

Preliminary discussions with UEA, NUA, ARU, and the University of Suffolk have highlighted the possibility of a consortium bid centred on the cultural, environmental, and civic challenges facing Cambridge and East Anglia, and on the contribution that arts and humanities-led research can make to the region’s creative and economic life. Cambridge’s involvement would only proceed if there is a strong academic community interested in shaping such a bid and leading the research agenda. 

If AHRC’s call follows earlier rounds, Creative Clusters funding could support: 

  • multi-year R&D programmes; 
  • postdoctoral researchers and creative practitioner fellows; 
  • research partnerships with museums, archives, councils, and creative businesses; 
  • new collaborative infrastructures for practice-based and place-based work; 
  • and pathways to REF impact, KEF evidence, and sustained regional partnerships. 

 
Our aim at this stage is to understand whether colleagues see potential for their own research to contribute to such a programme and to ensure that any direction Cambridge takes is shaped by academic expertise and interests from the outset. 
 
 A workshop about this funding opportunity will be held on 14 January 2026, 12noon-2pm, at the Council Room in Old Schools. It will be used to discuss the call, explore thematic directions, identify intellectual leadership, and gauge how Cambridge’s arts, humanities and social sciences might contribute to a regional cluster, should the opportunity prove viable. 
 
If you would like to attend this workshop or if you wish to be kept informed as the call develops, register here. 

Award: AHRC will contribute funding of up to £6,750,000 per application. Except for devolved funding, AHRC will fund 80% of the FEC

Workshop date: 14 January 2026

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Focal awards: art history, visual arts and creative practice

Summary: The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) have announced a funding opportunity to form Doctoral Focal Awards to unlock the potential of art history, visual arts and creative practice by capitalising on wide-ranging opportunities to exploit new technologies and contribute to the cultural and creative sectors. These consortium-model training grants with HEI and non-HEI partners will provide up to 25-30 doctoral studentships in total per award, to be delivered through three cohorts starting from 2026/27.

Although HEIs may take part in as many consortia as they wish, any HEI may submit a maximum of one application as the lead applicant. 

The School of Arts and Humanities is establishing a group comprised of senior academics to consider expressions of interest to identify Cambridge's lead projects for submission to the AHRC.    

Proposals must involve a minimum of one other higher education institution, and a minimum of one partner beyond academia.   
   
Projects should be designed to meet the following objectives:   

  • deliver world-class doctoral training and development including cohort experience 
  • provide opportunities for students, preparing them to follow a diversity of career paths within and beyond academia 
  • support research capacity in specific strategic areas, addressing national and global challenges and delivering UKRI’s mission to drive UK growth and improve lives, doing so through arts and humanities doctoral research and by fostering interdisciplinary approaches 
  • advance current understanding, generate new knowledge, and develop the breadth of expertise for the future of the research and innovation workforce 
  • address underrepresentation in the AHRC-funded doctoral community 
  • enable opportunities for students across art history and the visual arts to employ state of the art techniques and innovative new technologies to advance knowledge in the field and contribute to the UK economy 
  • enable innovation by enhancing collaboration between art history and creative practice 
  • enhance knowledge exchange within academia and between academia and the cultural and creative sectors for the benefit of the economy and wider society 

  
Ambition  
The theme’s ambition is to create opportunities for innovation in and across art history, visual arts, and creative practice, drawing where appropriate on allied areas such as design. This will produce a cohort of students who are equipped to contribute to UK growth, including: 

  • addressing known and anticipated skills gaps and shortages in interdisciplinary, sector-focused approaches 
  • diversifying and growing the research talent pool within and beyond academia 
  • embedding interdisciplinary working which draws on advanced techniques and technologies 
  • fostering deep connectivity with creative industries, museums, galleries and heritage organisations and other forms of professional practice. Embedding co-design of research and training to ensure direct engagement with the sector and responsiveness to sector needs 
  • training which is inclusive and sector-wide, ensuring modules, workshops, and professional development opportunities are accessible to doctoral students across the wider UK art history, visual arts and creative practice communities 
  • connecting bespoke disciplinary training to broader AHRC and institutional offers in research methods, digital skills and leadership 
  • training programmes that include creative entrepreneurship, innovation pathways and routes to impact to enable students to develop their research or careers in a commercial setting 

  
The AHRC particularly encourages applications which:  

  • bring art historians and visual art specialists into collaborations with technologists (including critical technologies and digital humanities), industry and the creative economy to address skills gaps and societal challenges and unlock new opportunities 
  • enhance innovation and contribute to the wider impacts of art history, visual arts and creative practice to support real-life applications 
  • demonstrate benefit for the wider discipline, through open training, co-supervision, or shared access to collections, archives, and digital platforms 
  • include practice-led approaches and linkages with business, management, or MBA programmes as indicators of innovation, leadership, and economic relevance 

   
Internal Expression of Interest:   
The expression of interest should not be longer than 3 pages. They should:    

  • confirm a theme the bid would be for;    
  • provide brief information on how they would address the above criteria;    
  • confirm which partners would be involved in the consortium; and    
  • which Faculties and Departments within the University would be eligible to host funded doctoral students.   

We encourage interested parties to attend the AHRC webinar on this scheme, taking place on 21 January 2026 as well as our internal information session in mid-January as well as our internal information session in mid-January. For the latter, please register your interest to receive an invitation: AHRC Doctoral Focal Awards (DFA) - Art history, visual arts and creative practice  – Fill in form.   
   
Timeline:   
16 December 2025 - Call for Internal Expression of Interest   
21 January 2026 2:00pm to 3:00pm – AHRC webinar: Register for the webinar (Zoom) 
26 January 2026 – Deadline for submitting Internal Expressions of Interest  
17 February 2026 4pm – Funder submission deadline   

Award: The consortia will train three cohorts of students undertaking a three and a half to four year doctorate on a full-time basis, or equivalent part-time. The first cohort will start in the 2026 to 2027 academic year and the final cohort will start in 2028 to 2029. The duration of this award is a minimum of six academic years.

You can apply for between 25 and 30 studentships over the lifetime of the award. Our funding profile means that slightly more studentships will be available for the last cohort, for example if you were applying for 25 studentships, the ratio would be 8:8:9.

AHRC provides funding based on up to four years per student (stipend and fees). This includes:

  • individual training and development activity for the student
  • cohort-based training and development activity
  • additional stipend for Collaborative Doctoral Awards (CDAs) and London weighting where applicable

Internal Deadline: Please submit your internal expression of interest to the School of Arts and Humanities by 26 January 2026 to the csahoffice@admin.cam.ac.uk email address.   

Research Facilitation Contact: If you have any queries, please don’t hesitate to contact us at csahoffice@admin.cam.ac.uk.

 

Focal awards: multilingual futures for UK growth and connectivity

Summary: The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) have announced a funding opportunity to form Doctoral Focal Awards to unlock linguistic and cultural expertise to build the high-level skills, innovation capacity, and global connections that underpin the UK’s growth and prosperity. These consortium-model training grants with HEI and non-HEI partners will provide up to 12-20 doctoral studentships in total per award, to be delivered through four cohorts starting from 2028/29.

Although HEIs may take part in as many consortia as they wish, any HEI may submit a maximum of two applications as the lead applicant in one.
 
The School of Arts and Humanities is establishing a group comprised of senior academics to consider expressions of interest to identify Cambridge's lead projects for submission to the AHRC.   

Proposals must involve a minimum of one other higher education institution, and a minimum of one partner beyond academia.  
  
Projects should be designed to meet the following objectives:  

  • deliver world-class doctoral training and development including cohort experience 
  • provide opportunities for students, preparing them to follow a diversity of career paths within and beyond academia 
  • support research capacity in specific strategic areas, addressing national and global challenges and delivering UKRI’s mission to drive UK growth and improve lives, through arts and humanities doctoral research and by encouraging interdisciplinary approaches 
  • advance current understanding, generate new knowledge, and develop the breadth of expertise for the future of the research and innovation workforce 
  • address underrepresentation in the AHRC-funded doctoral community 
  • enable opportunities for students across specific languages and language-grounded research areas, thereby supporting the pipeline of skilled language researchers within and beyond academia 
  • enhance collaboration and knowledge exchange within academia and between academia and other sectors for the benefit of the students, members of the focal award consortia, and wider society 

Ambition 
The theme’s ambitions, to be achieved using arts and humanities research, narrative, and innovation at doctoral level, are to: 

  • address known and anticipated research skills gaps and shortages in languages and language-grounded research (It is expected that students recruited to the focal award will have expertise in two or more languages (including their native language) to support genuinely bi-lingual or multi-lingual research) 
  • diversify and grow the research talent pool within and beyond academia 
  • encourage interdisciplinary working and co-design of research which draws on diverse multilingual and inter-cultural communities and practitioners

The AHRC particularly encourages applications which: 

  • develop models that bring language specialists into collaboration with technologists, including in critical technologies, digital humanities, industry, and the creative economy to address skills gaps, societal challenges and unlock new opportunities 
  • enhance innovation and contribute to wider impacts of language-grounded research, such as cultural, economic, environmental, policy and social impacts 
  • build on the current developments in digital technologies and research methodologies to support real-life applications that enrich language learning and expertise 
  • enable languages communities to be more sustainable and resilient 

Internal Expression of Interest:  
The expression of interest should not be longer than 3 pages. They should:   

  • confirm a theme the bid would be for;   
  • provide brief information on how they would address the above criteria;   
  • confirm which partners would be involved in the consortium; and   
  • which Faculties and Departments within the University would be eligible to host funded doctoral students.  

We encourage interested parties to attend our internal information session in mid-January. For the latter, please register your interest to receive an invitation: https://forms.office.com/e/nULNbq4ggF.  

Timeline: 
9 December 2025 - Call for Expression of Interest  
Mid-January 2026 (tbc) – Internal, online information session Register your interest 
26 January 2026 – Deadline for submitting Internal Expressions of Interest 
25 February 2026 2:00pm to 3:00pm – AHRC webinar Register for webinar 2 
21 April 2026 4pm – Submission deadline  

Award: You can apply for between 12 and 20 studentships over the lifetime of the award. AHRC’s funding profile means that slightly more studentships will be available for the first two cohorts, for example if you were applying for 14 studentships, the ratio would be 4:4:3:3. At the outline stage, an indication of the number of studentships you could support is sufficient.

AHRC provides funding based on up to four years per student (stipend and fees). This includes:

  • individual training and development activity for the student
  • cohort-based training and development activity
  • additional stipend for Collaborative Doctoral Awards (CDAs) and London weighting where applicable

Internal Deadline: 26 January 2026, deadline for submitting Internal Expressions of Interest 

Research Facilitation Contact: Please submit your expression of interest to the School of Arts and Humanities by 26 January 2026 to the csahoffice@admin.cam.ac.uk email address.  

 

Design Generators

Summary: The AHRC has announced the Design Generators. AHRC will award £150,000-£200,000 per project (funded at 80% fec) for innovative, design-led research projects of 9-12 months duration that contribute to the green transition. The aim is to generate new arts and humanities-based approaches and methodologies that harness design to address environmental sustainability, decarbonisation, circular economies, policy design and regenerative practices. The majority of the disciplinary focus of the project must fall within AHRC’s subject remit (see section 7 of the AHRC research funding guide) and 50% of the application must comprise and evidence at least 50% design discipline coverage. The call is open to researchers across all career stages (see the Who is eligible to apply section for more information on eligibility). Every project must have a non-academic partner (examples include businesses, public sector organisations, third sector, civil society or community organisations) that supports the proposed activities and has the capacity to commit to delivering impact. 
 
For full information about the call, please see the call page. AHRC will host a webinar for this call on 11 February which those interested can register for here.
 
University Internal selection:  
Lead research organisations can only submit 2 applications and these applications must be substantively different from each other in terms of team composition and project objectives. Therefore, this call will be managed according to the University’s restricted calls procedure. Your Department’s Research Grants Team and/or Departmental Administrator (or equivalent) must be made aware of your internal application, and a support letter signed by the Head of Department is required.  
 
To take part in the internal selection, please complete our online form by 05 February, 2026 (NB: if asked to log-in, please use your CRSID/Raven details; note that a Form cannot be saved and returned to). 
 
You will need the following documents and information to complete the Form:  

  • a document containing a list of team members, their roles in the project and their organisational affiliation(s)
  • project summary (max 900 words) addressing the 3 assessment criteria below. 
  • support letter from the Head of the Department that will host the award confirming their support for the project and agreement to host the award.

 
Internal Assessment Criteria: 
Please note that the assessment of internal applications will focus on the following core funder criteria: 

  • Vision: the proposed work is of excellent quality and importance, timely and impactful internationally as well as locally, regionally and nationally. 
  • Approach: the design is effective and appropriate to achieve the objectives, is feasible and has been designed to generate impact
  • Applicant and team capability to deliver: evidences how the applicant and, if relevant, the team has relevant experience and the right balance of skills, including leadership and management and developing a positive research environment, to deliver the work.

Award: The full economic cost (FEC) of your project can be up to £200,000. AHRC will fund 80% of the FEC. These awards can be between 9 to 12 months in duration.

Funder Deadline: 05 February 2026, restricted call deadline; 09 April 2026, funder deadline

Research Facilitation Contact: If you have any queries, please don’t hesitate to contact us at researchstrategy@admin.cam.ac.uk.

 

AHRC-DFG Research Grants: Round Eight, 2025 to 2026

Summary: Both AHRC and DFG are aware that some of the best research can only be achieved by working with the best researchers internationally. Accordingly, the aims of the funding opportunity are:

  • to support academic research of the highest quality in the humanities undertaken by UK-German teams, whose primary aim is to make fundamental advances in human knowledge
  • to deepen and strengthen cooperation between UK and German researchers in the humanities, and to foster the growth of a transnational UK-German research culture

Only applications whose primary aim is to make fundamental advances in human knowledge in the relevant fields may be submitted in response to the funding opportunity. If you are uncertain as to whether your application would be eligible you should contact AHRC or DFG for clarification.

The funding opportunity will be open to applications addressing any research topic where there is significant potential to advance knowledge through collaborative research bringing together UK arts and humanities researchers whose research falls within the remit of the AHRC, and humanities researchers in Germany.

Award: The full economic cost of the UK-component of your project can be up to £420,000. Your project can last between 24 to 36 months.

Funder Deadline: 11 February 2026

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Elizabeth Penner

 

ADR UK Research Fellowships 2025

Summary: We are looking for research proposals that utilise ADR England flagship datasets and meet the following four ADR UK Research Fellowship objectives:

  • Useful Research: act as ‘pathfinders’ for conducting research and deriving insights from the linked datasets which showcase the potential for policy impact and public benefit. This must also include addressing the advertised research priorities
  • Useful Data: develop our flagship datasets as useful research resources for future users
  • Useful Engagement: foster opportunities to engage with government and the public to shape the project to deliver impact and to maintain public acceptance for the use of data for research purposes
  • Community Building: boost the applicant’s development as a research leader using administrative data, and to personally contribute to the creation and development of wider, self-sustaining communities of practice

Award: Researchers can apply for a fellowship:

  • up to 18 months in duration
  • up to a maximum of £200,000 for the entire fellowship

We advise on the following time commitments which needs to be reflected in the grant costings and within the maximum sum available:

  • a maximum of 0.4 full-time equivalent during the ‘initial’ stage (first three months)
  • a minimum of 0.6 full-time equivalent for the ‘core’ research phase (remaining 15 months).

Funder Deadline: 26 February 2026

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Pre-announcement: International Placement Scheme 2026

Summary: Apply for a funded placement at an international institution. Placements are available at the following institutions:

  • United States: Harry Ransom Center, Huntington Library, Library of Congress, Smithsonian Institution, Yale Centre for British Art
  • Japan: National Institutes for the Humanities (NIHU)
  • China: Shanghai Theatre Academy

Award: £1,000 for travel and visa costs (£1,200 for travel to Japan and China) and £2,500 for each month of the placement. Applicants can apply for two to six months of funding.

Internal Deadline: For Cambridge PhD students the internal deadline for applications is 05 March 2026. 

Current students should also notify the Student Funding and Fee Policy Team by emailing research.council.funding@admin.cam.ac.uk by the end of January 2026 at the latest.  Please also confirm which institution you will be applying to.

Research Facilitation Contact: research.council.funding@admin.cam.ac.uk

 

Pre-announcement: URKI Future Leaders Fellowships, Round 11

Summary: UKRI has pre-announced their Future Leaders Fellowship Round 11 call. This scheme aims to support the most talented early career researchers and innovators who are transitioning to or establishing research independence. The number of applicants that the University of Cambridge is permitted to submit is capped at 10 for this round and the call will therefore be managed according to the University’s restricted calls policy. 
 
Fellowships run on a 4+3 year model with total award values typically up to around £2m. The scheme is open to both UK applicants and international applicants looking to take up a role at a UK-based organisation. 
 
Following the same approach as for previous rounds, there is no outline stage for this call and so applicants that are successful at the internal selection will move immediately to the full application stage. More information on the scheme can be found on the call webpage. Note that this is currently a pre-announcement and the information will be updated ahead of the call opening on 2nd February. 

Schools have been asked to each provide a ranked lists of individuals they recommend are supported to apply to this round of funding. Departments should therefore await communication from their School office to understand the selection/ranking process and timetable. 
 
If there are more applications put forward by the Schools than the UKRI limit of 10, the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research will review the numbers and rankings, and we will contact the Schools to confirm the number of applications each School may submit. Please note that applicants that haven’t been through the School ranking stage of the internal selection process will not be accepted or included in the University of Cambridge submission for this funding call. 
 
The deadline for submission of full applications to UKRI is 18th June 2025. The usual Research Operations Office deadline policies apply to this call and Department’s should seek advice on accurate costing of the Fellow’s salary by contacting the appropriate ROO based team for your School. 
 
Applications to this call will require a Pro-Vice-Chancellor Support statement. Further information regarding the process for this element will be circulated to the successful internal applicants and their Departments.
 
Award: There is no minimum or maximum project cost. UKRI will fund 80% of the full economic cost (FEC).

Internal deadline: 24 March 2026 is the internal deadline for Schools to pass on ranked list of supported applicants and summary of internal selection process to researchstrategy@admin.cam.ac.uk 

Other deadlines: 02 February 2026, funder opens call; 09 June 2026, ROO deadline for full applications (5 working days prior to the funder deadline); 16 June 2026, funder deadline for submission of full applications

Research Facilitation Contact: If you have any queries, please don’t hesitate to contact us at researchstrategy@admin.cam.ac.uk

 

Metascience research grants round 2

Summary: This funding opportunity aims to accelerate the generation of evidence on how we can improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and inclusivity of the research and development (R&D) ecosystem. For this round, we are interested in how the adoption of AI is changing the research landscape , how to optimally design and lead research institutions; and how to measure and understand scientific progress at scale.
In this funding opportunity, we are focussing on three themes to build our metascience portfolio. Applications should fit under one of the following themes.

Science of AI for Science:
How the adoption of AI is changing the research landscape, how this helps and/or hinders scientific progress, and how governments, industry and funding organisations should respond.

Effective design and leadership of research organisations
This includes empirical comparison of institutional models, the drivers of programme manager and research performance, the application of evidence from management and behavioural science to improve organisational structures and practices in research environments, and the effectiveness of interventions to support inclusive, high-performing research cultures.

Scientometric approaches to understanding research excellence, efficiency, and equity
This includes the development, validation, and generalisable use of metrics and indicators to assess research quality, influence, and impact, the development or application of indicators to advance the curation and synthesis of science at scale, and the behavioural consequences of metric use in research evaluation and funding decisions.

Award: The full economic cost (FEC) of your project can be up to £250,000 or £350,000 with an international partner. UKRI will fund 80% of the FEC.

Funder Deadline: 23 April 2026

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

2026-27 Horizon Europe Funding Opportunities: with a focus on arts, humanities and social sciences research

With the publication of the 2026-27 Work Programme of Horizon Europe and the UK’s associated member status, there are numerous funding opportunities available to Cambridge researchers. Net4Society have published a document highlighting SHSS Opportunities that span across the different clusters. Please click here to read. This PDF [here] also outlines specific opportunities for AHSS researchers.

The European Commission adopted the main Horizon Europe work programme for 2026-2027, a €14 billion investment designed to drive research and innovation (R&I) across the EU's strategic goals. These goals include achieving climate neutrality, boosting the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in research and innovation, and ensuring resilience in a rapidly changing world.

If you are a researcher working in the Arts, Humanities or Social Sciences and you have any questions about applying to Horizon Europe funding, please do not hesitate to get in contact with Dr Elizabeth Penner, AHSS Research Facilitator (EU/Intl funding)

 

EU Grants Funding Newsletter

You can sign up for our free daily EU grants and funding newsletter (English) by filling out this form. A digest of upcoming funding opportunities will arrive directly to your mailbox. If you would like to access all funding opportunities on our portal, you need to subscribe to the membership.

 

ERC Proof of Concept

Summary: The ERC Proof of Concept funding is made available only to those who already have an ERC award to establish proof of concept of an idea that was generated in the course of their ERC-funded projects.

Frontier research often generates radically new ideas that drive innovation and business inventiveness and tackle societal challenges. The ERC PoC Grants aim at facilitating exploration of the commercial and social innovation potential of ERC funded research and are therefore available only to PIs whose proposals draw substantially on their ERC funded research.

Proof of Concept Grants aim at maximising the value of the excellent research that the ERC funds, by funding further work (i.e. activities which were not scheduled to be funded by the original ERC frontier research grant) to verify the innovation potential of ideas arising from ERC funded projects.

Award: A lump sum of € 150,000 for a period of 18 months.

Funder Deadline: 13 March 2026 and 17 September 2026

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Elizabeth Penner

 

British Academy Call for proposals - Measurement of social and cultural infrastructure in the higher education sector

Summary: Social and cultural infrastructure refers to the spaces, services and structures that bring people together, and that can strengthen the social and cultural fabric of our communities. The Academy’s most recent phase of work in this area explores how social and cultural infrastructure can best be measured and valued, and what role different institutions and sectors play in creating, supporting and enhancing this infrastructure.

The overarching research questions are:

  • What are the benefits and challenges provided by the social and cultural infrastructure measurement framework, both to individual institutions, and to the higher education sector more broadly?
  • What do the insights garnered by the framework reveal about universities’ role, and potential role, in relation to social and cultural infrastructure, as approached through the three-part typology set out in the invite to tender?

A successful project is expected to address the above questions by working with a methodologically appropriate selection of universities/university departments to explore how the measurement framework can be developed and used for further research.

Award: The BA expects to make a single award of up to £60,000 (excluding VAT). The research project must begin in March 2026, and the final report is expected to be delivered by December 2026.

Funder Deadline: 04 February 2026

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Wellcome Trust Early-Career Awards

Summary: This scheme provides funding for early-career researchers from any discipline who are ready to develop their research identity. The researcher will deliver shifts in understanding that could improve human life, health and wellbeing. By the end of the aware, they will be ready to lead their own independent research programme. Project duration is usually 5 years, but may be less for some disciplines and longer if held on a part-time basis.

Award: Your salary and up to £400,000 for research expenses.

Funder Deadline: 17 February 2026

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Leverhulme Trust Research Project - Outline Application

Summary: Research Project Grants provide financial support for research projects of high quality and potential, the choice of theme and the design of the research lying entirely with the applicant (the Principal Investigator). 

Award: The maximum grant value is £500,000. Research Project Grants may be held for up to five years.

Funder Deadline: 27 February 2026

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

ISRF Flexible Grants for Small Grants

Summary: The Independent Social Research Foundation wishes to support independent-minded researchers to explore and present original research ideas which take new approaches, and suggest new solutions, to real world social problems. Principal Investigator(s) will lead a small group of 2-10 scholars (which may include graduate students). 

The Foundation supports innovative research which crosses established disciplinary boundaries and critically challenges incumbent theories and approaches, so as to address afresh empirical problems with no currently adequate theory or investigative methodology. Innovation may also come from controversial theoretical approaches motivated by critical challenge of incumbent theories. Projects ranging across the breadth of the social scientific disciplines and interdisciplinary research fields are welcome, and relevant applications from scholars working within the humanities are also encouraged.

Award: Up to a maximum of £7,500

Funder Deadline: 13 March 2026

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Nuffield Foundation Strategic Fund

Summary: The Nuffield Foundation’s Strategic Fund is  open to ambitious, cross-cutting research  proposals that seek to address some of the  most pressing social challenges of our time.

The Strategic Fund is reserved for the funding of original, transformative ideas that have the scale and ambition to anticipate and address some of the most significant themes and  developments shaping the UK public policy agenda, now and in the future. These are major grants, typically in the range of £1–3 million and are expected to last between two and  five years. 

Strategic Fund applications should respond to one or more of our five priority questions, and/or explore the connections between them:

  • How can we build a prosperous and fair society, where people are secure
  • How can we build an inclusive society, where people thrive and feel they belong, in the context of changing
    demography and ways of life?
  • How can we ensure that rapid developments in science and technology work for people and society?
  • How can policies to address climate change be developed in a way that promotes a prosperous, fair and inclusive society? 
  • How can we build and maintain the effective, accountable and trustworthy institutions that our society and democracy need and can fulfil their potential?

Award: Between £1 million and £3 million

Funder Deadline: 16 March 2026

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Wellcome Trust Genomics in Context Awards

Summary: These awards will support transdisciplinary teams to catalyse research discoveries at the intersection of genomics, humanities, social sciences and bioethics. Funded projects will be given the time and resources to create new research agendas and explore innovative ways of working.

There is a long history of exploring the social, legal and ethical contexts of genomics. This has made significant inroads into fostering more ethical and equitable practice. However, this has often been too limited and too late. Wider humanities and social science fields are underrepresented; communities or other social partners are often not centred; and these perspectives are often only included after key research decisions have already been made. This not only poses ethical challenges. It means that the discovery research potential of wider and earlier collaboration remains unrealised.

This call is aimed at addressing this issue and supporting novel, transdisciplinary teams to explore this area by enabling:

  • An increased breadth of collaborative partners – building inter- and transdisciplinary teams across genomics-related life sciences, humanities, social science and wider societal partners to purposefully engage in research at their unique intersections.
  • The earlier integration of partners – bringing new partners together at the conceptual stage of a research agenda (research ideation, design and partnership building), so that research ideas and avenues can be explored and co-developed in new and innovative ways.
  • A focus on Discovery Research – shifting the focus away from specific ethical questions, often applied at the end of a research lifecycle, to an emphasis on co-developing novel discovery research from the outset.
  • A plan for integrated collaboration across the research lifecycle that harmonises and leverages the skills and perspectives of diverse contributors. 

Award: Up to £500,000 for a project duration between 12 and 24 months.

Funder Deadline: 16 March 2026

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Wellcome Trust Career Development Award

Summary: This scheme provides funding for mid-career researchers from any discipline who have the potential to be international research leaders. They will develop their research capabilities, drive innovative programmes of work and deliver significant shifts in understanding that could improve human life, health and wellbeing.
.
Award: Provides a salary for the grantholder (if required) and research expenses. Please request for level and duration of funding that's justifiable for your proposed research.

Funder Deadline: 26 March 2026

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Wellcome Trust Discovery Awards

Summary: This scheme provides funding for established researchers and teams from any discipline who want to pursue bold and creative research ideas to deliver significant shifts in understanding related to human life, health and wellbeing. 

Research questions should generate knowledge that leads to a shift in understanding or delivers new insight into how human life and health work. We welcome proposals that may have a clinical or societal impact or have translational potential, but the focus should be on discovery research.   

We fund research into the: 

  • fundamental processes that underpin biology, to understand more about how human life works
  • complexities of human health and disease, including clinical and population-based approaches
  • burden of disease and its determinants where this brings new and transformational knowledge
  • development of methodologies, conceptual frameworks, technologies, tools or techniques that could benefit health-related research
  • needs, values and priorities of the people and communities affected by disease and health disparities
  • social, ethical, cultural, political, economic and historical contexts of human health and disease.

Award: The average size of a Discovery Award is £3.5 million. Applications above £5 million will be subject to additional scrutiny. Awards can be up to 8 years, but may be less for some disciplines, and may be longer if held on a part-time basis. The average duration of a Discovery Award is 7 years, although we have supported awards from 3 to 8 years.

Funder Deadline: 31 March 2026

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Leverhulme Trust Visiting Professorship

Summary: For UK institutions to invite an eminent senior professor from overseas, to bring genuinely novel expertise and enhance the skills and knowledge of academic staff and students in an underrepresented area in the UK. Priority will be given to new or recent collaborations and visits with a variety of activities beyond research.

Award: Applications are invited for a minimum of £10,000 and a maximum of £150,000.  A Visiting Professorship must last at least 3 months. Grants between 3 and 6 months must be completed in one visit. Grants between 6 and 12 months can be spread over two or more visits, with 12 months being the maximum duration for a visit.

Funder Deadline: 01 May 2026

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Large Grant Contribution Fund

Summary: Research grant applications for funding over £1 million for AHSS subject areas can request financial contributions from this fund. Funding may be requested for activities that are complementary to the external funding and contributions from Departments / Schools / Non-school institutions. Activities that add value in the following areas are particularly encouraged: widening participation and inclusion; improving partnerships locally / nationally / internationally; capacity and capability building; working with less advantaged partners. Leveraging funding for existing grant awards is not in the remit of this fund. All applications must include one or more external partners and only applications led by Cambridge PIs are eligible.

Award: Up to 10% of the award value. PI buyout and equipment are not eligible costs for request.

Funder Deadline: Minimum 4 weeks before funder deadline.

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik and Rpc@admin.cam.ac.uk

 

All Council Harmonised IAA Impact Starter Fund Call 2024-2025

Summary: Impact Starter funding will be available on a rolling basis to fund short-term projects of up to three months duration. Projects are expected to be short, cost-effective ways of kick-starting impact creation from research findings. The Impact Starter Fund will only consider projects that do not qualify for other IAA funding calls.

Award: Varies.

Funder Deadline: Rolling basis

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Lucy Sheerman

 

Impact Funding Callout

Summary: The University of Cambridge AHRC Impact Acceleration Account (IAA) and the Social Science Impact Fund (SSIF) will open during Michaelmas term. 

The overall purpose of this fund is to support ‘on the ground’ impact and knowledge exchange activities. Awards will be made available to fund work that will significantly increase the probability of the ideas and findings generated by the research having a non-academic impact on the private, public, and third sectors. Collaborative, innovative, and co-funded projects are encouraged.  

Full information on eligible projects and the application process will be circulated as soon as possible.  

Award: Awards will be made in the region of £5,000 to £25,000, covering 100% of directly incurred costs but not indirect costs.  

Funder Deadline: Rolling basis

Research Facilitation Contact: All interested applicants are strongly encouraged contact Dr Lucy Sheerman (Arts and Humanities Impact Facilitator) and Dr Tina Basi (Social Sciences Impact Facilitator) to discuss their proposal before application. Preliminary discussions ahead of the call opening are welcome.

 

Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Impact Starter Fund Call 2025-2026

Summary: The Impact Starter Fund sits within the schools of Humanities and Social Sciences and Arts and Humanities wider AHSS impact hub, providing a supportive space for researchers to explore early-stage impact and knowledge exchange ideas. As the first step to achieving impact, it helps researchers develop skills, explore approaches, build the collaborations needed for creating real-world impact, and longer-term engagement with partners and collaborators. 
 
At a glance: 

  • Funding available up to £15,000 per project   
  • Rolling call with no deadline  
  • Project duration can be up to 6 months, and all funds must be spent within the project timelines  
  • Activities must demonstrate a link with underpinning research  
  • Applicants are encouraged to consider novel and innovative approaches to participatory methods and knowledge exchange  
  • Applicants are encouraged to consider ways in which projects might contribute to the broader culture of engagement and collaboration,  develop researchers’ skills, partnerships, participatory methods, and knowledge exchange approaches. 

 
All AHSS Researchers (post PhD) and UTOs are eligible to apply.
 

Award: Between £10,000–£15,000 to support 3–6 month projects.

Funder Deadline: Rolling basis

Research Facilitation Contact: All interested applicants are strongly encouraged contact Dr Lucy Sheerman (Arts and Humanities Impact Facilitator) and Dr Tina Basi (Social Sciences Impact Facilitator) to discuss their proposal before application.

 

Isaac Newton Trust Collection-based Research in the Humanities

Summary: Collections, libraries, archives and galleries are the ‘laboratories’ of humanities scholars. Collegiate Cambridge has a wealth of such collections, large and small, as well as collections within collections that may not be well known to scholars or whose research potential is yet to be fully appreciated and realised. While most repositories welcome new research and scholarship of their holdings, they are often limited in supporting such research because of staff shortage or limited funds for conservation. 

The purpose of this scheme is to promote enhanced engagement with physical items in the collection, so in-person, modest-sized meetings are encouraged. Applications to part-fund a single large international conference are therefore unlikely to succeed.

Award: Up to £5,000

Funder Deadline: 30 January 2026

Contact: administrator@newtontrust.cam.ac.uk

 

University Diversity Fund

Summary: The University Diversity Fund (UDF) was launched in 2019 by former Vice-Chancellor, Professor Stephen Toope. This initiative provides up to £1500 to staff and student-led activities which have the following objectives:

  1. Challenge discrimination and inequalities.
  2. Increase the representation of underrepresented groups.
  3. Raise awareness of issues related to equality, diversity, and inclusion.
  4. Facilitate implementation of good practice at the University.

All UDF projects must impact staff and/or students at the University of Cambridge. Although the panel welcomes projects that will benefit both the University community and the wider external community, proposals that focus only on external groups or communities are unlikely to be successful.

Award: Up to £1,500

Funder Deadline: 30 January 2026

Contact: equality@admin.cam.ac.uk

 

Isaac Newton Trust Strategic Awards

Summary: Trustees are interested to see applications which catalyse new forms of collaboration aiming to generate institutional, perhaps interdisciplinary programmes and projects of strategic value to the University for the promotion of education or research. Proposed research projects should aim to be transformational with a prospect of longevity and financial sustainability. Applications need to be supported by a Pro-Vice-Chancellor or Chair of School.

If you are considering making an application for a Strategic Research Project, please contact the Director in the first instance to discuss your proposal.

Award: Up to £500,000 for a project duration of up to 5 years.

Funder Deadline: 05 February 2026 (Outline Stage Application). Full Application by invitation only.

Contact: administrator@newtontrust.cam.ac.uk

 

Isaac Newton Trust Project Start-up Grants

Summary: Designed to support the establishment of new, stellar quality, visionary projects. Trustees will be looking for relevant expertise and the attainment of results in the time available. Applications could be for seed-corn funding, collecting pilot data, or similar start-up or exploratory research.

Award: Up to £30,000 for a project duration of up to 12 months

Funder Deadline: 05 February 2026

Contact: Katie Barnes, Deputy Trust Administrator, at administrator@newtontrust.cam.ac.uk

 

Isaac Newton Trust Fellowship Support

Summary: Designed to contribute match or top-up funding towards an externally awarded Early Career Fellowship to be held at the University. This may include salary or consumables support. Please note that the INT supports the Leverhulme Early Career Fellowships under a different scheme.

Award: Up to £30,000 for a project duration of up to 3 years.

Funder Deadline: 05 February 2026

Contact: Katie Barnes, Deputy Trust Administrator, at administrator@newtontrust.cam.ac.uk

 

Isaac Newton Trust Emergency Bridge & Underwriting

Summary: Designed to provide support for emergency bridging or underwriting needs for early career, postdoctoral, researchers. Such needs will be considered on a case-by-case basis and should focus on retaining exceptional staff members during funding gaps.

Award: Up to £30,000 for a project duration between 3 and 6 months.

Funder Deadline: 05 February 2026

Contact: Katie Barnes, Deputy Trust Administrator, at administrator@newtontrust.cam.ac.uk

 

Local Government AI Accelerator

Summary: New funding scheme supports collaborative research projects between University of Cambridge and local authorities.

The University of Cambridge is launching a new funding scheme to support collaborative AI research and development projects with local government partners. The ai@cam Local Government AI Accelerator will provide grants of up to £25,000 for proof-of-concept projects that address shared challenges across multiple councils.

The fund represents a new approach to AI innovation in public services, connecting academic expertise with real-world operational needs. Projects must demonstrate clear buy-in from at least one local authority partner, be led by a University of Cambridge researcher eligible to hold funding, and deliver results within 12 months.

The initiative builds on ai@cam’s work with local government partners across Cambridgeshire and beyond. Early AI adopters in local government are already demonstrating the technology’s potential in areas like social care, planning consultation analysis, and infrastructure maintenance. This collaboration aims to support councils in identifying promising AI applications and developing appropriate solutions.

Information Session
We will be hosting an upcoming Q&A information session about the funding scheme from 10:00 - 11:00, Thursday 15 January. You can register for this session here

Award: Funded projects will receive up to £25,000 for 9-12 months of proof-of-concept development, with ongoing support through monthly community of practice sessions and technical support clinics with ai@cam’s machine learning engineers. A final showcase will document lessons learned and explore pathways for scaling successful solutions across the sector.

Funder Deadline: 13 February 2026

Contact: If you have any questions around eligibility or the application process, please contact Jess Montgomery (jkm40@cam.ac.uk).

 

Enhanced Funding Scheme

Summary: Enhanced funding to deliver researcher development activities for PhD students is available to Departments and Faculties by application to support high-cost events and any activities involving external speakers or specialists.

Examples of activities funded in the past include workshops on the topics of communication and managing difficult conversations, translating research into practice, unconscious bias, self-confidence, etc.

Award: The budget for Enhanced Funding is £60k per annum. There is no specific funding envelope per round of applications); decisions will be made based on the quality of the proposals received. Expenditure and available funds will be kept under review by the central PgED team and Schools will be kept informed of progress.

Funder Deadline: 13 April 2026

Contact: Dr Sonja Tomašković at st560@cam.ac.uk

AHSS Bulletin December 2025

AHSS Research and Impact Bulletin: December 2025

 UK Research Council Funding 

 

 EU/International Funding 

    

Charity Funding 

 

Internal Funding 

Training 

 

Isambard-AI and Dawn AIRR supercomputers: Innovator route

Summary: Apply for up to 150,000 graphics processing unit (GPU) hours on the Isambard-AI and Dawn supercomputers for artificial intelligence (AI) related research and development projects. This route:

  • provides flexible computational support for AI-related research and development projects that will expand AI capabilities and push current AI boundaries
  • encourages the formation of broader research teams and partnerships, fostering multidisciplinary and multi-sectoral innovation

Potential AI-related research and development topics include, but are not limited to:

  • development of novel algorithms and software tools
  • exploring AI-assisted workflows
  • AI-driven data collection, production and synthesis
  • early-stage development of AI products

Within these novel and developing areas, we are particularly keen to hear from projects that contribute to delivering against the government’s five missions:

  • growing the economy
  • an NHS fit for the future
  • safer streets
  • opportunity for all
  • making Britain a clean energy superpower

This route covers activities that fall into the following categories:

  • fundamental research
  • feasibility studies
  • industrial research
  • experimental development

Award: You can apply for between 50,000 and 150,000 GPU hours to be used over a six-month project. No funding is provided.

Funder Deadline: 16 January 2026

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

AHRC and BBC New Generation Thinkers 2026

Summary: This scheme offers early career researchers the opportunity to work with programme makers at BBC Radio 4. If selected, you’ll be partnered with a BBC Radio 4 programme or BBC Audio unit where you will develop an understanding of how programmes on BBC Radio 4 are made. Additionally, you will take part in learning and development opportunities with the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) around working with the media, engaging the public with research and how to work with policymakers.

Award: There is no grant funding attached to being an NGT. AHRC and BBC will provide contributions or cover costs where appropriate as set out below.

The AHRC will provide learning and development opportunities for the five NGTs, the majority of which will be online. For any in-person opportunities, such as the communications training workshop on the 28 May 2026 , AHRC will cover the costs of travel and subsistence and will book any hotel accommodation needed.

The BBC will provide an induction day for each NGT with the programme or unit that is hosting them. The BBC will book train tickets for this where necessary and pay for a hotel room if the working hours of the programme fall outside office hours (as Woman’s Hour does, for example). The cost of lunch for this induction day could be reimbursed according to BBC rates. At the induction day, the mentor for each of the NGTs will set out the plans for the year and go through any BBC rates and opportunities to claim for travel and subsistence. The BBC has a set payment rate for any appearances on air, which might be in person or via Zoom, depending on the programme needs.

Internal Deadline: The Research Operations Office deadline for submitting these applications is 26 January, 4pm. Please note:

  • These applications require Departmental approval
  • When an applicant presses “submit”, the application is sent directly to the Research Office
  • The Research Office will seek confirmation of Departmental support, before submitting the application to funder by 28 January 2026

Research Facilitation Contact: Please contact your local Research Grants Administrator.

 

AHRC-DFG Research Grants: Round Eight, 2025 to 2026

Summary: Both AHRC and DFG are aware that some of the best research can only be achieved by working with the best researchers internationally. Accordingly, the aims of the funding opportunity are:

  • to support academic research of the highest quality in the humanities undertaken by UK-German teams, whose primary aim is to make fundamental advances in human knowledge
  • to deepen and strengthen cooperation between UK and German researchers in the humanities, and to foster the growth of a transnational UK-German research culture

Only applications whose primary aim is to make fundamental advances in human knowledge in the relevant fields may be submitted in response to the funding opportunity. If you are uncertain as to whether your application would be eligible you should contact AHRC or DFG for clarification.

The funding opportunity will be open to applications addressing any research topic where there is significant potential to advance knowledge through collaborative research bringing together UK arts and humanities researchers whose research falls within the remit of the AHRC, and humanities researchers in Germany.

Award: The full economic cost of the UK-component of your project can be up to £420,000. Your project can last between 24 to 36 months.

Funder Deadline: 11 February 2026

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Elizabeth Penner

 

ADR UK Research Fellowships 2025

Summary: We are looking for research proposals that utilise ADR England flagship datasets and meet the following four ADR UK Research Fellowship objectives:

  • Useful Research: act as ‘pathfinders’ for conducting research and deriving insights from the linked datasets which showcase the potential for policy impact and public benefit. This must also include addressing the advertised research priorities
  • Useful Data: develop our flagship datasets as useful research resources for future users
  • Useful Engagement: foster opportunities to engage with government and the public to shape the project to deliver impact and to maintain public acceptance for the use of data for research purposes
  • Community Building: boost the applicant’s development as a research leader using administrative data, and to personally contribute to the creation and development of wider, self-sustaining communities of practice

Award: Researchers can apply for a fellowship:

  • up to 18 months in duration
  • up to a maximum of £200,000 for the entire fellowship

We advise on the following time commitments which needs to be reflected in the grant costings and within the maximum sum available:

  • a maximum of 0.4 full-time equivalent during the ‘initial’ stage (first three months)
  • a minimum of 0.6 full-time equivalent for the ‘core’ research phase (remaining 15 months).

Funder Deadline: 26 February 2026

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Pre-announcement: International Placement Scheme 2026

Summary: Apply for a funded placement at an international institution. Placements are available at the following institutions:

  • United States: Harry Ransom Center, Huntington Library, Library of Congress, Smithsonian Institution, Yale Centre for British Art
  • Japan: National Institutes for the Humanities (NIHU)
  • China: Shanghai Theatre Academy

Award: £1,000 for travel and visa costs (£1,200 for travel to Japan and China) and £2,500 for each month of the placement. Applicants can apply for two to six months of funding.

Internal Deadline: For Cambridge PhD students the internal deadline for applications is 05 March 2026. 

Current students should also notify the Student Funding and Fee Policy Team by emailing research.council.funding@admin.cam.ac.uk by the end of January 2026 at the latest.  Please also confirm which institution you will be applying to.

Research Facilitation Contact: research.council.funding@admin.cam.ac.uk

 

Focal awards: multilingual futures for UK growth and connectivity

Summary: This Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) opportunity seeks to unlock linguistic and cultural expertise to build the high-level skills, innovation capacity, and global connections that underpin the UK’s growth and prosperity.It has been designed to meet the following objectives:

  • deliver world-class doctoral training and development including cohort experience
  • provide opportunities for students, preparing them to follow a diversity of career paths within and beyond academia
  • support research capacity in specific strategic areas, addressing national and global challenges and delivering UKRI’s mission to drive UK growth and improve lives, through arts and humanities doctoral research and by encouraging interdisciplinary approaches
  • advance current understanding, generate new knowledge, and develop the breadth of expertise for the future of the research and innovation workforce
  • address underrepresentation in the AHRC-funded doctoral community
  • enable opportunities for students across specific languages and language-grounded research areas, thereby supporting the pipeline of skilled language researchers within and beyond academia
  • enhance collaboration and knowledge exchange within academia and between academia and other sectors for the benefit of the students, members of the focal award consortia, and wider society

This opportunity responds to evidence of declining capacity in language-grounded disciplines and the wider skills gap in advanced communication, translation, and cultural intelligence. It seeks to enable UK growth and renew the UK’s leadership in multilingual, globally connected research and to ensure a sustainable talent pipeline in areas critical to economic growth, social cohesion, and international engagement, recognising linguistic diversity as a cultural, political and social asset.

Award: AHRC will support up to 20 studentships per award over four cohorts and funding will be provided at the usual UKRI rates. The first cohort of students will start in October 2028.

Funder Deadline: 21 April 2026. **Please note that this is a restricted call and will be managed by the Research Strategy Office. There will be internal deadlines (TBA) in advance of the Funder Deadline.**

Research Facilitation Contact: Please contact the Research Strategy Office

 

Pre-announcement: Design Generators

Summary: Design is a discipline that applies user, customer, citizen or community-centred approaches to creativity and invention to ensure more successful outcomes. These may include the built environment, physical products, digital, or other services and systems that underpin how we live. Success in this context may mean economic, social, environmental, or a combination of all three.

The Design Generators aim to fund innovative, design-led research projects that contribute to the green transition. They seek to generate new arts and humanities-based approaches and methodologies that harness design to address environmental sustainability, decarbonisation, circular economies, policy design and regenerative practices. Funding will be provided to:

  • co-develop interventions with a non-academic partner to assist sustained impact beyond the life of the grant
  • engage collaboratively with communities or stakeholders, ensuring relevance and responsiveness to lived experience
  • promote green transition-supportive behaviour change, either through deliberative policymaking and (de)regulation or through ‘nudging’
  • highlight the value of academic design research in addressing real-world, locally relevant challenges arising along the journey to net zero and a green economy

This round will focus on creating interventions within existing systems. These systems may include, but are not limited to, healthcare, food networks, governance structures, financial infrastructures, and other societal frameworks. We are particularly interested in projects that approach these systems from a community perspective and use design thinking and creative methodologies to identify leverage points for positive change.

Information Webinar: 11 February 2026, 11.00 to 12.00. REGISTER HERE.

Award: The full economic cost (FEC) of your project can be up to £200,000. AHRC will fund 80% of the FEC. These awards can be between 9 to 12 months in duration.

Funder Deadline: 23 April 2026

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Metascience research grants round 2

Summary: This funding opportunity aims to accelerate the generation of evidence on how we can improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and inclusivity of the research and development (R&D) ecosystem. For this round, we are interested in how the adoption of AI is changing the research landscape , how to optimally design and lead research institutions; and how to measure and understand scientific progress at scale.
In this funding opportunity, we are focussing on three themes to build our metascience portfolio. Applications should fit under one of the following themes.

Science of AI for Science:
How the adoption of AI is changing the research landscape, how this helps and/or hinders scientific progress, and how governments, industry and funding organisations should respond.

Effective design and leadership of research organisations
This includes empirical comparison of institutional models, the drivers of programme manager and research performance, the application of evidence from management and behavioural science to improve organisational structures and practices in research environments, and the effectiveness of interventions to support inclusive, high-performing research cultures.

Scientometric approaches to understanding research excellence, efficiency, and equity
This includes the development, validation, and generalisable use of metrics and indicators to assess research quality, influence, and impact, the development or application of indicators to advance the curation and synthesis of science at scale, and the behavioural consequences of metric use in research evaluation and funding decisions.

Award: The full economic cost (FEC) of your project can be up to £250,000 or £350,000 with an international partner. UKRI will fund 80% of the FEC.

Funder Deadline: 23 April 2026

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

2025 Horizon Europe Funding Opportunities: with a focus on arts, humanities and social sciences research

Horizon Europe from 2024 Work Programme Calls going forward
Successful UK applicants will be funded by the EU, under the Horizon Europe Programme.
Updates on Association: Please visit the Research Operation Office’s EU pages. 

With the publication of the 2025 Work Programme of Horizon Europe and the UK’s associated member status, there are numerous funding opportunities available to Cambridge researchers. Net4Society have published a document highlighting SHSS Opportunities that span across the different clusters. Please click here to read.

There is also a draft publication of the Horizon Europe 2026-2027 Work programme that can be found here. These are yet to be ratified, but are not likely to change significantly prior to the programme’s ratification in Spring 2026.

If you are a researcher working in the Arts, Humanities or Social Sciences and you have any questions about applying to Horizon Europe funding, please do not hesitate to get in contact with Dr Elizabeth Penner, AHSS Research Facilitator (EU/Intl funding)

 

EU Grants Funding Newsletter

You can sign up for our free daily EU grants and funding newsletter (English) by filling out this form. A digest of upcoming funding opportunities will arrive directly to your mailbox. If you would like to access all funding opportunities on our portal, you need to subscribe to the membership.

 

ERC Consolidator Grant

Summary:  The ERC Consolidator Grant is for researchers of any nationality with 7-12 years of experience since completion of their PhD. This programme is for PIs who will consolidate their own independent research team or programme. PIs must demonstrate the ground-breaking nature, ambition and feasibility of their research proposal.

Award: Up to € 2 million for a period of 5 years. An additional € 1 million can be requested to cover start-up costs, the purchase of major equipment and/or access to large facilities.

Deadline: 13 January 2026

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Elizabeth Penner

 

ERC Proof of Concept

Summary: The ERC Proof of Concept funding is made available only to those who already have an ERC award to establish proof of concept of an idea that was generated in the course of their ERC-funded projects.

Frontier research often generates radically new ideas that drive innovation and business inventiveness and tackle societal challenges. The ERC PoC Grants aim at facilitating exploration of the commercial and social innovation potential of ERC funded research and are therefore available only to PIs whose proposals draw substantially on their ERC funded research.

Proof of Concept Grants aim at maximising the value of the excellent research that the ERC funds, by funding further work (i.e. activities which were not scheduled to be funded by the original ERC frontier research grant) to verify the innovation potential of ideas arising from ERC funded projects.

Award: A lump sum of € 150,000 for a period of 18 months.

Funder Deadline: 13 March 2026 and 17 September 2026

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Elizabeth Penner

 

British Academy / Cara / Leverhulme Researchers at Risk Support Grants

Summary: Funds are available to facilitate initial project planning and development; research assistance; and to enable the advancement of research through conference/workshop or visits by or to partner scholars. Eligible researchers include the following except where their research falls within the medical and health sciences which is not eligible:

  • Existing award-holders through Cara’s Fellowship Programme.
  • Applicants to Cara’s Fellowship Programme who have been deemed eligible for support and for whom a placement is being sought (awards will only be paid over once the placement is secured).
  • Existing award-holders through the British Academy’s Researchers at Risk Fellowship Programme.

In addition, to be eligible for this funding applicants must be active postdoctoral (or equivalent level) researcher. They must hold an appropriate UK visa before the funds can be released.

Award: The value of the award is set at a maximum of £10,000. Applications will not be considered for less than £2,000.

Funder Deadline: 14 January 2026

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Endangered Material Knowledge Programme (EMKP) Documentation Grants

Summary: The EMKP offers small and large grants to document material knowledge systems that are under threat and in danger of disappearing. This includes knowledge systems associated with the making, use, repair, and re-purposing of material objects, spaces, architecture, performances, and environments. The EMKP Documentation Grants support the documentation of endangered material knowledge systems.

Documentation methods can include but are not limited to, film, audio recordings, photographs, written notes, maps, 3D models, and drawings. Successful applicants will be required to submit digital copies of these records to be uploaded to the EMKP open-access repository, which is hosted by the British Museum.

Applicants can apply for grants irrespective of nationality and academic background, however, they must apply with a Host Institution that can provide independent financial and ethical oversight for their project. There is no restriction on where the proposed work can be carried out, but priority will be given to projects in regions and countries where existing financial support for research is limited.

Award: Small Grants can last up to one year with a maximum award of £20,000. Large Grants can last up to two years with a maximum award of £100,000.

Funder Deadline: 19 January 2026

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

British Academy Conference Scheme

Summary: The British Academy Conferences scheme presents an exceptional opportunity for UK-based scholars to run a landmark event featuring leading-edge research as part of the Academy’s events programme. The scheme includes a strand of British Academy/Wellcome Conferences, designed to foster discussion and debate on health and wellbeing related themes.

Awards in this round are for conferences to be held 1 April 2027 - 31 March 2028 (the earliest start date for a conference would be 1 April 2027).

Award: Up to £20,000 per conference is available for British Academy/DSIT conferences. For conferences on health and wellbeing under the British Academy/Wellcome scheme, the upper limit of awards is £25,000.

Many awards will be made at a lower level, with sums in the region of £10,000-£15,000 likely. The awarding committee will aim to offer sums to make viable each conference that it selects for support, but in some instances, it may offer less than was sought.

Funder Deadline: 29 January 2026

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Wellcome Trust Early-Career Awards

Summary: This scheme provides funding for early-career researchers from any discipline who are ready to develop their research identity. The researcher will deliver shifts in understanding that could improve human life, health and wellbeing. By the end of the aware, they will be ready to lead their own independent research programme. Project duration is usually 5 years, but may be less for some disciplines and longer if held on a part-time basis.

Award: Your salary and up to £400,000 for research expenses.

Funder Deadline: 17 February 2026

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Leverhulme Trust Research Project - Outline Application

Summary: Research Project Grants provide financial support for research projects of high quality and potential, the choice of theme and the design of the research lying entirely with the applicant (the Principal Investigator). 

Award: The maximum grant value is £500,000. Research Project Grants may be held for up to five years.

Funder Deadline: 27 February 2026

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Nuffield Foundation Strategic Fund

Summary: The Nuffield Foundation’s Strategic Fund is  open to ambitious, cross-cutting research  proposals that seek to address some of the  most pressing social challenges of our time.

The Strategic Fund is reserved for the funding of original, transformative ideas that have the scale and ambition to anticipate and address some of the most significant themes and  developments shaping the UK public policy agenda, now and in the future. These are major grants, typically in the range of £1–3 million and are expected to last between two and  five years. 

Strategic Fund applications should respond to one or more of our five priority questions, and/or explore the connections between them:

  • How can we build a prosperous and fair society, where people are secure
  • How can we build an inclusive society, where people thrive and feel they belong, in the context of changing
    demography and ways of life?
  • How can we ensure that rapid developments in science and technology work for people and society?
  • How can policies to address climate change be developed in a way that promotes a prosperous, fair and inclusive society? 
  • How can we build and maintain the effective, accountable and trustworthy institutions that our society and democracy need and can fulfil their potential?

Award: Between £1 million and £3 million

Funder Deadline: 16 March 2026

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Wellcome Trust Career Development Award

Summary: This scheme provides funding for mid-career researchers from any discipline who have the potential to be international research leaders. They will develop their research capabilities, drive innovative programmes of work and deliver significant shifts in understanding that could improve human life, health and wellbeing.
.
Award: Provides a salary for the grantholder (if required) and research expenses. Please request for level and duration of funding that's justifiable for your proposed research.

Funder Deadline: 26 March 2026

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Wellcome Trust Discovery Awards

Summary: This scheme provides funding for established researchers and teams from any discipline who want to pursue bold and creative research ideas to deliver significant shifts in understanding related to human life, health and wellbeing. 

Research questions should generate knowledge that leads to a shift in understanding or delivers new insight into how human life and health work. We welcome proposals that may have a clinical or societal impact or have translational potential, but the focus should be on discovery research.   

We fund research into the: 

  • fundamental processes that underpin biology, to understand more about how human life works
  • complexities of human health and disease, including clinical and population-based approaches
  • burden of disease and its determinants where this brings new and transformational knowledge
  • development of methodologies, conceptual frameworks, technologies, tools or techniques that could benefit health-related research
  • needs, values and priorities of the people and communities affected by disease and health disparities
  • social, ethical, cultural, political, economic and historical contexts of human health and disease.

Award: The average size of a Discovery Award is £3.5 million. Applications above £5 million will be subject to additional scrutiny. Awards can be up to 8 years, but may be less for some disciplines, and may be longer if held on a part-time basis. The average duration of a Discovery Award is 7 years, although we have supported awards from 3 to 8 years.

Funder Deadline: 31 March 2026

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Leverhulme Trust Visiting Professorship

Summary: For UK institutions to invite an eminent senior professor from overseas, to bring genuinely novel expertise and enhance the skills and knowledge of academic staff and students in an underrepresented area in the UK. Priority will be given to new or recent collaborations and visits with a variety of activities beyond research.

Award: Applications are invited for a minimum of £10,000 and a maximum of £150,000.  A Visiting Professorship must last at least 3 months. Grants between 3 and 6 months must be completed in one visit. Grants between 6 and 12 months can be spread over two or more visits, with 12 months being the maximum duration for a visit.

Funder Deadline: 01 May 2026

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Large Grant Contribution Fund

Summary: Research grant applications for funding over £1 million for AHSS subject areas can request financial contributions from this fund. Funding may be requested for activities that are complementary to the external funding and contributions from Departments / Schools / Non-school institutions. Activities that add value in the following areas are particularly encouraged: widening participation and inclusion; improving partnerships locally / nationally / internationally; capacity and capability building; working with less advantaged partners. Leveraging funding for existing grant awards is not in the remit of this fund. All applications must include one or more external partners and only applications led by Cambridge PIs are eligible.

Award: Up to 10% of the award value. PI buyout and equipment are not eligible costs for request.

Funder Deadline: Minimum 4 weeks before funder deadline.

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik and Rpc@admin.cam.ac.uk

 

All Council Harmonised IAA Impact Starter Fund Call 2024-2025

Summary: Impact Starter funding will be available on a rolling basis to fund short-term projects of up to three months duration. Projects are expected to be short, cost-effective ways of kick-starting impact creation from research findings. The Impact Starter Fund will only consider projects that do not qualify for other IAA funding calls.

Award: Varies.

Funder Deadline: Rolling basis

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Lucy Sheerman

 

Impact Funding Callout

Summary: The University of Cambridge AHRC Impact Acceleration Account (IAA) and the Social Science Impact Fund (SSIF) will open during Michaelmas term. 

The overall purpose of this fund is to support ‘on the ground’ impact and knowledge exchange activities. Awards will be made available to fund work that will significantly increase the probability of the ideas and findings generated by the research having a non-academic impact on the private, public, and third sectors. Collaborative, innovative, and co-funded projects are encouraged.  

Full information on eligible projects and the application process will be circulated as soon as possible.  

Award: Awards will be made in the region of £5,000 to £25,000, covering 100% of directly incurred costs but not indirect costs.  

Funder Deadline: Rolling basis

Research Facilitation Contact: All interested applicants are strongly encouraged contact Dr Lucy Sheerman (Arts and Humanities Impact Facilitator) and Dr Tina Basi (Social Sciences Impact Facilitator) to discuss their proposal before application. Preliminary discussions ahead of the call opening are welcome.

 

Isaac Newton Trust Project Completion Grants for Mid-Career Researchers in Humanities

Summary: INT is pleased to announce new awards, made possible by a donation from Trinity College. These awards are for Departments and Faculties in the Schools of Arts and Humanities and of Humanities and Social Sciences, and/or (where relevant) Colleges. They are designed to enable mid-career researchers in the humanities to complete their second monograph or a substantial project that qualifies for Research Excellence Framework (REF) submission, by providing the costs of replacement teaching and administrative duties for one term.

Award: Up to £15,000

Funder Deadline: 09 January 2026

Contact: administrator@newtontrust.cam.ac.uk

 

Isaac Newton Trust Collection-based Research in the Humanities

Summary: Collections, libraries, archives and galleries are the ‘laboratories’ of humanities scholars. Collegiate Cambridge has a wealth of such collections, large and small, as well as collections within collections that may not be well known to scholars or whose research potential is yet to be fully appreciated and realised. While most repositories welcome new research and scholarship of their holdings, they are often limited in supporting such research because of staff shortage or limited funds for conservation. 

The purpose of this scheme is to promote enhanced engagement with physical items in the collection, so in-person, modest-sized meetings are encouraged. Applications to part-fund a single large international conference are therefore unlikely to succeed.

Award: Up to £5,000

Funder Deadline: 30 January 2026

Contact: administrator@newtontrust.cam.ac.uk

 

Isaac Newton Trust Strategic Awards

Summary: Trustees are interested to see applications which catalyse new forms of collaboration aiming to generate institutional, perhaps interdisciplinary programmes and projects of strategic value to the University for the promotion of education or research. Proposed research projects should aim to be transformational with a prospect of longevity and financial sustainability. Applications need to be supported by a Pro-Vice-Chancellor or Chair of School.

If you are considering making an application for a Strategic Research Project, please contact the Director in the first instance to discuss your proposal.

Award: Up to £500,000 for a project duration of up to 5 years.

Funder Deadline: 05 February 2026 (Outline Stage Application). Full Application by invitation only.

Contact: administrator@newtontrust.cam.ac.uk

 

Isaac Newton Trust Project Start-up Grants

Summary: Designed to support the establishment of new, stellar quality, visionary projects. Trustees will be looking for relevant expertise and the attainment of results in the time available. Applications could be for seed-corn funding, collecting pilot data, or similar start-up or exploratory research.

Award: Up to £30,000 for a project duration of up to 12 months

Funder Deadline: 05 February 2026

Contact: Katie Barnes, Deputy Trust Administrator, at administrator@newtontrust.cam.ac.uk

 

Isaac Newton Trust Fellowship Support

Summary: Designed to contribute match or top-up funding towards an externally awarded Early Career Fellowship to be held at the University. This may include salary or consumables support. Please note that the INT supports the Leverhulme Early Career Fellowships under a different scheme.

Award: Up to £30,000 for a project duration of up to 3 years.

Funder Deadline: 05 February 2026

Contact: Katie Barnes, Deputy Trust Administrator, at administrator@newtontrust.cam.ac.uk

 

Isaac Newton Trust Emergency Bridge & Underwriting

Summary: Designed to provide support for emergency bridging or underwriting needs for early career, postdoctoral, researchers. Such needs will be considered on a case-by-case basis and should focus on retaining exceptional staff members during funding gaps.

Award: Up to £30,000 for a project duration between 3 and 6 months.

Funder Deadline: 05 February 2026

Contact: Katie Barnes, Deputy Trust Administrator, at administrator@newtontrust.cam.ac.uk

 

Enhanced Funding Scheme

Summary: Enhanced funding to deliver researcher development activities for PhD students is available to Departments and Faculties by application to support high-cost events and any activities involving external speakers or specialists.

Examples of activities funded in the past include workshops on the topics of communication and managing difficult conversations, translating research into practice, unconscious bias, self-confidence, etc.

Award: The budget for Enhanced Funding is £60k per annum. There is no specific funding envelope per round of applications); decisions will be made based on the quality of the proposals received. Expenditure and available funds will be kept under review by the central PgED team and Schools will be kept informed of progress.

Funder Deadline: 13 April 2026

Contact: Dr Sonja Tomašković at st560@cam.ac.uk

 

From Research to Resonance: Turning Ideas into Ventures
 

05 December 2025, 12:30 to 14:30
CRASSH, Alison Richard Building
Lunch will be provided

Wherever you are in your research impact journey — from early exploration to established engagement — this session is designed for you.
Join us for a two-hour workshop that will demystify how research impact is supported at Cambridge and how your ideas can move beyond academia to shape society, culture, business, and industry.

During the session, you will:

  • Hear from Cambridge’s leading innovators and entrepreneurs in the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences who have successfully translated research into real-world products, services, social enterprises, and spinouts.
  • Gain a clear understanding of the University’s impact ecosystem — including the roles of the AHSS Impact Team and Cambridge Enterprise — and how they can support you at every career stage.
  • Explore pathways and funding opportunities to develop business, industry and third sector partnerships, pilot new ideas, and amplify the reach of your research.
  • Connect with peers who are equally committed to turning research into real-world resonance through knowledge exchange and collaboration.

Whether you’re just starting to build a network, are deep into market validation, or scaling an established venture, From Research to Resonance will help you navigate the journey from inspiration to success — and make your research matter beyond the academy.

 

Cultures of Change: Arts and Humanities as a Space of Invention
 

10 December 2025, 14:00 to 18:00
London & Online
[REGISTER]
 
NCACE invites you to join us on 10 December 2025 at 2:00pm (UK time) for a hybrid discussion exploring what sustainability and entrepreneurship mean in the context of arts and humanities research collaborations with the arts and cultural sector.

This session will showcase the ingenuity, innovation and creative approaches already shaping research collaboration. We will consider the wide range of values this work produces and reflect on how these might be more effectively articulated in narratives around “commercialisation and dynamism.”

 

The Collaboration Lab
 

22 December 2025, registration deadline

The Cultures of Change event is aimed at setting the scene for The Collaboration Lab, a new, co-designed pilot programme to support existing partnerships between universities and arts or cultural organisations. The Collaboration Lab will help partners explore creative, practical ways to sustain their collaboration and impact beyond project funding, through a mix of in-person and online workshops, shared learning, and peer-to-peer support. It will be designed to encourage shared, cross-sector thinking across the cohort, building collective learning and collaboration, while also supporting individual projects and ideas that partners want to develop to help make their work more sustainable in the future.

The Collaboration Lab pilot will formally launch on 21 January 2026 with an Ideas Pool event designed to help participating partnerships identify the aspects of their work that have the potential to become sustainable, reflect on their shared goals, and begin shaping the Lab’s co-designed programme.

If you are interested in participating in The Collaboration Lab, you can read more about the pilot here and register your interest in this short form by Monday 22nd December 2025. 

 

SHAPE Ideas Incubator 2026
 

12 January 2026

We are excited to announce that we are once again open for applications to the SHAPE Ideas Incubator, an early-stage entrepreneurship programme designed to support researchers across the Social Sciences, Humanities, and the Arts who are creating impactful social innovations for People, the Planet and the Economy. 

We aim to support researchers who are actively beginning to develop an impactful project (such as a new product or service, a toolkit or training material, an academic consultancy offering, software or data resources, creative media, a social intervention or social enterprise) which goes beyond research, and which could benefit from an innovative or entrepreneurial approach. 

The programme offers practical exposure to social innovation and entrepreneurship, tailored support from a dedicated team at Cambridge Enterprise, and opportunities to collaborate with like-minded researchers. 

The programme consists of four half-day sessions across February to March, culminating in a finale pitching event in April. Each session includes expert support, training, discussion, and time to refine your ideas alongside a cohort of researchers all developing their impactful projects.  

We invite researchers to submit an Expression of Interest form for our upcoming cohort starting in February 2025. Apply to the SHAPE Ideas Incubator. Deadline for submission: 12 January 2025. We welcome you to pass this invitation on to your colleagues who may benefit from the programme.  

Any questions or queries can be directed to the team at ahss@enterprise.cam.ac.uk. 

 

FameLab UK
 

16 January 2026
 
FameLab UK, created by Cheltenham Festivals, is the largest, public facing, science communication competition and training programme in the world and we are absolutely delighted to be the regional hub for the East of England. FameLab offers you a platform to: 

  • Amplify your voice and share your ideas 
  • Boost your confidence in presenting complex theories to a wider audience 
  • Build lasting connections with fellow scientists and STEM professionals 

If successful, you’ll have the incredible opportunity to present your work at Cheltenham Science Festival 2026, a premier event that celebrates the wonders of science with audiences from all over the world. 

Don’t miss your chance to showcase your passion for STEM and Social Sciences be the change you want to see in science communication. Take a look at last year's final here. 

Researchers have just three minutes to communicate their research to their audience and an expert panel of judges. The winner is the speaker who best demonstrates FameLab’s three C’s – Content, Clarity and Charisma. Visit our webpage for more information on how to sign up and contact publicengagement@admin.cam.ac.uk for any questions.  

Save the dates! 
Applications will close on the 16 January 2026. 
Join us for a Welcome to the FameLab Family on the 29 January 2026 at 6pm online. 
Training for all East of England Hub applicants on Content creation will take place on the 2 February 2026 at 12:30pm-2:00pm online. 
Training for East of England semi-finalists on Performance Planning will take place on the 3 March 2026 at 12:00pm-1:30pm online. 
The East of England semifinal will take place in-person in the evening of the 2 April 2026. 

 

Grant writing workshop -- ECRs and PhD students in data science and AI
 

16 January 2026, 13.30 to 16.15
The Glasshouse, 100 Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 1LQ
 
Are you thinking about applying for a grant or fellowship? Is this your first time applying for major funding and would you like to learn about effective grant writing and what makes a strong application?

ECRs and PhD students across all Schools and Departments, with an interest in data science and AI are invited to this Grant Writing Workshop. We welcome all ECRs and PhD students to attend, including those with little or no experience in writing proposals to funding bodies. It is never too early to build your knowledge in this critical area of academia.

Aims
This workshop aims to help ECRs and PhD students working in data science and AI to maximise the chances of securing research funding, grants or a fellowship position.

Workshop
We will start the workshop with a small group elevator pitch exercise. This is a fantastic exercise in communicating our research interests to a broad audience who may have little or no knowledge of your area. This peer-to-peer activity will take place in a supportive and friendly environment, where everyone is gathered to improve their communication skills. If you can verbally communicate complex information quickly, you can use these skills to build a solid written funding application.

A keynote presentation will be delivered by Dr Mia Sato Tackney, MRC Biostatistics Unit. Hear her story from an awardee of a C2D3 Seed Fund in 2023 to a NIHR Advanced Fellowship in 2025.

Finally we will have a panel discussion from four leading academics, to hear their thoughts on what makes a successful funding application, common pitfalls, and strategies for ensuring your writing is persuasive.

Registration
Registration is essential and closes Wed 14th January at 17:00, please see the notes below about entry to the venue.

Register here - University of Cambridge ECRs and PhD students only.

 

Apply to Nuffield Funding: Supporting Black Researchers
 

21 January 2026, 15.00 to 16.00
[REGISTER]
 
Black researchers remain underrepresented across the UK research community, including within the Foundation’s applicants and grant holders. Accessing funding and navigating research opportunities can be challenging for underrepresented groups, limiting the diversity of voices shaping the future of research.

The Nuffield Foundation is committed to being a more inclusive funder and enabling greater representation in social research. To support more equitable access to our funding opportunities, we are hosting a webinar for Black researchers. This session will provide an overview of our funding programmes, insight into our application and assessment processes, and an opportunity for attendees to discuss their ideas with the programme team.   

Follow-up sessions will also be offered for participants seeking more personalised guidance.

What does this webinar include?

How to apply, and the dos and don’ts of a successful funding proposal
Information on the types of research we fund
Our peer review, assessment and decision-making process
Audience Q&A

Who is this event for?

This event is designed for Black researchers, from early career academics to established researchers, who are interested in learning more about Nuffield Foundation funding

AHSS Bulletin November 2025

AHSS Research and Impact Bulletin

November 2025

 

UK Research Council Funding

 

 

EU / International Funding

 

Charity Funding

 

Internal Funding

 

Training / Other

 

 

Early Career Fellowships in Cultural and Heritage Institutions: 2025

Summary: The overall purpose of this funding opportunity is to enable early career postdoctoral (or equivalent) researchers to gain research and career experience in the galleries, libraries, archives, and museums (GLAM) sector.

You will do this through working in a major cultural or heritage host organisation, on a co-designed research project that will also benefit the host organisation.

The objectives of the scheme are to:

  • create new opportunities for early career postdoctoral researchers to build, deepen or broaden their experience of working in, and with, major cultural and heritage organisations
  • develop the fellows’ skills and future research career in areas of relevance to the work, collections and practices of cultural and heritage organisations
  • deliver high quality and impactful research and innovation projects
  • enhance the host organisation’s capacity to undertake research and innovation activities closely aligned with its priorities and strategies, and leading to practical benefits and outcomes for the host
  • address a need across the GLAM sector in respect of the lack of dedicated support at the early stage of research careers
  • promote equality, diversity and inclusion principles
  • strengthen efforts to build and diversify research capabilities in the cultural heritage research and innovation ecosystem
  • further extend the GLAM sector’s engagement with, and contribution to, society
  • catalyse high quality and impactful research and innovation projects

This will be achieved through funding individual fellowships for early career researchers hosted by cultural and heritage independent research organisations, with a complementary programme of networking events and cohort career development activities for the fellows.

Award: Projects can cost up to £312,500 (Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) funds 80%). An expression of interest form must be completed and successful applications will then be invited to apply. Fellowships start 1 January 2027 and last one to two years (longer if part-time).

Funder Deadline: 10 December 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Pre-announcement: Design Generators

Summary: Design is a discipline that applies user, customer, citizen or community-centred approaches to creativity and invention to ensure more successful outcomes. These may include the built environment, physical products, digital, or other services and systems that underpin how we live. Success in this context may mean economic, social, environmental, or a combination of all three.

The Design Generators aim to fund innovative, design-led research projects that contribute to the green transition. They seek to generate new arts and humanities-based approaches and methodologies that harness design to address environmental sustainability, decarbonisation, circular economies, policy design and regenerative practices. Funding will be provided to:

  • co-develop interventions with a non-academic partner to assist sustained impact beyond the life of the grant
  • engage collaboratively with communities or stakeholders, ensuring relevance and responsiveness to lived experience
  • promote green transition-supportive behaviour change, either through deliberative policymaking and (de)regulation or through ‘nudging’
  • highlight the value of academic design research in addressing real-world, locally relevant challenges arising along the journey to net zero and a green economy

This round will focus on creating interventions within existing systems. These systems may include, but are not limited to, healthcare, food networks, governance structures, financial infrastructures, and other societal frameworks. We are particularly interested in projects that approach these systems from a community perspective and use design thinking and creative methodologies to identify leverage points for positive change.

Award: The full economic cost (FEC) of your project can be up to £200,000. AHRC will fund 80% of the FEC. These awards can be between 9 to 12 months in duration.

Funder Deadline: 29 January 2026

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

AHRC-DFG Research Grants: Round Eight, 2025 to 2026

Summary: Both AHRC and DFG are aware that some of the best research can only be achieved by working with the best researchers internationally. Accordingly, the aims of the funding opportunity are:

  • to support academic research of the highest quality in the humanities undertaken by UK-German teams, whose primary aim is to make fundamental advances in human knowledge
  • to deepen and strengthen cooperation between UK and German researchers in the humanities, and to foster the growth of a transnational UK-German research culture

Only applications whose primary aim is to make fundamental advances in human knowledge in the relevant fields may be submitted in response to the funding opportunity. If you are uncertain as to whether your application would be eligible you should contact AHRC or DFG for clarification.

The funding opportunity will be open to applications addressing any research topic where there is significant potential to advance knowledge through collaborative research bringing together UK arts and humanities researchers whose research falls within the remit of the AHRC, and humanities researchers in Germany.

Award: The full economic cost of the UK-component of your project can be up to £420,000. Your project can last between 24 to 36 months.

Funder Deadline: 11 February 2026

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Elizabeth Penner

 

Pre-Announcement: ADR UK Research Fellowships 2025

Summary: We are looking for research proposals that utilise ADR England flagship datasets and meet the following four ADR UK Research Fellowship objectives:

  • Useful Research: act as ‘pathfinders’ for conducting research and deriving insights from the linked datasets which showcase the potential for policy impact and public benefit. This must also include addressing the advertised research priorities
  • Useful Data: develop our flagship datasets as useful research resources for future users
  • Useful Engagement: foster opportunities to engage with government and the public to shape the project to deliver impact and to maintain public acceptance for the use of data for research purposes
  • Community Building: boost the applicant’s development as a research leader using administrative data, and to personally contribute to the creation and development of wider, self-sustaining communities of practice

Award: Researchers can apply for a fellowship:

  • up to 18 months in duration
  • up to a maximum of £200,000 for the entire fellowship

We advise on the following time commitments which needs to be reflected in the grant costings and within the maximum sum available:

  • a maximum of 0.4 full-time equivalent during the ‘initial’ stage (first three months)
  • a minimum of 0.6 full-time equivalent for the ‘core’ research phase (remaining 15 months).

Funder Deadline: 26 February 2026

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

2025 Horizon Europe Funding Opportunities: with a focus on arts, humanities and social sciences research

Horizon Europe from 2024 Work Programme Calls going forward
Successful UK applicants will be funded by the EU, under the Horizon Europe Programme.
Updates on Association: Please visit the Research Operation Office’s EU pages. 

With the publication of the 2025 Work Programme of Horizon Europe and the UK’s associated member status, there are numerous funding opportunities available to Cambridge researchers. Net4Society have published a document highlighting SHSS Opportunities that span across the different clusters. Please click here to read.

There is also a draft publication of the Horizon Europe 2026-2027 Work programme that can be found here. These are yet to be ratified, but are not likely to change significantly prior to the programme’s ratification in Spring 2026.

If you are a researcher working in the Arts, Humanities or Social Sciences and you have any questions about applying to Horizon Europe funding, please do not hesitate to get in contact with Dr Elizabeth Penner, AHSS Research Facilitator (EU/Intl funding)

 

ERC Consolidator Grant

Summary:  The ERC Consolidator Grant is for researchers of any nationality with 7-12 years of experience since completion of their PhD. This programme is for PIs who will consolidate their own independent research team or programme. PIs must demonstrate the ground-breaking nature, ambition and feasibility of their research proposal.

Award: Up to € 2 million for a period of 5 years. An additional € 1 million can be requested to cover start-up costs, the purchase of major equipment and/or access to large facilities.

Deadline: 13 January 2026

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Elizabeth Penner

 

ERC Proof of Concept

Summary: The ERC Proof of Concept funding is made available only to those who already have an ERC award to establish proof of concept of an idea that was generated in the course of their ERC-funded projects.

Frontier research often generates radically new ideas that drive innovation and business inventiveness and tackle societal challenges. The ERC PoC Grants aim at facilitating exploration of the commercial and social innovation potential of ERC funded research and are therefore available only to PIs whose proposals draw substantially on their ERC funded research.

Proof of Concept Grants aim at maximising the value of the excellent research that the ERC funds, by funding further work (i.e. activities which were not scheduled to be funded by the original ERC frontier research grant) to verify the innovation potential of ideas arising from ERC funded projects.

Award: A lump sum of € 150,000 for a period of 18 months.

Funder Deadline: 13 March 2026 and 17 September 2026

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Elizabeth Penner

 

JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowships for Overseas Researchers 2026

Summary: The scheme provides funding for early career postdoctoral researchers to conduct cooperative research in Japan, with leading research groups in Japanese universities and other institutions, under the guidance of a Japanese host.

Award: Awards are for a period of between 12 months minimum to 24 months maximum. JSPS provides the following support:

  • A round-trip air ticket for the Fellow;
  • A monthly maintenance stipend of ¥362,000;
  • A settling-in allowance of ¥200,000;
  • A research grant ('Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research') for cooperative research-related expenses, applied for by the Japanese host researcher through his / her host institution.

Funder Deadline: 10 December 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Wellcome Trust Early-Career Awards

Summary: This scheme provides funding for early-career researchers from any discipline who are ready to develop their research identity. The researcher will deliver shifts in understanding that could improve human life, health and wellbeing. By the end of the aware, they will be ready to lead their own independent research programme. Project duration is usually 5 years, but may be less for some disciplines and longer if held on a part-time basis.

Award: Your salary and up to £400,000 for research expenses.

Funder Deadline: 17 February 2026

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Leverhulme Trust Research Project - Outline Application

Summary: Research Project Grants provide financial support for research projects of high quality and potential, the choice of theme and the design of the research lying entirely with the applicant (the Principal Investigator). 

Award: The maximum grant value is £500,000. Research Project Grants may be held for up to five years.

Funder Deadline: 27 February 2026

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Nuffield Foundation Strategic Fund

Summary: The Nuffield Foundation’s Strategic Fund is  open to ambitious, cross-cutting research  proposals that seek to address some of the  most pressing social challenges of our time.

The Strategic Fund is reserved for the funding of original, transformative ideas that have the scale and ambition to anticipate and address some of the most significant themes and  developments shaping the UK public policy agenda, now and in the future. These are major grants, typically in the range of £1–3 million and are expected to last between two and  five years. 

Strategic Fund applications should respond to one or more of our five priority questions, and/or explore the connections between them:

  • How can we build a prosperous and fair society, where people are secure
  • How can we build an inclusive society, where people thrive and feel they belong, in the context of changing
    demography and ways of life?
  • How can we ensure that rapid developments in science and technology work for people and society?
  • How can policies to address climate change be developed in a way that promotes a prosperous, fair and inclusive society? 
  • How can we build and maintain the effective, accountable and trustworthy institutions that our society and democracy need and can fulfil their potential?

Award: Between £1 million and £3 million

Funder Deadline: 16 March 2026

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Wellcome Trust Career Development Award

Summary: This scheme provides funding for mid-career researchers from any discipline who have the potential to be international research leaders. They will develop their research capabilities, drive innovative programmes of work and deliver significant shifts in understanding that could improve human life, health and wellbeing.
.
Award: Provides a salary for the grantholder (if required) and research expenses. Please request for level and duration of funding that's justifiable for your proposed research.

Funder Deadline: 26 March 2026

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Wellcome Trust Discovery Awards

Summary: This scheme provides funding for established researchers and teams from any discipline who want to pursue bold and creative research ideas to deliver significant shifts in understanding related to human life, health and wellbeing. 

Research questions should generate knowledge that leads to a shift in understanding or delivers new insight into how human life and health work. We welcome proposals that may have a clinical or societal impact or have translational potential, but the focus should be on discovery research.   

We fund research into the: 

  • fundamental processes that underpin biology, to understand more about how human life works
  • complexities of human health and disease, including clinical and population-based approaches
  • burden of disease and its determinants where this brings new and transformational knowledge
  • development of methodologies, conceptual frameworks, technologies, tools or techniques that could benefit health-related research
  • needs, values and priorities of the people and communities affected by disease and health disparities
  • social, ethical, cultural, political, economic and historical contexts of human health and disease.

Award: The average size of a Discovery Award is £3.5 million. Applications above £5 million will be subject to additional scrutiny. Awards can be up to 8 years, but may be less for some disciplines, and may be longer if held on a part-time basis. The average duration of a Discovery Award is 7 years, although we have supported awards from 3 to 8 years.

Funder Deadline: 31 March 2026

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Leverhulme Trust Visiting Professorship

Summary: For UK institutions to invite an eminent senior professor from overseas, to bring genuinely novel expertise and enhance the skills and knowledge of academic staff and students in an underrepresented area in the UK. Priority will be given to new or recent collaborations and visits with a variety of activities beyond research.

Award: Applications are invited for a minimum of £10,000 and a maximum of £150,000.  A Visiting Professorship must last at least 3 months. Grants between 3 and 6 months must be completed in one visit. Grants between 6 and 12 months can be spread over two or more visits, with 12 months being the maximum duration for a visit.

Funder Deadline: 01 May 2026

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Large Grant Contribution Fund

Summary: Research grant applications for funding over £1 million for AHSS subject areas can request financial contributions from this fund. Funding may be requested for activities that are complementary to the external funding and contributions from Departments / Schools / Non-school institutions. Activities that add value in the following areas are particularly encouraged: widening participation and inclusion; improving partnerships locally / nationally / internationally; capacity and capability building; working with less advantaged partners. Leveraging funding for existing grant awards is not in the remit of this fund. All applications must include one or more external partners and only applications led by Cambridge PIs are eligible.

Award: Up to 10% of the award value. PI buyout and equipment are not eligible costs for request.

Funder Deadline: Minimum 4 weeks before funder deadline.

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik and Rpc@admin.cam.ac.uk

 

All Council Harmonised IAA Impact Starter Fund Call 2024-2025

Summary: Impact Starter funding will be available on a rolling basis to fund short-term projects of up to three months duration. Projects are expected to be short, cost-effective ways of kick-starting impact creation from research findings. The Impact Starter Fund will only consider projects that do not qualify for other IAA funding calls.

Award: Varies.

Funder Deadline: Rolling basis

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Lucy Sheerman

 

Pre-announcement: Impact Funding Callout

Summary: The University of Cambridge AHRC Impact Acceleration Account (IAA) and the Social Science Impact Fund (SSIF) will open during Michaelmas term. 

The overall purpose of this fund is to support ‘on the ground’ impact and knowledge exchange activities. Awards will be made available to fund work that will significantly increase the probability of the ideas and findings generated by the research having a non-academic impact on the private, public, and third sectors. Collaborative, innovative, and co-funded projects are encouraged.  

Full information on eligible projects and the application process will be circulated as soon as possible.  

Award: Awards will be made in the region of £5,000 to £25,000, covering 100% of directly incurred costs but not indirect costs.  

Funder Deadline: TBA

Research Facilitation Contact: All interested applicants are strongly encouraged contact Dr Lucy Sheerman (Arts and Humanities Impact Facilitator) and Dr Tina Basi (Social Sciences Impact Facilitator) to discuss their proposal before application. Preliminary discussions ahead of the call opening are welcome.

 

Global Humanities Mobilities Scheme Grant, Round 5

Summary: The Global Humanities Initiative is a collaboration between the University of Cambridge and universities in China (Fudan, Nanjing), India (Ashoka), the Middle East (American University of Beirut), Latin America (Universidad Diego Portales, Chile), West Africa (University of Ghana) and Turkey (Sabanci University). It seeks to advance the Humanities as a common enterprise, incorporating traditional and new ways of scholarship and developing novel ways of teaching and researching.

One of our main goals is to foster the mobility of staff between our institutions. To that end we have designed a scheme to provide funding for scholarly exchange between Cambridge and the other network partners that leads to joint teaching ventures (primarily but not exclusively at post-graduate level) and builds the basis for new research initiatives which can lead to larger-scale opportunities/collaborations in the future. Applications are normally considered for stays of between two and four weeks. We particularly welcome applications that enable students and researchers to understand and interrogate new ideas and foster a greater plurality of voices in the scholarly community.

Award: The scheme will cover the costs of travel, visa, accommodation and subsistence pro rata for between two and four weeks. Together with our partner universities we have worked out appropriate packages for each destination. Detailed budgets are therefore not required. Successful applicants will receive full details when they receive their award.

Funder Deadline: 10 November 2025

Contact: Globalhumanities@admin.cam.ac.uk

 

Isaac Newton Trust Project Completion Grants for Mid-Career Researchers in Humanities

Summary: INT is pleased to announce new awards, made possible by a donation from Trinity College. These awards are for Departments and Faculties in the Schools of Arts and Humanities and of Humanities and Social Sciences, and/or (where relevant) Colleges. They are designed to enable mid-career researchers in the humanities to complete their second monograph or a substantial project that qualifies for Research Excellence Framework (REF) submission, by providing the costs of replacement teaching and administrative duties for one term.

Award: Up to £15,000

Funder Deadline: 09 January 2026

Contact: administrator@newtontrust.cam.ac.uk

 

Isaac Newton Trust Collection-based Research in the Humanities

Summary: Collections, libraries, archives and galleries are the ‘laboratories’ of humanities scholars. Collegiate Cambridge has a wealth of such collections, large and small, as well as collections within collections that may not be well known to scholars or whose research potential is yet to be fully appreciated and realised. While most repositories welcome new research and scholarship of their holdings, they are often limited in supporting such research because of staff shortage or limited funds for conservation. 

The purpose of this scheme is to promote enhanced engagement with physical items in the collection, so in-person, modest-sized meetings are encouraged. Applications to part-fund a single large international conference are therefore unlikely to succeed.

Award: Up to £5,000

Funder Deadline: 30 January 2026

Contact: administrator@newtontrust.cam.ac.uk

 

Isaac Newton Trust Strategic Awards

Summary: Trustees are interested to see applications which catalyse new forms of collaboration aiming to generate institutional, perhaps interdisciplinary programmes and projects of strategic value to the University for the promotion of education or research. Proposed research projects should aim to be transformational with a prospect of longevity and financial sustainability. Applications need to be supported by a Pro-Vice-Chancellor or Chair of School.

If you are considering making an application for a Strategic Research Project, please contact the Director in the first instance to discuss your proposal.

Award: Up to £500,000 for a project duration of up to 5 years.

Funder Deadline: 05 February 2026 (Outline Stage Application). Full Application by invitation only.

Contact: administrator@newtontrust.cam.ac.uk

 

ERC Consolidator and Advanced Grants Insights for the Arts and Humanities
 

05 November 2025, 13:00 to 14:30
Meeting Room 2, 17 Mill Lane
[REGISTER]
 
The Department of History Art is hosting a session for researchers based in the Arts and Humanities who are interested in learning more about the ERC Consolidator and Advanced Grants.

The session will be led by Prof. Matthew Rampley (Masaryk University) and Prof. Alexander Marr (University of Cambridge). Prof. Rampley was the Chair of Advanced Grants Panel SH8 in 2025 and recently held an Advanced Grant award. Prof. Marr was a member of Advanced Grants Panel SH8 in 2025 and has held a Consolidator Grant.

They will be joined by Dr Elizabeth Penner (University of Cambridge), AHSS School Research Facilitator, who works with researchers in developing their ERC proposals.

The panel will offer their insights into the process of applying for an ERC Consolidator or Advanced Grant, selection criteria, developing a strong proposal and running a grant, with Q&A for attendees.

The session will not be recorded. If you cannot attend but would like more information about applying for an ERC grant, please email Dr Penner (eap49@cam.ac.uk).

*Please note: this session is aimed at SAH researchers in the first instance. A reserve waiting-list is available for SHSS researchers.

 

Advancing research impact for College-based researchers
 

07 November 2025, 9:15 to 12:00
Lucia Windsor room, Newnham College
[REGISTER]
 
Jointly hosted by Newnham College, Hughes Hall and Wolfson College, this event is aimed at College-based academics looking to develop their knowledge and understanding of impact in research. There will be presentations by colleagues from the University Research Strategy Office as well as from experienced academics with examples of impactful research. Researchers, postgraduate students and staff from across all Cambridge Colleges (and the wider University) are very welcome to attend. The event will have a particular focus on those working in the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, but will also have relevance to those working in other fields.

Who is this event aimed at?

  • College-based researchers such as Junior Research Fellows and other Early Career Researchers, Postgraduate Students, as well as other researchers looking to develop the impact aspect of their work. 

  • College-based staff and those in professional services who work with researchers, for example in Communications, Research Networks and Knowledge Exchange roles.
  • The event will have a particular focus on those working in the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, but all are very welcome.

Learning objectives:

  • Develop a deeper understanding of the relevance of knowledge exchange and impact in research.
  • Find out what the next REF might mean for you.
  • Identify where to find support for impact work at Cambridge.

 

Large Grants Contribution Fund (LGCF) Info Event
 

10 November 2025, 15:30 to 17:00
Online
[REGISTER]
 
Do you work on large collaborative research applications, either as an academic or in a supportive professional services role?  If so, we invite you to attend our Large Grants Contribution Fund (LGCF) Info Event, where the Pro Vice Chancellor for Research, Professor Sir John Aston, will introduce the LGCF, successful awardees will discuss their experience, and we can answer your burning questions around the fund and other grant application support offered by the Research Funding Team. If interested in attending, please register here. 
 
This event will be recorded. If you have a question you would like to ask but will not be able to attend, please fill in the registration form and select “Question only” as your ticket option. We look forward to seeing you there and sharing more information about this supportive and enabling fund. 

 

The British Academy ERC Consolidator Grants Webinar
 

24 November 2025, 14:00 to 15:30
Online
[REGISTER]
 
The British Academy will be hosting a webinar on Monday 24 November, 2025 14:00-15:30 (GMT) for UK based researchers in the humanities and social sciences interested in applying for European Research Council (ERC) grants. The webinar will focus on the Consolidator Grant.

If you would like to submit a B1 draft proposal to be considered for feedback during the webinar, please register your interest on the registration form and send your B1 draft to Hannah Moscovitz (h.moscovitz@thebritishacademy.ac.uk) no later than Monday, 10 November, 12:00 GMT (midday).

Please note that not all submitted B1 proposals will be selected for review. However, the guidance provided during the sessions is designed to benefit all attendees.

 

 

Launch Event: BA Early Career Research Network East of England Cluster
 

24 November 2025, 10:30 to 17:00
Cambridge Student Union
[JOIN THE NETWORK and then REGISTER TO ATTEND THE LAUNCH]
 
The British Academy, in partnership with the University of Cambridge, Anglia Ruskin University, and the University of East Anglia, is thrilled to invite you to the launch of the Early Career Researcher Network in the East of England. This is your chance to connect to ECRs from across the East of England region and play an active role in shaping the Network’s future.  

Over the course of the day, you will:

  • Hear from ECRs and senior speakers about the fantastic opportunities that the network offers. 
  • Join a panel and Q&A session with awardees and engaged researchers from across the UK. 
  • Co-design the cluster direction through interactive brainstorming. 
  • Choose from taster sessions in peer coaching, funding, or media engagement. 
  • Network over lunch and social reception to forge connections across disciplines and institutions.

 

From Research to Resonance: Turning Ideas into Ventures
 

05 December 2025, 12:30 to 14:30
CRASSH, Alison Richard Building
Lunch will be provided

Wherever you are in your research impact journey — from early exploration to established engagement — this session is designed for you.
Join us for a two-hour workshop that will demystify how research impact is supported at Cambridge and how your ideas can move beyond academia to shape society, culture, business, and industry.

During the session, you will:

  • Hear from Cambridge’s leading innovators and entrepreneurs in the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences who have successfully translated research into real-world products, services, social enterprises, and spinouts.
  • Gain a clear understanding of the University’s impact ecosystem — including the roles of the AHSS Impact Team and Cambridge Enterprise — and how they can support you at every career stage.
  • Explore pathways and funding opportunities to develop business, industry and third sector partnerships, pilot new ideas, and amplify the reach of your research.
  • Connect with peers who are equally committed to turning research into real-world resonance through knowledge exchange and collaboration.

Whether you’re just starting to build a network, are deep into market validation, or scaling an established venture, From Research to Resonance will help you navigate the journey from inspiration to success — and make your research matter beyond the academy.

 

FameLab UK
 

16 January 2026
 
FameLab UK, created by Cheltenham Festivals, is the largest, public facing, science communication competition and training programme in the world and we are absolutely delighted to be the regional hub for the East of England. FameLab offers you a platform to: 

  • Amplify your voice and share your ideas 
  • Boost your confidence in presenting complex theories to a wider audience 
  • Build lasting connections with fellow scientists and STEM professionals 

If successful, you’ll have the incredible opportunity to present your work at Cheltenham Science Festival 2026, a premier event that celebrates the wonders of science with audiences from all over the world. 

Don’t miss your chance to showcase your passion for STEM and Social Sciences be the change you want to see in science communication. Take a look at last year's final here. 

Researchers have just three minutes to communicate their research to their audience and an expert panel of judges. The winner is the speaker who best demonstrates FameLab’s three C’s – Content, Clarity and Charisma. Visit our webpage for more information on how to sign up and contact publicengagement@admin.cam.ac.uk for any questions.  

Save the dates! 
Applications will close on the 16 January 2026. 
Join us for a Welcome to the FameLab Family on the 29 January 2026 at 6pm online. 
Training for all East of England Hub applicants on Content creation will take place on the 2 February 2026 at 12:30pm-2:00pm online. 
Training for East of England semi-finalists on Performance Planning will take place on the 3 March 2026 at 12:00pm-1:30pm online. 
The East of England semifinal will take place in-person in the evening of the 2 April 2026. 

AHSS Bulletin October 2025

AHSS Research and Impact Bulletin

October 2025

 

UK Research Council Funding

 

EU / International Funding

 

Charity Funding

 

Internal Funding

 

Training / Other

 

DARE UK Real-world Research Exemplar Programme - UKRI

Summary: We invite research teams from across UKRI research councils remit to partner with TREs of appropriate maturity to deliver real-world research utilising new capabilities introduced through the DARE UK programme, these are:

  • data federation, enabling a researcher to be able to log in to one TRE and work transparently with approved data held in other remote TREs
  • analytics federation, enabling a researcher to be able log in to one TRE and send computational jobs to run in other remote TREs against approved data
  • semi-automation of output disclosure checks, including from complex artificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning (ML) algorithms

The real-world research programmes will serve both as testcases, helping to harden federation capabilities towards production-level maturity, and as showcases, proving the utility of the technology in addressing challenging real-world research questions.

**This is a pre-announcement, and the information may change. The funding opportunity will open on 08 September 2025. More information will be available on this page then.

Award: The full economic cost (FEC) of your project can be from £365,700 up to £609,500. UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) will fund 80% of the FEC. The duration of this award is a maximum of 12 months.

Funder Deadline: 05 November 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Restricted Call: ESRC New Investigator Grants

Summary: The ESRC have announced their New Investigator Grant scheme. This scheme is suitable for early career researchers who have yet to make the transition to be an independent researcher. Proposals are welcome in any topic which falls within ESRC’s remit, including projects at the “interface with the wider sciences”, provided that social sciences accounts for at least 50% of the proposed research. The ESRC will award grants of between £100-350K (covered at 80%fEC).
 
University Internal selection
 
The ESRC expect the University to run an internal selection process to ensure that we submit only bids from outstanding individuals with the potential to become the research leaders of the future. The University may only submit a limited number of applications. To meet these requirements, this call will be overseen by a cross-school Committee, as decided by University’s Research Policy Committee.
 
There are three internal calls every year (MT, LT and ET).  Only applicants whose proposals have been approved through the internal selection process will be allowed to proceed with submission of their applications to ESRC.
 
Interested applicants should submit an online application.   
 
You will be required to upload the following:

This letter is very important to the success of the application as it is needed to confirm the details of the departmental support and the applicant’s eligibility. The letter must also specify a department/faculty-based mentor, and a reviewer, both of whom have agreed to provide feedback on the full proposal, should the applicant be selected to proceed. The reviewer may be from within or outside the applicant’s department/faculty. Please note that naming a reviewer is an internal requirement, and the reviewer will not be named on the full application to ESRC. The mentor and the named reviewer will be expected to provide feedback on the full proposal prior to submission to ESRC. This will be coordinated by the School Research Facilitator.

  • A Worktribe report

The report should show the preliminary costing for the project, including the cost of the applicant’s salary and research assistance (if required). The Worktribe report should not be submitted for ROO approval at this stage; the costing is for indicative purposes only, to inform the internal selection. It will be possible to modify it after the internal selection.
 

Award: The ESRC will award grants of between £100-350K (covered at 80%fEC).

Funder Deadline: 07 November 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: If you have any questions, please write to ESRCNewInv@admin.cam.ac.uk.

 

UKRI Gambling Harms Research Coordination Centre (GHRCC)

Summary: The Gambling Harms Research Coordination Centre (GHRCC) is a significant opportunity to shape the field and make a major and lasting contribution to developing the UK’s understanding of gambling and gambling related harms.

The Centre will coordinate and maximise the impact of a range of activities commissioned by UKRI under the new gambling levy, including the GHRIPs, ensuring an integrated approach throughout. It will also be expected to lead, plan, deliver, and manage a multidisciplinary programme of research and devolved funding to identify gaps in the current evidence base, increase diversity, and expand the disciplinary reach of the gambling field.

This will require the Centre to build strong connections with a variety of stakeholders across research institutions, third sector organisations, internationally, and the general public, while facilitating the work and coordination of the GHRIPs.

The Centre will bring together expertise from academic, industry, policy communities, and people with lived experience, working closely with cross-UKRI convened expert advice.

Award: The full economic cost of your project can be up to £10 million. UKRI will fund 80% of the full economic cost.

Funder Deadline: 18 November 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Gambling harms research and innovation partnerships

Summary: Apply for funding to develop Gambling Harms Research and Innovation Partnerships (GHRIP). The GHRIPs will be commissioned through a two-phase competitive process. The full programme will make up to £50m available over five years. This is the GHRIP phase one opportunity.

During phase one you must provide resource and support capacity across stakeholders to undertake partnership development and landscape evidence analysis required to design the phase two work programme.

The phase one funding opportunity offers initial seed-corn funding so that applicants may dedicate time to developing partnerships. The funding is intended to resource the development of high-quality proposals to the phase two funding opportunity, by ensuring that partnership building is resourced, reflecting the essential role of partners in the public, third and private sectors.

During phase two, each successful GHRIP will deliver a co-designed programme of activity that reflects the funding opportunity aims and objectives. For a detailed overview, see ‘phase one activity’ and ‘phase two activity’ below.

Phase one activity
The purpose of phase one is to provide resource and support capacity across stakeholders to undertake partnership development and landscape evidence analysis required to design the phase two work programme.

You will be expected to deliver the following activities and outputs during phase one:

  • building, strengthening or diversifying partnerships between research organisations or research teams and relevant stakeholders
  • dialogue and co-creation with stakeholders and lived experience participants to further understand needs and surface opportunities for collaboration
  • design and deliver workshops
  • mapping of relevant data
  • landscape and evidence analysis to build the evidence base for the phase two application
  • embed co-creation practices and evaluation mechanisms into public and community engagement activities to ensure they are inclusive, impactful, and responsive to stakeholder needs.
  • establish an appropriate model for phase two

Award: The full economic cost of your phase one project can be up to £150,000. UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) will fund 80% of the full economic cost. UKRI will fund up to 20 phase one awards for one year.

Funder Deadline: 18 November 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Collaborative doctoral landscape award in the arts and humanities

Summary: UK non-higher education institutions (non-HEI), individual organisations or consortia, can apply to become arts and humanities collaborative doctoral landscape award grant holders to support and provide high-quality doctoral training.

AHRC will support up to 50 doctoral studentships per year, for four years through this scheme. You can apply for a minimum of three students per year (two in exceptional circumstances). Doctoral projects must align with the organisation’s priorities and are undertaken with a university partner.

The first cohort of students will start in October 2027.

Non-HEIs can be any type of organisation in the UK that has the research capacity to host doctoral students. This would include a wide range of creative and cultural organisations contributing to arts and humanities research, for example:

  • galleries
  • libraries
  • museums and archives
  • the creative industries
  • public and third sector organisations

The application must be from a non-HEI organisation either:

  • as an individual organisation
  • as a consortia of non-HEI organisations
  • with a university partner, in specific circumstances

Non-HEIs do not need to have held awards under the Collaborative Doctoral Partnership (CDP) scheme to be eligible to apply or have independent research organisation status. However, you must be able to demonstrate that you have the capacity to manage at least three studentships per year.

Non-HEIs, which do not have capacity to host three students per year, may wish to submit a joint application as a consortium. If successful, the consortium would be the collaborative doctoral landscape award grant holder.

Award: Between three and fifty studentships

Funder Deadline: 20 November 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Early Career Fellowships in Cultural and Heritage Institutions: 2025

Summary: The overall purpose of this funding opportunity is to enable early career postdoctoral (or equivalent) researchers to gain research and career experience in the galleries, libraries, archives, and museums (GLAM) sector.

You will do this through working in a major cultural or heritage host organisation, on a co-designed research project that will also benefit the host organisation.

The objectives of the scheme are to:

  • create new opportunities for early career postdoctoral researchers to build, deepen or broaden their experience of working in, and with, major cultural and heritage organisations
  • develop the fellows’ skills and future research career in areas of relevance to the work, collections and practices of cultural and heritage organisations
  • deliver high quality and impactful research and innovation projects
  • enhance the host organisation’s capacity to undertake research and innovation activities closely aligned with its priorities and strategies, and leading to practical benefits and outcomes for the host
  • address a need across the GLAM sector in respect of the lack of dedicated support at the early stage of research careers
  • promote equality, diversity and inclusion principles
  • strengthen efforts to build and diversify research capabilities in the cultural heritage research and innovation ecosystem
  • further extend the GLAM sector’s engagement with, and contribution to, society
  • catalyse high quality and impactful research and innovation projects

This will be achieved through funding individual fellowships for early career researchers hosted by cultural and heritage independent research organisations, with a complementary programme of networking events and cohort career development activities for the fellows.

Award: Projects can cost up to £312,500 (Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) funds 80%). An expression of interest form must be completed and successful applications will then be invited to apply. Fellowships start 1 January 2027 and last one to two years (longer if part-time).

Funder Deadline: 10 December 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

2025 Horizon Europe Funding Opportunities: with a focus on arts, humanities and social sciences research

Horizon Europe from 2024 Work Programme Calls going forward
Successful UK applicants will be funded by the EU, under the Horizon Europe Programme.
Updates on Association: Please visit the Research Operation Office’s EU pages. 

With the publication of the 2025 Work Programme of Horizon Europe and the UK’s associated member status, there are numerous funding opportunities available to Cambridge researchers. Net4Society have published a document highlighting SHSS Opportunities that span across the different clusters. Please click here to read.

There is also a draft publication of the Horizon Europe 2026-2027 Work programme that can be found here. These are yet to be ratified, but are not likely to change significantly prior to the programme’s ratification in Spring 2026.

If you are a researcher working in the Arts, Humanities or Social Sciences and you have any questions about applying to Horizon Europe funding, please do not hesitate to get in contact with Dr Elizabeth Penner, AHSS Research Facilitator (EU/Intl funding)

 

ERC Consolidator Grant

Summary:  The ERC Consolidator Grant is for researchers of any nationality with 7-12 years of experience since completion of their PhD. This programme is for PIs who will consolidate their own independent research team or programme. PIs must demonstrate the ground-breaking nature, ambition and feasibility of their research proposal.

Award: Up to € 2 million for a period of 5 years. An additional € 1 million can be requested to cover start-up costs, the purchase of major equipment and/or access to large facilities.

Deadline: 13 January 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Elizabeth Penner

 

Restricted Call: Leverhulme Doctoral Scholarships

Summary: The Leverhulme Trust has pre-announced the Leverhulme Doctoral Scholarships call, due to open on 3rd November 2025. Ten awards of up to £5 million will be made to UK universities in this round, with each award to fund up to 30 Leverhulme Doctoral Scholarships in a priority research area for that institution.   
 
The Trust and the scheme have a focus on funding interdisciplinary research, and it is therefore expected that topics will involve more than one discipline.  
 
For further information about the call, see the funder’s guidance and the attached bid guidance document from the Postgraduate Research Office.   

On 26 September RSO co-hosted a call information session with the Post Graduate Research Office. The session was recorded and can be shared with those who are interested in this funding call but could not attend the session. If you would like to access the recording, please contact Andrea Walker at Researchstrategy@admin.cam.ac.uk for the link.

 
University Internal selection process 
A university may submit only one application as lead but may partner in multiple applications, provided they are in different disciplinary areas. Therefore, this call will be managed according to the University’s restricted calls policy for both Cambridge-led applications and those where Cambridge would be the non-lead partner.    
 
To take part in the internal selection, please complete our online form by 23rd October 2025 (if asked to log-in, please use your University SSO details). You will need the following information and documents to complete the form: 

  • Name(s) and affiliation(s) of principal applicant and co-applicant(s) at the University Cambridge and any partner institution, plus brief biographical details about the principal applicant (max 200 words) 
  • The title and disciplinary area of the proposal 
  • If the proposal is collaborative with another institution, whether the University of Cambridge would be the lead or non-lead partner 
  • A programme synopsis covering the following (max 1200 words): 
  • An outline of the topic and fields of study, and alignment with strategic priorities of the University/Schools/Departments. For collaborative applications, please also outline the basis and history of the partnership and how the programme will be managed.  
  • An overview of plans for the supervision of doctoral scholars, including the arrangements for selecting supervisors and monitoring student progress.  
  • A brief overview of the proposed training and cohort-building activities.  
  • An outline of how the proposed programme would utilise and administer the post-doctoral support element.  
  • A brief summary of the relationship between the proposed Doctoral Scholarship programme and any current doctoral training awards in this area, if applicable.  
  • How the Leverhulme Scholarships would provide added value in the chosen research subject area and to the university/universities and how the University might sustain a legacy of the Scholarships in the chosen area.   
  • A letter of support from the principal applicant’s Head of Department, countersigned by the relevant Head of School.

 
Applications will be assessed against the following subset of the funder’s general criteria and specific criteria for this call:  

  1. The originality, importance and significance of the programme.  
  1. The strength of the case for the choice of subject area identified as a priority for doctoral training.  
  1. The quality of the proposed plans for the supervision of doctoral scholars, and the training and cohort-building activities.  
  1. How well the proposed scholarships fits within the current institutional provision for doctoral training (at both universities, where applicable) and the extent to which the award would add value and deliver a legacy for the research in the chosen area  

 
The outcome of the internal selection will be announced in November 2025 and support will be available to the selected application(s) to develop the proposed programme.  

Award: Ten awards of up to £5 million will be made to UK universities in this round. 

Funder Deadline: 

  • Internal Restricted Call: 23 October 2025
  • Scheme Opens: 03 November 2025
  • Funder deadline: 06 March 2026  
  • Decision: July 2026  

Research Facilitation Contact:  researchstrategy@admin.cam.ac.uk 

 

British Academy-CIFAR Global Fellowship

Summary: The British Academy is pleased to announce, in partnership with The Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR), a call for applications to the CIFAR Global Scholars Program.

This is a two-year opportunity (2026-2028) to collaborate and receive mentorship within a close-knit, interdisciplinary network of leading global researchers in a CIFAR research program.

We encourage UK-based researchers within the social sciences and humanities to apply and take advantage of this unique opportunity. Successful applicants join one of CIFAR’s interdisciplinary research programs, collaborating with global research leaders to advance transformative knowledge and address some of the most important questions facing science and humanity.

CIFAR Programs accepting applications, in partnership with the British Academy, include:

Award: The CIFAR Global Scholars Program provides:

  • $100,000 CAD in unrestricted research support. These funds can be used for research expenses, teaching release, student or postdoc support, conference travel, and more.
  • Opportunities to apply for CIFAR seed funds. These time-limited funds support high-risk, high-reward interdisciplinary collaborations with CIFAR Fellows, Advisors and other Global Scholars.
  • Membership in the extended community of CIFAR Global Scholars. This network of creative and like-minded peers across cohorts and diverse disciplines offers invaluable support and further opportunity for collaboration.
  • Targeted training in essential areas of research leadership, including team leadership, trainee mentorship, science communication and science advocacy.

Funder Deadline: 05 November 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Horizon Europe Pump Priming collaboration between UK and EU partners 2026

Summary: This programme is providing pump priming funding to seed collaborations for applications to specific Horizon Europe topics in Pillar 2. The aim is to build collaborative activity between UK and EU/Associated Countries’ entities in Pillar 2 where the major consortia building type of applications in Horizon Europe are centred. This will help UK-based entities overcome the barriers to collaborative engagement with EU/Associated Countries’ partners to maximise the opportunities Horizon Europe presents. For the purpose of this call, Associated Countries include those countries in the process of associating as listed on the Europa website. Third country partners, such as Switzerland, can also be considered as appropriate, but projects and proposed consortia must provide confidence that they will address necessary eligibility and impact criteria.

The call is focused solely on Pillar 2 of Horizon Europe – Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness.

Award: We are able to offer awards of up to £10,000. This will cover collaboration preparation activities to enable multinational consortium building, as well as costs for developing the project ideas and gaining a better understanding of the market opportunities.

Funder Deadline: 05 November 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Elizabeth Penner

 

British Academy Small Grants

Summary: The BA/Leverhulme Small Research Grants are available to support primary research in the humanities and social sciences for a defined research project.

Award: Up to £10,000. Grants are tenable for between one and 24 months.

Funder Deadline: 05 November 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Leverhulme Trust Research Fellowship

Summary: Research Fellowships are open to experienced researchers, particularly those who are or have been prevented by routine duties from completing a programme of original research. Priority will be given to applicants whose teaching and administrative duties have significantly impacted their ability to undertake research in the three years prior to their application.
.
Award: The maximum value of a Fellowship is £70,000. Fellowships are tenable for between 3 and 24 months.

Funder Deadline: 06 November 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

DisCouRSE Flexible Fund - Round 1

Summary: The DisCouRSE Network+ project aims to encourage and support the development of leaders of all kinds across all digital Research Technical Professional (dRTP) roles, primarily within the UK, resulting in an empowered and connected community equipped to shape the future of digital research. We have a twin focus on leadership training and dRTP career pathways – preparing the next generation of leaders and ensuring roles exist for them to lead within.

Our flexible fund supports community-led projects aligned with this goal, enabling aspiring leaders to trial approaches to enhancing skills and career opportunities within their local contexts, build new connections through joint initiatives, and strategically assess options for future investment and activity.

This first call has no specific focus areas. Any proposals relevant to DisCouRSE’s aims above are allowed. The intent is to be open to ideas from the community, enabling the Network to learn what is already happening and could be expanded with our support, and enabling you to do “proof of concept” work to support future larger proposals. We welcome applications that seek to expand on existing work, or to kick-start activities that you are already thinking about.
.
Award: Up to £10k funded at 80% fEC. Projects should start between 01/01/2026 and 01/04/2026 and last no more than 12 months.

Funder Deadline: 14 November 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Wellcome Trust Career Development Award

Summary: This scheme provides funding for mid-career researchers from any discipline who have the potential to be international research leaders. They will develop their research capabilities, drive innovative programmes of work and deliver significant shifts in understanding that could improve human life, health and wellbeing.
.
Award: Provides a salary for the grantholder (if required) and research expenses. Please request for level and duration of funding that's justifiable for your proposed research.

Funder Deadline: 20 November 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Wellcome Trust Discovery Awards

Summary: This scheme provides funding for established researchers and teams from any discipline who want to pursue bold and creative research ideas to deliver significant shifts in understanding related to human life, health and wellbeing. 

Research questions should generate knowledge that leads to a shift in understanding or delivers new insight into how human life and health work. We welcome proposals that may have a clinical or societal impact or have translational potential, but the focus should be on discovery research.   

We fund research into the: 

  • fundamental processes that underpin biology, to understand more about how human life works
  • complexities of human health and disease, including clinical and population-based approaches
  • burden of disease and its determinants where this brings new and transformational knowledge
  • development of methodologies, conceptual frameworks, technologies, tools or techniques that could benefit health-related research
  • needs, values and priorities of the people and communities affected by disease and health disparities
  • social, ethical, cultural, political, economic and historical contexts of human health and disease.

Award: The average size of a Discovery Award is £3.5 million. Applications above £5 million will be subject to additional scrutiny. Awards can be up to 8 years, but may be less for some disciplines, and may be longer if held on a part-time basis. The average duration of a Discovery Award is 7 years, although we have supported awards from 3 to 8 years.

Funder Deadline: 25 November 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Wellcome Trust Early-Career Awards

Summary: This scheme provides funding for early-career researchers from any discipline who are ready to develop their research identity. The researcher will deliver shifts in understanding that could improve human life, health and wellbeing. By the end of the aware, they will be ready to lead their own independent research programme. Project duration is usually 5 years, but may be less for some disciplines and longer if held on a part-time basis.

Award: Your salary and up to £400,000 for research expenses.

Funder Deadline: 17 February 2026

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Leverhulme Trust Research Project - Outline Application

Summary: Research Project Grants provide financial support for research projects of high quality and potential, the choice of theme and the design of the research lying entirely with the applicant (the Principal Investigator). 

Award: The maximum grant value is £500,000. Research Project Grants may be held for up to five years.

Funder Deadline: 27 February 2026

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Nuffield Foundation Strategic Fund

Summary: The Nuffield Foundation’s Strategic Fund is  open to ambitious, cross-cutting research  proposals that seek to address some of the  most pressing social challenges of our time.

The Strategic Fund is reserved for the funding of original, transformative ideas that have the scale and ambition to anticipate and address some of the most significant themes and  developments shaping the UK public policy agenda, now and in the future. These are major grants, typically in the range of £1–3 million and are expected to last between two and  five years. 

Strategic Fund applications should respond to one or more of our five priority questions, and/or explore the connections between them:

  • How can we build a prosperous and fair society, where people are secure
  • How can we build an inclusive society, where people thrive and feel they belong, in the context of changing
    demography and ways of life?
  • How can we ensure that rapid developments in science and technology work for people and society?
  • How can policies to address climate change be developed in a way that promotes a prosperous, fair and inclusive society? 
  • How can we build and maintain the effective, accountable and trustworthy institutions that our society and democracy need and can fulfil their potential?

Award: Between £1 million and £3 million

Funder Deadline: 16 March 2026

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Leverhulme Trust Visiting Professorship

Summary: For UK institutions to invite an eminent senior professor from overseas, to bring genuinely novel expertise and enhance the skills and knowledge of academic staff and students in an underrepresented area in the UK. Priority will be given to new or recent collaborations and visits with a variety of activities beyond research.

Award: Applications are invited for a minimum of £10,000 and a maximum of £150,000.  A Visiting Professorship must last at least 3 months. Grants between 3 and 6 months must be completed in one visit. Grants between 6 and 12 months can be spread over two or more visits, with 12 months being the maximum duration for a visit.

Funder Deadline: 01 May 2026

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Large Grant Contribution Fund

Summary: Research grant applications for funding over £1 million for AHSS subject areas can request financial contributions from this fund. Funding may be requested for activities that are complementary to the external funding and contributions from Departments / Schools / Non-school institutions. Activities that add value in the following areas are particularly encouraged: widening participation and inclusion; improving partnerships locally / nationally / internationally; capacity and capability building; working with less advantaged partners. Leveraging funding for existing grant awards is not in the remit of this fund. All applications must include one or more external partners and only applications led by Cambridge PIs are eligible.

Award: Up to 10% of the award value. PI buyout and equipment are not eligible costs for request.

Funder Deadline: Minimum 4 weeks before funder deadline.

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik and Rpc@admin.cam.ac.uk

 

REF Impact Funding

Summary: Internal funding is available from the Research Strategy Office to support the development of the University’s REF impact submission. It is expected that successful applications will fund impact activities that may feed into potential impact case studies only where no other monies are available. Applications will be reviewed by the Impact and Knowledge Exchange Team. 

Submissions may include (but are not restricted to):

  • Support for gathering feedback from public engagement activities
  • Economic health monitoring
  • Surveying/engaging with research users to evaluate impact
  • Independent evaluation of impacts
  • Resource to collate citations in policy documents

Award: Up to £10,000.

Funder Deadline: Rolling basis

Research Facilitation Contact: Please contact your relevant member of the Impact and Knowledge Exchange Team

 

All Council Harmonised IAA Impact Starter Fund Call 2024-2025

Summary: Impact Starter funding will be available on a rolling basis to fund short-term projects of up to three months duration. Projects are expected to be short, cost-effective ways of kick-starting impact creation from research findings. The Impact Starter Fund will only consider projects that do not qualify for other IAA funding calls.

Award: Varies.

Funder Deadline: Rolling basis

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Lucy Sheerman

 

Isaac Newton Trust Emergency Bridge & Underwriting

Summary: This funding call is designed to help provide support for emergent needs and opportunities, specifically targeting short periods of emergency bridging or underwriting needs for early career, postdoctoral, researchers. Such needs will be considered on a case-by-case basis and should focus on retaining exceptional staff members during funding gaps.

This funding scheme should not be used to tide over researchers repeatedly or provide long term funding. Therefore, priority will be given to first time applications.

The named applicant should be a PI or independent researcher. Where an established researcher seeks a contribution to their own salary, the applicant should be the Head of institution.

It is expected that: 

  • Future funding has been applied for or has been secured at the time of application. A clear plan and timescale should be included in the application
  • Salary costs for Early Career Researchers and Postdoctoral Research Associates are prioritised
  • Retaining the named Research Associate, in need of funding, is important to the project or research group. Awarded funding should also benefit the Research Associate’s personal career development
  • The project can be brought to a satisfactory conclusion if the intended further funding is not secured
  • Normally, applications should not be for retrospective funding

Award: Up to £30,000 for a duration between 3 to 6 months

Funder Deadline: 09 October 2025

Contact: administrator@newtontrust.cam.ac.uk

 

Isaac Newton Trust Project Start-up Grants

Summary: This funding programme is designed to support the establishment of new, stellar quality, visionary projects. Trustees will be looking for relevant expertise and the attainment of results in the time available. 

Projects might include:

  • Developing existing work in a new direction
  • Establishing a new explorative methodology
  • Innovative research and scholarship unlikely to be funded from standard sources. This would include topics falling between the remit of two Research Councils or niche interdisciplinary research
  • Seed-corn funding 
  • Start-up costs

The named applicant should be a PI or independent researcher. Where a researcher seeks a contribution to their own salary, the applicant should be the Head of institution.

Established College Teaching Officers may also apply for research support for a sabbatical term or terms. In the case of a College Teaching Officer applying for research support, the application should be supported by the College Senior Tutor with formal support from the relevant Institution.

Priority will be given to applicants who are Early Career Researchers. Research-active recent retirees may also apply.

Award: Up to £30,000 for a project duration of 12 months

Funder Deadline: 09 October 2025

Contact: administrator@newtontrust.cam.ac.uk

 

Isaac Newton Trust Fellowship Support

Summary: This funding call is designed to contribute match or top-up funding towards an externally awarded Early Career Fellowship to be held at the University. This includes Early Career Researchers who:

  • Are applying for fellowship funding and need evidence of contributory funds
  • Hold an offer of an externally funded, competitively awarded Early Career Fellowship that requires matching funds or falls short of the University’s basic salary or cannot cover a full-time position. For example, Royal Commission 1851 Fellowships
  • Require an additional modest consumables budget which cannot be provided by the host institution

The INT supports the Leverhulme Trust’s Early Career Fellowship scheme under a dedicated programme – see Leverhulme Early Career Fellowships.

The named applicant should be a PI or independent researcher currently supervising the Fellow in question. In cases where this is not possible, the applicant should be the Head of institution.

Please note that the INT does not reconsider unsuccessful applications for the same project unless there has been a substantial material change in circumstances.

Award: Up to £30,000 for a project duration of up to 3 years.

Funder Deadline: 09 October 2025

Contact: administrator@newtontrust.cam.ac.uk

 

CRASSH Events & Initiatives Funding

Summary: CRASSH offers support to postdocs and academic staff employed by the University of Cambridge or one of its Colleges to run a wide range of events and creative initiatives. We invite you to apply for funding and logistical support for any activity that will foster the exchange of ideas across disciplines and cultures, forge new collaborations between researchers and other participants, bring academic research to wider publics, or explore the connections between research and artistic practice. Events are to take place between March and June 2026.

Award: Funding of up to £1500 is available for one-day events, £2500 for two-day events, and £1000 for other kinds of initiative. Additional funding may be available for events that experiment with new formats and/or introduce creative or collaborative elements.

Funder Deadline: 15 October 2025

Contact: CRASSH’s Events Manger at events@crassh.cam.ac.uk

 

Research Developing Enhanced Funding

Summary: The applications for RD Enhanced Funding are now open. This fund is intended to enable Schools, Faculties and Departments to deliver Researcher Development events and programmes for their PhD students and postdocs.  

The application form can be found here.

You can read more about the RD Enhanced Funding scheme, guidance and application process on our website.
 Please note:

  • Nominal funding for catering may be requested: £3 per participant up to a maximum of £150 per event
  • A copy of the application questions can be viewed on our website 
  • The deadline for receipt of applications is midnight on the 27 October
  • Successful applicants will have 12 months to spend awarded funds. 
  • Individual researchers are not eligible to apply for Enhanced Funding 
  • A short evaluation will be requested from all successful applicants (more information and evaluation form you can find on the website).

 Award: Varies. The budget for Enhanced Funding is £60k per annum. There is no specific funding envelope per round of applications (see dates below); decisions will be made based on the quality of the proposals received. 

Funder Deadline: 27 October 2025

Contact: If you have any questions or concerns, then please do not hesitate to get in touch: researcher.development@admin.cam.ac.uk

 

Global Humanities Mobilities Scheme Grant, Round 5

Summary: The Global Humanities Initiative is a collaboration between the University of Cambridge and universities in China (Fudan, Nanjing), India (Ashoka), the Middle East (American University of Beirut), Latin America (Universidad Diego Portales, Chile), West Africa (University of Ghana) and Turkey (Sabanci University). It seeks to advance the Humanities as a common enterprise, incorporating traditional and new ways of scholarship and developing novel ways of teaching and researching.

One of our main goals is to foster the mobility of staff between our institutions. To that end we have designed a scheme to provide funding for scholarly exchange between Cambridge and the other network partners that leads to joint teaching ventures (primarily but not exclusively at post-graduate level) and builds the basis for new research initiatives which can lead to larger-scale opportunities/collaborations in the future. Applications are normally considered for stays of between two and four weeks. We particularly welcome applications that enable students and researchers to understand and interrogate new ideas and foster a greater plurality of voices in the scholarly community.

Award: The scheme will cover the costs of travel, visa, accommodation and subsistence pro rata for between two and four weeks. Together with our partner universities we have worked out appropriate packages for each destination. Detailed budgets are therefore not required. Successful applicants will receive full details when they receive their award.

Funder Deadline: 10 November 2025

Contact: Globalhumanities@admin.cam.ac.uk

 

Isaac Newton Trust Strategic Awards

Summary: Trustees are interested to see applications which catalyse new forms of collaboration aiming to generate institutional, perhaps interdisciplinary programmes and projects of strategic value to the University for the promotion of education or research. Proposed research projects should aim to be transformational with a prospect of longevity and financial sustainability. Applications need to be supported by a Pro-Vice-Chancellor or Chair of School.

If you are considering making an application for a Strategic Research Project, please contact the Director in the first instance to discuss your proposal.

Award: Up to £500,000 for a project duration of up to 5 years.

Funder Deadline: 05 February 2026 (Outline Stage Application). Full Application by invitation only.

Contact: administrator@newtontrust.cam.ac.uk

 

ERC Consolidator Grant Webinar recording available
 

UKRO
The webinar provided information on the submission process, how proposals are evaluated and other elements you’ll need to consider when designing a project for the ERC Consolidator Grant

Please find the recording of the webinar and pdf version of the slides on the ERC Consolidator Grant 2026 Webinar event page

 

Research Skills Training Programme 2025-2026
 

various dates
 
The Research Skills Training Programme from University of Cambridge Libraries and Archives is now available for bookings.
 
Whether you're a graduate student, postdoc, or research support professional, this programme will help you build essential skills and confidence for every stage of the research journey.

What’s covered?
Our expert-led sessions cover a wide range of topics, including:

  •  Reading and Note-making
  •  Literature searching
  •  Academic writing
  •  Data management
  •  Referencing and Copyright
  •  Thesis deposit
  •  Publishing, Fair Attribution & Metrics

Who can attend?
Designed primarily for PhD students and researchers, the sessions are open to all Cambridge staff and students.
 
Learn more and book your place
Questions? Contact: ResearcherDevelopment@lib.cam.ac.uk

 

Public Engagement Training - The Engaged Researcher
 

Various dates
 
The Public Engagement ‘Engaged Researcher’ training schedule for 2025/26 is now available and open for bookings in the University Training Booking System (UTBS). The programme includes an introduction to Public Engagement, working with museums and schools, as well as drop-in sessions where you can talk to a member of the Public Engagement team. 

For any other queries about Public Engagement, please email publicengagement@admin.cam.ac.uk.

 

NCACE Evidence Cafe - Collaborative Research Between Universities and Cultural Institutions: Achieving Transformative Impact
 

09 October 2025, 14:00 to 15:30, Online
 
In this Evidence Café session, you will explore how collaborative research between universities and cultural institutions can drive meaningful and transformative change. The session will start with a presentation of research findings from a project supported by the Society for Research in Higher Education (SRHE), highlighting key insights into effective partnership practices.

A panel discussion will follow, featuring representatives from a range of cultural institutions. The discussion will offer diverse perspectives on how cross-sector collaboration can deliver transformative outcomes and enhance the societal value. Contributors include:

•    Dr Ning Baines, Lecturer in Marketing - University of Leicester
•    Sarah Campbell, Associate Director for Arts and Culture - University of Exeter
•    Joanna Norman, Director of the V&A Research Institute, National Art Library and Archives - V&A
•    Prof Helen Lawton Smith, Professor of Entrepreneurship - Birkbeck University of London
•    Ailsa Roberts, Research Manager - National Galleries of Scotland
•    Dr Federica Rossi, Associate Professor of Economic Policy - University of Modena and Reggio Emilia
•    Evelyn Wilson, Co-Director - NCACE

This event will be of particular interest to academics, arts and cultural professionals, and all those engaged in or exploring collaborative approaches to research and impact. For more information and to register click here.

 

Postdoc Academy Mentoring Scheme
 

19 October 2025, application deadline
 
The Postdoc Academy Mentoring Scheme pairs postdocs with a mentor from academia or another sector including industry, start-ups and charity. The match offers postdocs the opportunity to have reflective and developmental career conversations over nine months. The next mentoring period is from January to September 2026. Postdocs who wish to be mentored in the next round should submit the mentee application form by 19 October.  
The Postdoc Academy is also seeking new mentors for the scheme. If you would like to be a mentor, please complete the mentor application form. Mentor applications are accepted on a rolling basis.  

Please send any questions to mentoring.pda@admin.cam.ac.uk.

 

Advancing research impact for College-based researchers
 

07 November 2025, 9:15 to 12:00
Lucia Windsor room, Newnham College
[REGISTER]
 
Jointly hosted by Newnham College, Hughes Hall and Wolfson College, this event is aimed at College-based academics looking to develop their knowledge and understanding of impact in research. There will be presentations by colleagues from the University Research Strategy Office as well as from experienced academics with examples of impactful research. Researchers, postgraduate students and staff from across all Cambridge Colleges (and the wider University) are very welcome to attend. The event will have a particular focus on those working in the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, but will also have relevance to those working in other fields.

Who is this event aimed at?

  • College-based researchers such as Junior Research Fellows and other Early Career Researchers, Postgraduate Students, as well as other researchers looking to develop the impact aspect of their work. 
  • College-based staff and those in professional services who work with researchers, for example in Communications, Research Networks and Knowledge Exchange roles.
  • The event will have a particular focus on those working in the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, but all are very welcome.

Learning objectives:

  • Develop a deeper understanding of the relevance of knowledge exchange and impact in research.
  • Find out what the next REF might mean for you.
  • Identify where to find support for impact work at Cambridge.
AHSS Bulletin September 2025

AHSS Research and Impact Facilitation Bulletin

September 2025

 

If you want to discuss funding opportunities or you are working on an application for research funding and would like feedback on a draft, please do contact the School’s Research Facilitators: Anna Cieslik (UK Funding) and Elizabeth Penner (EU/International Funding).  For Impact related queries please contact Lucy Sheerman (Impact Facilitator).

 
UK Research Council Funding

EU/International Funding

 
Charity Funding

 
Internal Funding

 
Training

 

Rapid evidence reviews for the UKRI Research Programme on Gambling

Summary: Following the introduction of the new statutory levy on gambling operators, UKRI is establishing a bespoke Research Programme on Gambling, funded under the research strand of the levy. As a part of this, UKRI is commissioning a series of RER to help identify evidence gaps within the research and innovation ecosystem relating to gambling harms. The RER will help to inform research prioritisation and policy development.

Within the field of gambling harms, it is recognised that there are several key areas in which the evidence base needs to be strengthened and the diversity of disciplines involved in gambling research can also be expanded to include interdisciplinary and multi.

RER will support a step change in the high quality, independent research available on gambling harms and will help identify evidence gaps within the research and innovation ecosystem relating to gambling harms.

Once published, the RER will form an integral part of the early stages of UKRI’s Research Programme on Gambling, including the Gambling Harms Research Coordination Centre.

Award: Between £30,000 and £50,000. UKRI will fund 100% of the full economic cost. The duration of this award is six months. Projects must start by 1 November 2025.

Funder Deadline: 02 October 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Cultural heritage and climate change networks to drive policy change

Summary: This funding opportunity will fund new networks comprised of UK institutions working with European partners, in-country partners in Official Development Assistance (ODA) countries, community practitioners, researchers, and policymakers for twelve months, to explore opportunities for widening cultural heritage and climate change engagement and policy across both the UK and international communities. We welcome applications that:

  • work with local communities to co-create solutions
  • connect the stories, turning local narratives into global relevance
  • work across disciplines and intergenerationally
  • ground a project in a place to extract learnings that are transferable to other cases or policy frameworks

Award: The duration of this award is 12 months. Projects must start by 1 February 2026. The FEC of your project can be up to £60,000. AHRC will fund 80% of the FEC.

Funder Deadline: 14 October 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Turing AI Pioneer Interdisciplinary Fellowships: outline applications

Summary: This opportunity is for established researchers from across UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) remit, without a background in core artificial intelligence (AI) research, who want to build domain relevant AI capability and develop advanced AI approaches to tackle a specific research challenge in their chosen field.

The objectives of this opportunity are:

  • to enable leading researchers from a diverse range of backgrounds outside of core AI research to build domain relevant AI capability and knowledge, and tackle a specific research challenge
  • to drive transformative change and accelerate the adoption and utilisation of AI across multiple domains, the research base and wider economy, though community leadership
  • to enable engagement and collaboration within or between academic and non-academic partners to deliver AI-enabled challenge-driven research
  • to support the career development of leading researchers, contributing to a diverse research community with increased AI skills and knowledge

Award: The full economic cost (FEC) of your project can be up to £2,187,500. UKRI will fund 80% of the FEC. The funding is subject to final budget approvals. Projects can be up to three years in duration and must start on 1 October 2026.

Funder Deadline: 14 October 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Pre-announcement: artificial intelligence humanities sandpits: Canada, UK and US

Summary: We invite applications from individual researchers from the UK, Canada and US to take part in a collaborative, interdisciplinary funding sandpit. A sandpit is a facilitated workshop process through which new project teams and research propositions will be co-developed and funded.

Participants apply as individuals, and applications are generated during the workshops, not in advance.

This sandpit is jointly delivered by the UK’s AHRC through the International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF), and SSHRC in partnership with the Alan Turing Institute and The University of Edinburgh.

The sandpit is directed by Professor Drew Hemment, lead of the Doing AI Differently initiative, based at The Alan Turing Institute and The University of Edinburgh.

Sandpit process

There are two elements to the sandpit process:

  • an expressions of interest stage where sandpit attendees will be decided
  • the sandpit itself where attendees will form teams, develop project ideas and submit an application for research funding

The expressions of interest stage will include:

  • submission of a short questionnaire
  • review of questionnaire responses and sending of invitations to successful applicants

The sandpit process will include:

  • a three-day in-person residential workshop in Canada (February 2026)
  • a virtual workshop in April 2026
  • director and mentor-facilitated application development, peer review and cohort support
  • supporting up to four projects, which must begin on 1 October 2026

When the expressions of interest opportunity is live, you must submit an expression of interest as an individual, not a team or group. We are looking for attendees without preconceived project ideas or teams.

The Doing AI Differently White Paper will be the primary reference document for this sandpit. It sets out the research vision, theoretical foundations and strategic context.

Award: Travel and subsistence costs for the in-person workshop will be covered by AHRC and SSHRC.

Funder Deadline: 31 October 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Pre-announcement: DARE UK Real-world Research Exemplar Programme - UKRI

Summary: We invite research teams from across UKRI research councils remit to partner with TREs of appropriate maturity to deliver real-world research utilising new capabilities introduced through the DARE UK programme, these are:

  • data federation, enabling a researcher to be able to log in to one TRE and work transparently with approved data held in other remote TREs
  • analytics federation, enabling a researcher to be able log in to one TRE and send computational jobs to run in other remote TREs against approved data
  • semi-automation of output disclosure checks, including from complex artificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning (ML) algorithms

The real-world research programmes will serve both as testcases, helping to harden federation capabilities towards production-level maturity, and as showcases, proving the utility of the technology in addressing challenging real-world research questions.

**This is a pre-announcement, and the information may change. The funding opportunity will open on 08 September 2025. More information will be available on this page then.

Award: The full economic cost (FEC) of your project can be from £365,700 up to £609,500. UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) will fund 80% of the FEC. The duration of this award is a maximum of 12 months.

Funder Deadline: 05 November 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

UKRI Gambling Harms Research Coordination Centre (GHRCC)

Summary: The Gambling Harms Research Coordination Centre (GHRCC) is a significant opportunity to shape the field and make a major and lasting contribution to developing the UK’s understanding of gambling and gambling related harms.

The Centre will coordinate and maximise the impact of a range of activities commissioned by UKRI under the new gambling levy, including the GHRIPs, ensuring an integrated approach throughout. It will also be expected to lead, plan, deliver, and manage a multidisciplinary programme of research and devolved funding to identify gaps in the current evidence base, increase diversity, and expand the disciplinary reach of the gambling field.

This will require the Centre to build strong connections with a variety of stakeholders across research institutions, third sector organisations, internationally, and the general public, while facilitating the work and coordination of the GHRIPs.

The Centre will bring together expertise from academic, industry, policy communities, and people with lived experience, working closely with cross-UKRI convened expert advice.

Award: The full economic cost of your project can be up to £10 million. UKRI will fund 80% of the full economic cost.

Funder Deadline: 18 November 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Gambling harms research and innovation partnerships

Summary: Apply for funding to develop Gambling Harms Research and Innovation Partnerships (GHRIP). The GHRIPs will be commissioned through a two-phase competitive process. The full programme will make up to £50m available over five years. This is the GHRIP phase one opportunity.

During phase one you must provide resource and support capacity across stakeholders to undertake partnership development and landscape evidence analysis required to design the phase two work programme.

The phase one funding opportunity offers initial seed-corn funding so that applicants may dedicate time to developing partnerships. The funding is intended to resource the development of high-quality proposals to the phase two funding opportunity, by ensuring that partnership building is resourced, reflecting the essential role of partners in the public, third and private sectors.

During phase two, each successful GHRIP will deliver a co-designed programme of activity that reflects the funding opportunity aims and objectives. For a detailed overview, see ‘phase one activity’ and ‘phase two activity’ below.

Phase one activity
The purpose of phase one is to provide resource and support capacity across stakeholders to undertake partnership development and landscape evidence analysis required to design the phase two work programme.

You will be expected to deliver the following activities and outputs during phase one:

  • building, strengthening or diversifying partnerships between research organisations or research teams and relevant stakeholders
  • dialogue and co-creation with stakeholders and lived experience participants to further understand needs and surface opportunities for collaboration
  • design and deliver workshops
  • mapping of relevant data
  • landscape and evidence analysis to build the evidence base for the phase two application
  • embed co-creation practices and evaluation mechanisms into public and community engagement activities to ensure they are inclusive, impactful, and responsive to stakeholder needs.
  • establish an appropriate model for phase two

Award: The full economic cost of your phase one project can be up to £150,000. UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) will fund 80% of the full economic cost. UKRI will fund up to 20 phase one awards for one year.

Funder Deadline: 18 November 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Collaborative doctoral landscape award in the arts and humanities

Summary: UK non-higher education institutions (non-HEI), individual organisations or consortia, can apply to become arts and humanities collaborative doctoral landscape award grant holders to support and provide high-quality doctoral training.

AHRC will support up to 50 doctoral studentships per year, for four years through this scheme. You can apply for a minimum of three students per year (two in exceptional circumstances). Doctoral projects must align with the organisation’s priorities and are undertaken with a university partner.

The first cohort of students will start in October 2027.

Non-HEIs can be any type of organisation in the UK that has the research capacity to host doctoral students. This would include a wide range of creative and cultural organisations contributing to arts and humanities research, for example:

  • galleries
  • libraries
  • museums and archives
  • the creative industries
  • public and third sector organisations

The application must be from a non-HEI organisation either:

  • as an individual organisation
  • as a consortia of non-HEI organisations
  • with a university partner, in specific circumstances

Non-HEIs do not need to have held awards under the Collaborative Doctoral Partnership (CDP) scheme to be eligible to apply or have independent research organisation status. However, you must be able to demonstrate that you have the capacity to manage at least three studentships per year.

Non-HEIs, which do not have capacity to host three students per year, may wish to submit a joint application as a consortium. If successful, the consortium would be the collaborative doctoral landscape award grant holder.

Award: Between three and fifty studentships

Funder Deadline: 20 November 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

2025 Horizon Europe Funding Opportunities: with a focus on arts, humanities and social sciences research

Horizon Europe from 2024 Work Programme Calls going forward
Successful UK applicants will be funded by the EU, under the Horizon Europe Programme.
Updates on Association: Please visit the Research Operation Office’s EU pages. 

With the publication of the 2025 Work Programme of Horizon Europe and the UK’s associated member status, there are numerous funding opportunities available to Cambridge researchers. Net4Society have published a document highlighting SHSS Opportunities that span across the different clusters. Please click here to read.

There is also a draft publication of the Horizon Europe 2026-2027 Work programme that can be found here. These are yet to be ratified, but are not likely to change significantly prior to the programme’s ratification in Spring 2026.

If you are a researcher working in the Arts, Humanities or Social Sciences and you have any questions about applying to Horizon Europe funding, please do not hesitate to get in contact with Dr Elizabeth Penner, AHSS Research Facilitator (EU/Intl funding)

 

Africa Initiative III

Summary: Africa Initiative III is a component of Horizon Europe’s international cooperation dimension, aiming to accelerate the translation of scientific knowledge into action around shared global challenges in Africa and Europe. The calls are now open and fall under four thematic pillars:

  • Public Health (€50 million)
  • Green Transition (€241 million)
  • Innovation & Technology (€186.5 million)
  • Capacities for Science (€3.5 million)
  • Cross-cutting issues (€19.5 million)

These calls are designed to involve African institutions and researchers, ensuring meaningful participation in consortia tackling shared challenges in areas such as climate change adaptation, clean energy, sustainable agriculture, digital innovation, science for policy, and equitable access to health.
 

Calls involved in the Africa Initiative III

Cluster 3

Cluster 4

 

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Elizabeth Penner

 

MSCA Staff Exchange Call

Summary: The Staff Exchanges action offers a unique opportunity to promote the transfer of knowledge and innovation through international research collaborations.

Who can apply?
To be eligible, consortia must consist of at least three organisations from three different countries. Two of them must be located in different EU Member States or Horizon Europe associated countries. In addition, organisations from any country in the world can participate.

Organisations from all socioeconomic sectors in any country can apply to Staff Exchanges.

Staff secondments
Secondments are the main method to foster cooperation among organisations participating in Staff Exchanges. Selected projects exchange and train researchers and innovators, as well as administrative, technical or managerial staff involved in research activities.

Participants go abroad for up to 12 months. By working in other organisations they gain new skills and competencies, expand their networks, exchange knowledge, and carry out cutting-edge research.

Award: A top-up allowance (for travel, accommodation, subsistence costs), which is on top of the salary paid by their organisation; a special needs allowance, if applicable. In addition, funding is provided for research, training and networking activities, management and indirect costs.

Funder Deadline: 08 October 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Elizabeth Penner

 

ERC Starting Grant

Summary: The ERC Starting Grants are designed to support excellent Principal Investigators at the career stage at which they are starting their own independent research team or programme. Principal Investigators must demonstrate the ground-breaking nature, ambition, and feasibility of their research proposal.

Researchers of any nationality with 2-7 years of experience since completion of PhD, a scientific track record showing great promise and an excellent research proposal can apply.

Award: Up to € 1.5 million for a period of 5 years (pro rata for projects of shorter duration). An additional € 1 million can be made available to cover eligible “start-up” costs for researchers moving from a third country to the EU or an associated country and/or the purchase of major equipment and/or access to large facilities and/or other major experimental and field work costs.

Deadline: 14 October 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Elizabeth Penner

 

COST Actions Open Call

Summary: European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) creates open spaces where people and ideas can grow. COST funds interdisciplinary research networks called COST Actions. These Actions bring together researchers, innovators and other professionals including industry specialists, who are based in Europe and beyond, to collaborate on research topics for a period of 4 years.

COST Actions are: 

  • Pan-European: the COST inter-governmental framework spans over 41 Full Members, one Cooperating Member, and one Partner Member; 
  • Bottom-up: the priorities are defined by the research community and the scientific management decisions are entrusted to the Action Management Committees. The COST framework is especially well-suited to promote Multi-, Inter- and Trans-disciplinary collaborations.
  • Open throughout their lifetime to new members and are adaptable in terms of internal organisation and strategy. They shall promote actively the participation of the next generation of researchers and innovators.; 
  • Output and Impact-Oriented: COST Actions are set up to achieve specific objectives within their four-year duration based upon the sharing, creation, dissemination and application of knowledge. COST Actions are monitored against their expected output and impact. 

The research and development activities needed for the achievement of the Action objectives are not funded by COST and rely on nationally or otherwise funded research projects and resources (e.g., employees’ time, infrastructures and equipment). 

COST Actions have a four-year duration and the networking tools funded by COST are the following: 

  • Meetings (e.g., Management Committee meetings, Working Group meetings); 
  • Training Schools; 
  • Mobility of Researchers and Innovators (Short-Term Scientific Missions – STSMs; Virtual Mobility - VM); 
  • Presentations at conferences organised by third parties (ITC Conference Grants, YRI 
  • Conference Grants, and Dissemination Conference Grants).

COST Actions can also receive funding for other expenses: 

  • Dissemination and Communication Products; 
  • Expenses incurred for the benefit of the network.

Award: The funding a COST Action receives covers the expenses of networking activities rather than research. As such is used to organise and fund events, Short-term Scientific Missions, Training Schools, communication activities, grants to attend interesting international conferences, and virtual networking tools.  

No budget forecast is requested when submitting a proposal. The average funding received during the 4-year duration of a COST Action amounts to approximately 600,000 EUR. The amounts are variable from a grant period to another and depends, among others, on the size of the network and overall budget available. 

Deadline: 21 October 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Elizabeth Penner

 

ERC Synergy Grant

Summary: The aim is to provide support for a small group of two to four Principal Investigators to jointly address ambitious research problems that could not be addressed by the individual Principal Investigators and their teams working alone. Synergy projects should enable substantial advances at the frontiers of knowledge, stemming, for example, from the cross-fertilization of scientific fields, from new productive lines of enquiry, or new methods and techniques, including unconventional approaches and investigations at the interface between established disciplines. The transformative research funded by Synergy Grants should have the potential of becoming a benchmark on a global scale.

Award: A maximum of € 10 million for a period of 6 years (pro rata for projects of shorter duration). An additional € 4 million can be requested in the proposal in total to cover eligible 'start-up' costs for Principal Investigators moving to the EU or an Associated Country from elsewhere as a consequence of receiving an ERC grant and/or the purchase of major equipment and/or access to large facilities.

Deadline: 05 November 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Elizabeth Penner

 

ERC Consolidator Grant

Summary:  The ERC Consolidator Grant is for researchers of any nationality with 7-12 years of experience since completion of their PhD. This programme is for PIs who will consolidate their own independent research team or programme. PIs must demonstrate the ground-breaking nature, ambition and feasibility of their research proposal.

Award: Up to € 2 million for a period of 5 years. An additional € 1 million can be requested to cover start-up costs, the purchase of major equipment and/or access to large facilities.

Deadline: 13 January 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Elizabeth Penner

 

Dan David Prize

Summary: The Dan David Prize is the world’s largest history prize, annually awarding prizes to early and midcareer scholars and practitioners in the historical disciplines, to acknowledge their outstanding achievements and support future work.

Nominees can come from any field related to the study of the human past, both within academia and outside it.

We are looking for researchers in disciplines such as history, archaeology, art history, digital humanities and human palaeontology, as well as independent scholars, public historians, museum curators and documentary filmmakers.

Anyone can nominate | Self-nominations will not be considered | Renominations from previous years are encouraged

The Dan David Prize board will determine the winners based on a shortlist of finalists compiled by a dedicated international selection committee.

Award: $300,000

Funder Deadline: 24 September 2025

Research Facilitator Contact: Dr Elizabeth Penner

 

Innovation Fellowships Scheme 2025 - Route B: Policy Led (FCDO)

Summary: The Innovation Fellowships scheme will provide funding and support for established early-career and mid-career researchers in the humanities and social sciences to partner with organisations and business in the creative, cultural, public, private and policy sectors, to address challenges that require innovative approaches and solutions. Through the Innovation Fellowships, our researchers in the SHAPE community will be supported to create new and deeper links beyond academia, so enabling knowledge mobilisation and translation, as well as individual skills development.

The Innovation Fellowships scheme has two routes: Route A: Researcher-led and Route B: Policy-led. This call is for Route B with the Academy, working with the FCDO.

Please note the final fellowship would be hosted by the National Security Secretariat in the Cabinet Office.

The FCDO has specialised research requirements, operating in a context where timely access to high-quality evidence-based analysis can mean the difference between success and failure. Exerting influence, negotiating and leveraging others’ power at precisely the right moment is at a premium. This can make it difficult for researchers operating outside the FCDO to have a significant impact. These Fellowships will provide an opportunity to change that by enabling close interaction with FCDO policymakers directly in the heart of this government department’s work.

The Academy and the FCDO invite applications for Fellowships in any of the following areas:

  • Western Balkans
  • Serious Organised Crime and Migration
  • Humanitarian Crises
  • UK National Security Strategy

Award: The Academy is able to offer awards of up to £120,000 for 12 months in duration (with Full Economic Costing at 80 per cent).

Funder Deadline: 01 October 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Leverhulme Trust Visiting Professorship

Summary: For UK institutions to invite an eminent senior professor from overseas, to bring genuinely novel expertise and enhance the skills and knowledge of academic staff and students in an underrepresented area in the UK. Priority will be given to new or recent collaborations and visits with a variety of activities beyond research.
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Award: Applications are invited for a minimum of £10,000 and a maximum of £150,000. A Visiting Professorship must last at least 3 months. Grants between 3 and 6 months must be completed in one visit. Grants between 6 and 12 months can be spread over two or more visits, with 12 months being the maximum duration for a visit.

Funder Deadline: 02 October 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Nuffield Foundation Racial Diversity UK Fund

Summary: Our Racial Diversity UK fund (RDUK) supports research on racial diversity within the UK. This programme is funded by an endowment that supports work relating to the Commonwealth. As such, our interest is in the future of UK society as shaped by its colonial past, specifically by the migration of people from former British colonies to the UK. This migration and the accompanying dynamics of racialisation, resources and power have produced the UK’s distinct racial diversity and its patterns of racial discrimination and inequality. Within this context we take a broad view of racial diversity as covering all racial or ethnic groups living in the UK, including White populations. 

The priority theme for the RDUK autumn 2025 application round is migration, arrivals, and legacies. 

Our particular areas of interest within this theme are:  

•    How colonial legacies and connections shape the UK’s racially diverse past, present and future 
•    Patterns and experiences of migration, arrivals, settlements, and departures 
•    Impacts of migration on places, opportunities, and outcomes for all communities, new and established     
•    Migration and demographic projections and the future of a multi-racial UK 
•    Rights and routes to residency and citizenship  

Award: Grants from £15,000 to £500,000 are available, though most awards are expected to be less than £300,000.

Funder Deadline: 06 October 2025

Research Facilitator Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Nuffield Foundation Research, Development and Analysis Fund

Summary: The work we fund and do will prioritise prosperity, inclusiveness, and fairness. We will maintain a clear focus on inequalities, disadvantage and vulnerability for individuals, families and communities – and how to address them. We expect proposals to address one or more of our five priority questions:

  1. How can we build a prosperous and fair society, where people are secure and can fulfil their potential?
    • A fairer society and stronger economy should go hand in hand. We will fund research and collaborate with partners to gain a deeper understanding of the interaction between economic performance and social problems, and how changes in one can drive progress in the other.
  2. How can we build an inclusive society, where people thrive and feel they belong, in the context of changing demography and ways of life?
    • We will work with researchers and other partners to help the UK respond to these shifts in ways that promote inclusion, opportunity and belonging. We aim to explore the drivers of demographic change, and the implications for state and society.
  3. How can we ensure that developments in science and technology work for people and society?
    • Building on the expertise of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics and the Ada Lovelace Institute, we will work with researchers and other partners to ensure that advances in science and technology are aligned with the public interest.
  4. How can policies to address climate change be developed in a way that promotes a prosperous, fair and inclusive society?
    • Climate policies are a new focus for us, and we are keen to work with researchers and other partners to understand their implications on people’s lives. Our interest is different from other funders, it is in the distributional consequences of climate strategies in the UK.
  5. How can we build and maintain the effective, accountable and trustworthy institutions that our society and democracy need?
    • We have a history of funding research into institutions, as well as incubating and building new capability, and a longstanding interest in justice as a pillar of a fair society. We are looking to build on these foundations and renew our focus on what makes for an effective institution.

Award: Up to £500,000 are available. In special cases, and by prior agreement, we accept applications for up to £750,000. Most of the grants we award are below £300,000.

Funder Deadline: 06 October 2025

Research Facilitator Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

BA Talent Development Awards 2025-26

Summary: The aim of the scheme is to enable researchers to build their skills and capacities in core areas to develop their current and future research. This includes core areas like quantitative skills, data science, digital humanities and languages. This scheme promotes the acquisition and advancement of skills in relevant areas, supporting innovative research methods, be that through skills development, collaboration or dissemination.

It is also designed for researchers who wish to adopt an interdisciplinary approach to their work and seek to advance their skills in a new area that may fall outside the traditional bounds of their subject discipline. It provides Early Career Researchers with the opportunity to develop specialist skills to support the foundations of their career. Additionally, the scheme offers mid and senior-career researchers the chance to diversify their skills and methodological approaches in response to new avenues of research interest. The scheme encourages researchers to champion their newly acquired skills within their wider community, contributing to the ongoing development of skills for future generations.

The overarching aims of the scheme are to invest in UK talent and skills, and as a result, to contribute to the development and delivery of high quality regional, national and international research by:

  • raising the quality of advanced quantitative skills and/or data science skills used in research, including digital methods;
  • creating new opportunities for knowledge and skills to exchange across disciplines and sectors; and
  • promoting language learning and the transferable skills that language learning provides.

Award: Maximum grant is £10,000. Awards are for a minimum period of six months and up to a maximum period of 12 months, starting no earlier than 1 March 2026 and no later than 31 March 2026.

Funder Deadline: 08 October 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Wellcome Trust Career Development Award

Summary: This scheme provides funding for mid-career researchers from any discipline who have the potential to be international research leaders. They will develop their research capabilities, drive innovative programmes of work and deliver significant shifts in understanding that could improve human life, health and wellbeing.
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Award: Provides a salary for the grantholder (if required) and research expenses. Please request for level and duration of funding that's justifiable for your proposed research.

Funder Deadline: 20 November 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Wellcome Trust Discovery Awards

Summary: This scheme provides funding for established researchers and teams from any discipline who want to pursue bold and creative research ideas to deliver significant shifts in understanding related to human life, health and wellbeing. 

Research questions should generate knowledge that leads to a shift in understanding or delivers new insight into how human life and health work. We welcome proposals that may have a clinical or societal impact or have translational potential, but the focus should be on discovery research.   

We fund research into the: 

  • fundamental processes that underpin biology, to understand more about how human life works
  • complexities of human health and disease, including clinical and population-based approaches
  • burden of disease and its determinants where this brings new and transformational knowledge
  • development of methodologies, conceptual frameworks, technologies, tools or techniques that could benefit health-related research
  • needs, values and priorities of the people and communities affected by disease and health disparities
  • social, ethical, cultural, political, economic and historical contexts of human health and disease.

Award: The average size of a Discovery Award is £3.5 million. Applications above £5 million will be subject to additional scrutiny. Awards can be up to 8 years, but may be less for some disciplines, and may be longer if held on a part-time basis. The average duration of a Discovery Award is 7 years, although we have supported awards from 3 to 8 years.

Funder Deadline: 25 November 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Wellcome Trust Early-Career Awards

Summary: This scheme provides funding for early-career researchers from any discipline who are ready to develop their research identity. The researcher will deliver shifts in understanding that could improve human life, health and wellbeing. By the end of the aware, they will be ready to lead their own independent research programme. Project duration is usually 5 years, but may be less for some disciplines and longer if held on a part-time basis.

Award: Your salary and up to £400,000 for research expenses.

Funder Deadline: 17 February 2026

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Nuffield Foundation Strategic Fund

Summary: The Nuffield Foundation’s Strategic Fund is  open to ambitious, cross-cutting research  proposals that seek to address some of the  most pressing social challenges of our time.

The Strategic Fund is reserved for the funding of original, transformative ideas that have the scale and ambition to anticipate and address some of the most significant themes and  developments shaping the UK public policy agenda, now and in the future. These are major grants, typically in the range of £1–3 million and are expected to last between two and  five years. 

Strategic Fund applications should respond to one or more of our five priority questions, and/or explore the connections between them:

  • How can we build a prosperous and fair society, where people are secure
  • How can we build an inclusive society, where people thrive and feel they belong, in the context of changing
    demography and ways of life?
  • How can we ensure that rapid developments in science and technology work for people and society?
  • How can policies to address climate change be developed in a way that promotes a prosperous, fair and inclusive society? 
  • How can we build and maintain the effective, accountable and trustworthy institutions that our society and democracy need and can fulfil their potential?

Award: Between £1 million and £3 million

Funder Deadline: 16 March 2026

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Large Grant Contribution Fund

Summary: Research grant applications for funding over £1 million for AHSS subject areas can request financial contributions from this fund. Funding may be requested for activities that are complementary to the external funding and contributions from Departments / Schools / Non-school institutions. Activities that add value in the following areas are particularly encouraged: widening participation and inclusion; improving partnerships locally / nationally / internationally; capacity and capability building; working with less advantaged partners. Leveraging funding for existing grant awards is not in the remit of this fund. All applications must include one or more external partners and only applications led by Cambridge PIs are eligible.

Award: Up to 10% of the award value. PI buyout and equipment are not eligible costs for request.

Funder Deadline: Minimum 4 weeks before funder deadline.

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik and Rpc@admin.cam.ac.uk

 

REF Impact Funding

Summary: Internal funding is available from the Research Strategy Office to support the development of the University’s REF impact submission. It is expected that successful applications will fund impact activities that may feed into potential impact case studies only where no other monies are available. Applications will be reviewed by the Impact and Knowledge Exchange Team. 

Submissions may include (but are not restricted to):

  • Support for gathering feedback from public engagement activities
  • Economic health monitoring
  • Surveying/engaging with research users to evaluate impact
  • Independent evaluation of impacts
  • Resource to collate citations in policy documents

Award: Up to £10,000.

Funder Deadline: Rolling basis

Research Facilitation Contact: Please contact your relevant member of the Impact and Knowledge Exchange Team

 

All Council Harmonised IAA Impact Starter Fund Call 2024-2025

Summary: Impact Starter funding will be available on a rolling basis to fund short-term projects of up to three months duration. Projects are expected to be short, cost-effective ways of kick-starting impact creation from research findings. The Impact Starter Fund will only consider projects that do not qualify for other IAA funding calls.

Award: Varies.

Funder Deadline: Rolling basis

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Lucy Sheerman

 

Cambridge Centre for Data-driven Discovery and Accelerate Science Funding Call 2025

Summary: We are offering small grants for Cambridge University researchers pursuing innovative applications of AI in research or real-world contexts with a focus on inter and multidisciplinary collaboration.

Funding can support a variety of activities, including research, events, workshops, teaching, software development, or software development, with a focus on interdisciplinary collaboration.
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Award: 

  • Early Career Seed Funding: Small grants of up to £5,000 for early career researchers (PhD students or postdocs) to provide a step towards an independent research career.
  • Funding for events: Up to £15,000 to convene networks and events.
  • Project grants: Funding of up to £25,000 for larger scale projects.

Funder Deadline: 12 September 2025

Research Facilitation Contact:  accelerate-science@cst.cam.ac.uk and coordinator@c2d3.cam.ac.uk

 

Enhancing Research Culture Fund

Summary: Research culture is a broad and encompassing term and there are many activities which may contribute to improving it. The panel will consider activities that explicitly fall within the following areas:

  • Reward & recognition
  • EDI
  • Careers & professional development
  • Open research and collaboration
  • Positive research leadership
  • Inclusive and safe working environments

A reminder that our institutional priorities for research culture are:

  • Precarity: How do we address the issues created by fixed-term contracts in early research careers?
  • Access & Participation: Who gets to do research? Can everyone fully participate as is expected of them?
  • Challenging interpersonal and group dynamics: How do we support researchers who are struggling with difficult research dynamics? How do we support leaders to change?
  • Time & space: How do we ensure people have the time and space to embody and enact good research culture?

Award: Applications may be entered in one of two streams: up to £60K or £60-100K (please note that few applications will be funded in the £60-100k range).

Funder Deadline: 15 September 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: researchculture@admin.cam.ac.uk

 

DAAD-University of Cambridge Research Hub

Summary: The Hub seeks to draw upon and support the activities of all Cambridge scholars working on German-related and comparative themes from any period and from across all subjects in the Arts, Humanities and the Social Sciences.

CATEGORIES OF FUNDING

  1. Workshops and seed funding for projects:
    We are keen to encourage Cambridge-based academics seeking to establish collaborations with colleagues at German universities and research institutions. We are particularly interested in fostering collaborations that go beyond the bilateral, for example those that link British and German colleagues with networks in North America, Central and Eastern Europe and the developing world. For examples of current workshops, please follow this link to see our website.
  2. Visits to Cambridge by German scholars:
    To encourage long-term scholarly exchange and collaboration, funds can be applied for to cover the costs of visits to Cambridge by German scholars, for up to two weeks. Note that German visitors may not apply directly to the Hub but must be nominated by a Cambridge academic who will be prepared to act as their academic host. It is desirable that the scholar’s research will contribute to that of the Cambridge counterpart. Proposals will be judged on the value that they add to a group of scholars and graduate students and/or the quality of a future collaborative project/research grant application to be worked on during the visit. Guests should also give a paper/lecture, which will be held in the relevant Department/research seminar but also be advertised openly via the Hub website; the general topic should be included in the application. It is possible to apply for funding for a visiting scholar together with funding for a workshop. Approval for the visit from the Faculty Chair will be needed.
  3. Public engagement activities:
    The Hub wishes to broaden its target audience and therefore this call includes this category. Past activities were primarily aimed at an academic audience and the Hub will continue its support for such events, whilst events which specifically address a non-academic audience are now also welcome and will help fulfil the Hub’s aim to reach an audience beyond the immediate university community. This funding strand is for specific public engagement activities, but please note that public engagement activities may also be incorporated into funding strands 1-2 above.

Award: Between £6,000 and £5,000 depending on strand.

Funder Deadline: 15 September 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Please contact Ingrid Hobbis with any questions at Ingrid.Hobbis@admin.cam.ac.uk.

 

Keynes Fund

Summary: The focus of the teaching and research supported by the Fund is the sources and consequences of failure of market efficiency, particularly but not exclusively as a result of Agency costs. In particular, research into: capital market mispricing; the design of incentive systems and mechanisms to reduce the incidence and significance of institutional or general economic failure as well as into responsive public policies. The scope of work to be funded shall include interactions between the financial markets and the real economy.

The Fund will also consider seed funding to help researchers develop large-scale research proposals to be submitted to external funders such as the ESRC.

Award: 
Standard Grant Applications
•    Applications for funds up to £50,000 are classified as standard grants.
•    Proposals for a standard grant, excluding attached CVs, should be no more than 2000 words and proposers should suggest a minimum of one internal reviewer and two external qualified reviewers.

Large Grant Applications
•    Applications for funds in excess of £50,000 are classified as large grants.
•    Proposals for large grants, excluding attached CVs, should be no more than 4000 words and should suggest a minimum of two internal and three external qualified reviewers.

Funder Deadline: 28 September 2025

Contact: Marion Reusch, Keynes Fund Administrator, keynes.fund@econ.cam.ac.uk 

 

CRASSH at 25 | Anniversary open call

Summary: In 2026, CRASSH will mark its 25th anniversary with a programme of events and activities to celebrate the global reputation it has earned for innovative, interdisciplinary research. The programme will highlight CRASSH’s role in promoting new forms of collaboration across and beyond the academic community, as well as its commitment to exploring how knowledge is produced, contested, and mobilised in times of global uncertainty and division.

The anniversary theme: Knowledge in a Fractured World
The anniversary programme, under the theme ‘Knowledge in a Fractured World’, will bring together scholars, artists, activists, and practitioners to examine the challenges and opportunities for knowledge-making in contexts shaped by political polarisation, technological disruption, environmental crisis, and shifting global power. We are interested in asking what happens to the production of knowledge in these contexts and what roles knowledge might play in reinforcing divisions or overcoming them.

Call for event proposals
CRASSH invites proposals for the following events from anyone currently employed at, or studying at, the University of Cambridge (including its Colleges):

Half-day symposia, workshops or other forms of creative/participatory events that address the anniversary theme. To be considered for the anniversary programme, events should be:

  • co-convened by members of the University. The convening team should consist of at least two people from different disciplines
  • planned for May 2026
  • of interest to a wide range of potential audience members, in and outside of academia
  • structured to create critical debate by inviting diverging perspectives 
  • designed to promote dialogue and/or collaboration across different sectors of society

Proposals involving co-convenors from the sciences and/or considering the relationship between the humanities and the sciences are also very welcome. All proposals will be considered by a selection panel drawn from the School of Arts and Humanities and the School of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Award: CRASSH will provide funding of up to £1500 for each half-day event and full logistical support.

Funder Deadline: 28 September 2025

Contact: CRASSH’s Events Manger at events@crassh.cam.ac.uk

 

Isaac Newton Trust Emergency Bridge & Underwriting

Summary: This funding call is designed to help provide support for emergent needs and opportunities, specifically targeting short periods of emergency bridging or underwriting needs for early career, postdoctoral, researchers. Such needs will be considered on a case-by-case basis and should focus on retaining exceptional staff members during funding gaps.

This funding scheme should not be used to tide over researchers repeatedly or provide long term funding. Therefore, priority will be given to first time applications.

The named applicant should be a PI or independent researcher. Where an established researcher seeks a contribution to their own salary, the applicant should be the Head of institution.

It is expected that: 

  • Future funding has been applied for or has been secured at the time of application. A clear plan and timescale should be included in the application
  • Salary costs for Early Career Researchers and Postdoctoral Research Associates are prioritised
  • Retaining the named Research Associate, in need of funding, is important to the project or research group. Awarded funding should also benefit the Research Associate’s personal career development
  • The project can be brought to a satisfactory conclusion if the intended further funding is not secured
  • Normally, applications should not be for retrospective funding

Award: Up to £30,000 for a duration between 3 to 6 months

Funder Deadline: 09 October 2025

Contact: administrator@newtontrust.cam.ac.uk

 

Isaac Newton Trust Project Start-up Grants

Summary: This funding programme is designed to support the establishment of new, stellar quality, visionary projects. Trustees will be looking for relevant expertise and the attainment of results in the time available. 

Projects might include:

  • Developing existing work in a new direction
  • Establishing a new explorative methodology
  • Innovative research and scholarship unlikely to be funded from standard sources. This would include topics falling between the remit of two Research Councils or niche interdisciplinary research
  • Seed-corn funding 
  • Start-up costs

The named applicant should be a PI or independent researcher. Where a researcher seeks a contribution to their own salary, the applicant should be the Head of institution.

Established College Teaching Officers may also apply for research support for a sabbatical term or terms. In the case of a College Teaching Officer applying for research support, the application should be supported by the College Senior Tutor with formal support from the relevant Institution.

Priority will be given to applicants who are Early Career Researchers. Research-active recent retirees may also apply.

Award: Up to £30,000 for a project duration of 12 months

Funder Deadline: 09 October 2025

Contact: administrator@newtontrust.cam.ac.uk

 

Isaac Newton Trust Fellowship Support

Summary: This funding call is designed to contribute match or top-up funding towards an externally awarded Early Career Fellowship to be held at the University. This includes Early Career Researchers who:

  • Are applying for fellowship funding and need evidence of contributory funds
  • Hold an offer of an externally funded, competitively awarded Early Career Fellowship that requires matching funds or falls short of the University’s basic salary or cannot cover a full-time position. For example, Royal Commission 1851 Fellowships
  • Require an additional modest consumables budget which cannot be provided by the host institution

The INT supports the Leverhulme Trust’s Early Career Fellowship scheme under a dedicated programme – see Leverhulme Early Career Fellowships.

The named applicant should be a PI or independent researcher currently supervising the Fellow in question. In cases where this is not possible, the applicant should be the Head of institution.

Please note that the INT does not reconsider unsuccessful applications for the same project unless there has been a substantial material change in circumstances.

Award: Up to £30,000 for a project duration of up to 3 years.

Funder Deadline: 09 October 2025

Contact: administrator@newtontrust.cam.ac.uk

 

CRASSH Events & Initiatives Funding

Summary: CRASSH offers support to postdocs and academic staff employed by the University of Cambridge or one of its Colleges to run a wide range of events and creative initiatives. We invite you to apply for funding and logistical support for any activity that will foster the exchange of ideas across disciplines and cultures, forge new collaborations between researchers and other participants, bring academic research to wider publics, or explore the connections between research and artistic practice. Events are to take place between March and June 2026.

Award: Funding of up to £1500 is available for one-day events, £2500 for two-day events, and £1000 for other kinds of initiative. Additional funding may be available for events that experiment with new formats and/or introduce creative or collaborative elements.

Funder Deadline: 15 October 2025

Contact: CRASSH’s Events Manger at events@crassh.cam.ac.uk

 

Isaac Newton Trust Strategic Awards

Summary: Trustees are interested to see applications which catalyse new forms of collaboration aiming to generate institutional, perhaps interdisciplinary programmes and projects of strategic value to the University for the promotion of education or research. Proposed research projects should aim to be transformational with a prospect of longevity and financial sustainability. Applications need to be supported by a Pro-Vice-Chancellor or Chair of School.

If you are considering making an application for a Strategic Research Project, please contact the Director in the first instance to discuss your proposal.

Award: Up to £500,000 for a project duration of up to 5 years.

Funder Deadline: 05 February 2026 (Outline Stage Application). Full Application by invitation only.

Contact: administrator@newtontrust.cam.ac.uk

 

ERC Synergy Grants Webinar hosted by the British Academy
 

08 September 2025, 14.00 to 15.30 
[REGISTER HERE]
 
The Academy will be holding its next webinar focused on the ERC Synergy Grants on Monday, 8 September 2025 14:00-15:30.

 

Webinar on ERC Work Programme 2026 - Part 2
 

11 September 2025, 14.00 to 15.30 
No registration required

This session is designed for those who already know the ERC application process and want to dive deeper into the specific changes, rules, and opportunities for 2026.

More details will be available soon here

 

ERC Starting Grant Webinar hosted by the British Academy

24 September 2025, 14.00 to 15.30
[REGISTER HERE]
 
The Academy will be holding its next webinar focused on the ERC Starting Grants on Wednesday 24 September, 2025 14:00-15:30.
 
If you would like to submit a B1 draft proposal to be considered for feedback during the webinar, please register your interest on the registration form and send your B1 draft to Hannah Moscovitz (h.moscovitz@thebritishacademy.ac.uk) no later than Tuesday, 9 September 12:00 (midday).

AHSS Bulletin August 2025

AHSS Research and Impact Facilitation Bulletin 

August 2025

  

If you want to discuss funding opportunities or you are working on an application for research funding and would like feedback on a draft, please do contact the School’s Research Facilitators – Anna Cieslik (UK Funding) and Elizabeth Penner (EU/International Funding).  For Impact related queries please contact Lucy Sheerman (Impact Facilitator). 

You can find more information on the AHSS Research Website, search our External Funding Deadline Calendar and look at Previous Bulletins.  We are also now on Twitter! Follow us for updates on funding calls and information sessions. 

 

UK Research Council Funding

 

EU / International Funding

 

Charity Council Funding

 

Internal Funding

 

Training

 

 

Rapid evidence reviews for the UKRI Research Programme on Gambling

Summary: Following the introduction of the new statutory levy on gambling operators, UKRI is establishing a bespoke Research Programme on Gambling, funded under the research strand of the levy. As a part of this, UKRI is commissioning a series of RER to help identify evidence gaps within the research and innovation ecosystem relating to gambling harms. The RER will help to inform research prioritisation and policy development. Within the field of gambling harms, it is recognised that there are several key areas in which the evidence base needs to be strengthened and the diversity of disciplines involved in gambling research can also be expanded to include interdisciplinary and multi.

RER will support a step change in the high quality, independent research available on gambling harms and will help identify evidence gaps within the research and innovation ecosystem relating to gambling harms. Once published, the RER will form an integral part of the early stages of UKRI’s Research Programme on Gambling, including the Gambling Harms Research Coordination Centre.

Gambling harms research and innovation partnerships (GHRIPs) will be expected to incorporate the outputs from relevant RER into their phase two workplans.

Award: The full economic cost of a RER can be up to £50,000. UKRI will fund 100% of the full economic cost. UKRI will fund up to 30 RER for six months.

Funder Deadline: 02 September 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

UKRI Gambling Harms Research Coordination Centre (GHRCC)

Summary: The UK government’s new Gambling Levy offers an innovative and exciting opportunity to fund interdisciplinary, relevant, and wide-ranging research to stimulate interest, capacity, and investment in the gambling research field.

The Centre will coordinate and maximise the impact of a range of activities commissioned by UKRI under the new gambling levy, including the GHRIPs, ensuring an integrated approach throughout. It will also be expected to lead, plan, deliver, and manage a multidisciplinary programme of research and devolved funding to identify gaps in the current evidence base, increase diversity, and expand the disciplinary reach of the gambling field.

The Centre will bring together expertise from academic, industry, policy communities, and people with lived experience, working closely with cross-UKRI convened expert advice.

Award: The full economic cost of your project can be up to £10 million. UKRI will fund 80% of the full economic cost.

Funder Deadline: 16 September 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Gambling harms research and innovation partnerships

Summary: The programme will fund a network of Gambling Harms Research and Innovation Partnerships (GHRIPs) to address critical gaps in the evidence base and support the development of innovative, stakeholder-informed responses to gambling-related harms.

These partnerships will act as thematic spokes within a wider research ecosystem, working collaboratively with a central coordination hub to generate actionable insights, build research capacity, and inform policy and practice across the UK.

GHRIPs will connect relevant stakeholders and research partners, providing research, evidence, data and expertise to tackle gambling harms in their various forms.

Applications should focus on creating a single GHRIP in a defined thematic area, from the list below:

  • intersectionality
  • structural drivers
  • direct/lived experience
  • digital gambling ecosystems
  • preventive, protective and recovery factors
  • co-occurring issues

Phases
To support the delivery of these objectives and ensure the strongest applications are funded, the GHRIPs will be commissioned through a two-phased competitive process.

The phase one funding opportunity offers initial seed-corn funding so that applicants may dedicate time to developing partnerships. The funding is intended to resource the development of high-quality proposals to the phase two funding opportunity, by ensuring that partnership building is resourced, reflecting the essential role of partners in the public, third and private sectors.

During phase two, each successful GHRIP will deliver a co-designed programme of activity that reflects the funding opportunity aims and objectives. For a detailed overview, see ‘phase one activity’ and ‘phase two activity’ below.

Phase one activity
The purpose of phase one is to provide resource and support capacity across stakeholders to undertake partnership development and landscape evidence analysis required to design the phase two work programme.

You will be expected to deliver the following activities and outputs during phase one:

  • building, strengthening or diversifying partnerships between research organisations or research teams and relevant stakeholders
  • dialogue and co-creation with stakeholders and lived experience participants to further understand needs and surface opportunities for collaboration
  • design and deliver workshops
  • mapping of relevant data
  • landscape and evidence analysis to build the evidence base for the phase two application
  • embed co-creation practices and evaluation mechanisms into public and community engagement activities to ensure they are inclusive, impactful, and responsive to stakeholder needs.
  • establish an appropriate model for phase two

Phase two activity
The purpose of phase two is to select the strongest partnerships with potential to deliver insights and solutions tailored to the most pressing issues caused by gambling harm.

Phase two GHRIP awards will be applying for up to £5 million (100% FEC) per project, with funding available for a duration of up to four years. Projects will be expected to commence in October 2026, following a separate competitive assessment process.

Award: The full economic cost of your phase one project can be up to £100,000. UKRI will fund 80% of the full economic cost. UKRI will fund up to 20 phase one awards for nine months. All applicants successful at phase one will be invited to submit an application for phase two.

Phase two applications will be subject to a separate assessment process. We anticipate awarding a minimum of six grants of a value of £5 million at 100% full economic cost per award, with a duration of 48 months.

Awards at phase one and phase two will be made at 80% full economic cost, and the research organisation must agree to find the balance of full economic cost from other resources.

Funder Deadline: 16 September 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Smart Data Research UK Fellowships

Summary: Apply for a fellowship to undertake innovative, impact-focused research using smart data. Projects should address a significant real-world challenge which is relevant to the UK.

Projects must be clearly aligned to at least one of Smart Data Research UK’s four thematic pillars:

  • Productivity and prosperity for all
  • Health and wellbeing
  • Digital society
  • Sustainability

Smart data is produced through our daily interactions with the digital world, such as when we purchase products or services, use social media, or get directions. It is collected when we use mobile phones, wearable health devices, store loyalty cards and smart technology.

We are looking for fellowship proposals that meet the following objectives.

1. Objective one: advance impactful and innovative research

  • Conduct original, high-impact research that demonstrates how smart data can address a significant real-world challenge.

2. Objective two: develop research leadership

  • Use the Fellowship to grow as a leader in smart data research – developing new skills, networks and areas of expertise.

3. Objective three: strengthen the smart data research community

  • Play an active role in building a connected, collaborative community. Fellows will take part in activities that support collaboration, knowledge sharing, and long-term impact.

Award: The full economic cost (FEC) of your project can be up to £200,000. Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) will fund 80% of the FEC. Projects may run for up to 18 months and must start on 01 February 2026.

Funder Deadline: 23 September 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Cultural heritage and climate change networks to drive policy change

Summary: This funding opportunity will fund new networks comprised of UK institutions working with European partners, in-country partners in Official Development Assistance (ODA) countries, community practitioners, researchers, and policymakers for twelve months, to explore opportunities for widening cultural heritage and climate change engagement and policy across both the UK and international communities. We welcome applications that:

  • work with local communities to co-create solutions
  • connect the stories, turning local narratives into global relevance
  • work across disciplines and intergenerationally
  • ground a project in a place to extract learnings that are transferable to other cases or policy frameworks

Award: The duration of this award is 12 months. Projects must start by 1 February 2026. The FEC of your project can be up to £60,000. AHRC will fund 80% of the FEC.

Funder Deadline: 14 October 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Turing AI Pioneer Interdisciplinary Fellowships: outline applications

Summary: This opportunity is for established researchers from across UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) remit, without a background in core artificial intelligence (AI) research, who want to build domain relevant AI capability and develop advanced AI approaches to tackle a specific research challenge in their chosen field.

The objectives of this opportunity are:

  • to enable leading researchers from a diverse range of backgrounds outside of core AI research to build domain relevant AI capability and knowledge, and tackle a specific research challenge
  • to drive transformative change and accelerate the adoption and utilisation of AI across multiple domains, the research base and wider economy, though community leadership
  • to enable engagement and collaboration within or between academic and non-academic partners to deliver AI-enabled challenge-driven research
  • to support the career development of leading researchers, contributing to a diverse research community with increased AI skills and knowledge

Award: The full economic cost (FEC) of your project can be up to £2,187,500. UKRI will fund 80% of the FEC. The funding is subject to final budget approvals. Projects can be up to three years in duration and must start on 1 October 2026.

Funder Deadline: 14 October 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Pre-announcement: DARE UK Real-world Research Exemplar Programme - UKRI

Summary: We invite research teams from across UKRI research councils remit to partner with TREs of appropriate maturity to deliver real-world research utilising new capabilities introduced through the DARE UK programme, these are:

  • data federation, enabling a researcher to be able to log in to one TRE and work transparently with approved data held in other remote TREs
  • analytics federation, enabling a researcher to be able log in to one TRE and send computational jobs to run in other remote TREs against approved data
  • semi-automation of output disclosure checks, including from complex artificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning (ML) algorithms

The real-world research programmes will serve both as testcases, helping to harden federation capabilities towards production-level maturity, and as showcases, proving the utility of the technology in addressing challenging real-world research questions.

**This is a pre-announcement, and the information may change. The funding opportunity will open on 08 September 2025. More information will be available on this page then.

Award: The full economic cost (FEC) of your project can be from £365,700 up to £609,500. UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) will fund 80% of the FEC. The duration of this award is a maximum of 12 months.

Funder Deadline: 05 November 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Collaborative doctoral landscape award in the arts and humanities

Summary: UK non-higher education institutions (non-HEI), individual organisations or consortia, can apply to become arts and humanities collaborative doctoral landscape award grant holders to support and provide high-quality doctoral training.

AHRC will support up to 50 doctoral studentships per year, for four years through this scheme. You can apply for a minimum of three students per year (two in exceptional circumstances). Doctoral projects must align with the organisation’s priorities and are undertaken with a university partner.

The first cohort of students will start in October 2027.

Non-HEIs can be any type of organisation in the UK that has the research capacity to host doctoral students. This would include a wide range of creative and cultural organisations contributing to arts and humanities research, for example:

  • galleries
  • libraries
  • museums and archives
  • the creative industries
  • public and third sector organisations

The application must be from a non-HEI organisation either:

  • as an individual organisation
  • as a consortia of non-HEI organisations
  • with a university partner, in specific circumstances

Non-HEIs do not need to have held awards under the Collaborative Doctoral Partnership (CDP) scheme to be eligible to apply or have independent research organisation status. However, you must be able to demonstrate that you have the capacity to manage at least three studentships per year.

Non-HEIs, which do not have capacity to host three students per year, may wish to submit a joint application as a consortium. If successful, the consortium would be the collaborative doctoral landscape award grant holder.

Award: Between three and fifty studentships

Funder Deadline: 20 November 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Horizon Europe Update: UK Eligibility Update

Horizon Europe Work Programme 2023 (and previous years)
Successful UK applicants to calls under the Horizon Europe Work Programme 2023 (and previous years) will be funded under the UKRI Guarantee Funding. This Guarantee Funding has recently been extended to cover successful applications made by UK-based businesses and researchers to calls under the Horizon Europe 2021, 2022 or 2023 work programmes. 
 
Horizon Europe 2024 Work Programme Calls
Successful UK applicants will be funded by the EU, under the Horizon Europe Programme.
Updates on Association: Please visit the Research Operation Office’s EU pages. 

 

2025 Horizon Europe Funding Opportunities: with a focus on arts, humanities and social sciences research

Follow this link to view these opportunities.

With the publication of the 2025 Work Programme of Horizon Europe and the UK’s associated member status, there are numerous funding opportunities available to Cambridge researchers. Highlighted in this document are key funding schemes that are currently open that have a focus on arts, humanities and social sciences research. The list is not exhaustive, so if there is a call you do not see here, please do read through the full call documentation.

If you are a researcher working in the Arts, Humanities or Social Sciences and you have any questions about applying to Horizon Europe funding, please do not hesitate to get in contact with Dr Elizabeth Penner, AHSS Research Facilitator (EU/Intl funding)

 

Africa Initiative III

Summary: Africa Initiative III is a component of Horizon Europe’s international cooperation dimension, aiming to accelerate the translation of scientific knowledge into action around shared global challenges in Africa and Europe. The calls are now open and fall under four thematic pillars:

  • Public Health (€50 million)
  • Green Transition (€241 million)
  • Innovation & Technology (€186.5 million)
  • Capacities for Science (€3.5 million)
  • Cross-cutting issues (€19.5 million)

These calls are designed to involve African institutions and researchers, ensuring meaningful participation in consortia tackling shared challenges in areas such as climate change adaptation, clean energy, sustainable agriculture, digital innovation, science for policy, and equitable access to health.
 

Calls involved in the Africa Initiative III

Cluster 1

Cluster 2

Cluster 3

Cluster 4

Cluster 5

Cluster 6

Missions

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Elizabeth Penner

 

European Heritage Awards

Summary:The European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards aim to identify, recognise and champion best practices in the protection and conservation of cultural heritage as well as innovative developments and knowledge in the care and promotion of tangible, intangible and digital cultural heritage. Through the power of example, the scheme enables the exchange and transfer of experiences and skills across borders and between communities in Europe and beyond. It increases the visibility and understanding of the multiple values of cultural heritage for Europe’s society, economy, environment and culture .

The Awards celebrate excellence in the protection, conservation, research, education, and promotion of cultural heritage across Europe, covering a wide range of categories and project types – from tangible to intangible heritage.

Applications can be submitted in one of the following five categories:

1.    Conservation & Adaptive Reuse;
2.    Research; 
3.    Education, Training & Skills;
4.    Citizens’ Engagement & Awareness-raising; and
5.    Heritage Champions.

Award: €10,000

Funder Deadline: 09 September 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: For further inquiries, please contact Camilla Scopigni, Programme Assistant at cs@europanostra.org 

 

MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships

Summary: The objective of PFs is to support researchers’ careers and foster excellence in research. The Postdoctoral Fellowships action targets researchers holding a PhD who wish to carry out their research activities abroad, acquire new skills and develop their careers. PFs help researchers gain experience in other countries, disciplines and non-academic sectors.

There are 2 types of Postdoctoral Fellowships:

  1. European Postdoctoral Fellowships. They are open to researchers moving within Europe or coming to Europe from another part of the world to pursue their research career. These fellowships take place in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country and can last between 1 and 2 years. Researchers of any nationality can apply.
  2. Global Postdoctoral Fellowships. They fund the mobility of researchers outside Europe. The fellowship lasts between 2 to 3 years, of which the first 1 to 2 years will be spent in a non-associated Third Country, followed by a mandatory return phase of 1 year to an organisation based in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country. Only nationals or long-term residents of the EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries can apply.

Both types of fellowships may also include short-term secondments anywhere in the world during the fellowship (except during the return phase of a Global Fellowship).

In an effort to build bridges between the academic and non-academic sector, researchers can receive additional support to carry out a placement of up to 6 months in a non-academic organisation based in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country. This placement needs to take place at the end of their fellowship.

Award: The Fellowship provides support in the form of a living allowance; mobility allowance; family and long-term leave and special needs allowances; research, training and networking activities; management and indirect costs.

Funder Deadline: 10 September 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Elizabeth Penner

 

ERC Proof of Concept

Summary: The ERC Proof of Concept funding is made available only to those who already have an ERC award to establish proof of concept of an idea that was generated in the course of their ERC-funded projects.

Frontier research often generates radically new ideas that drive innovation and business inventiveness and tackle societal challenges. The ERC PoC Grants aim at facilitating exploration of the commercial and social innovation potential of ERC funded research and are therefore available only to PIs whose proposals draw substantially on their ERC funded research.

Proof of Concept Grants aim at maximising the value of the excellent research that the ERC funds, by funding further work (i.e. activities which were not scheduled to be funded by the original ERC frontier research grant) to verify the innovation potential of ideas arising from ERC funded projects.

Award: A lump sum of € 150,000 for a period of 18 months.

Funder Deadline: 18 September 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Elizabeth Penner

 

MSCA Staff Exchange Call

Summary: The Staff Exchanges action offers a unique opportunity to promote the transfer of knowledge and innovation through international research collaborations.

Who can apply?
To be eligible, consortia must consist of at least three organisations from three different countries. Two of them must be located in different EU Member States or Horizon Europe associated countries. In addition, organisations from any country in the world can participate.

Organisations from all socioeconomic sectors in any country can apply to Staff Exchanges.

Staff secondments
Secondments are the main method to foster cooperation among organisations participating in Staff Exchanges. Selected projects exchange and train researchers and innovators, as well as administrative, technical or managerial staff involved in research activities.

Participants go abroad for up to 12 months. By working in other organisations they gain new skills and competencies, expand their networks, exchange knowledge, and carry out cutting-edge research.

Award: A top-up allowance (for travel, accommodation, subsistence costs), which is on top of the salary paid by their organisation; a special needs allowance, if applicable. In addition, funding is provided for research, training and networking activities, management and indirect costs.

Funder Deadline: 08 October 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Elizabeth Penner

 

ERC Starting Grant

Summary: The ERC Starting Grants are designed to support excellent Principal Investigators at the career stage at which they are starting their own independent research team or programme. Principal Investigators must demonstrate the ground-breaking nature, ambition, and feasibility of their research proposal.

Researchers of any nationality with 2-7 years of experience since completion of PhD, a scientific track record showing great promise and an excellent research proposal can apply.

Award: Up to € 1.5 million for a period of 5 years (pro rata for projects of shorter duration). An additional € 1 million can be made available to cover eligible “start-up” costs for researchers moving from a third country to the EU or an associated country and/or the purchase of major equipment and/or access to large facilities and/or other major experimental and field work costs.

Deadline: 14 October 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Elizabeth Penner

 

ERC Synergy Grant

Summary: The aim is to provide support for a small group of two to four Principal Investigators to jointly address ambitious research problems that could not be addressed by the individual Principal Investigators and their teams working alone. Synergy projects should enable substantial advances at the frontiers of knowledge, stemming, for example, from the cross-fertilization of scientific fields, from new productive lines of enquiry, or new methods and techniques, including unconventional approaches and investigations at the interface between established disciplines. The transformative research funded by Synergy Grants should have the potential of becoming a benchmark on a global scale.

Award: A maximum of € 10 million for a period of 6 years (pro rata for projects of shorter duration). An additional € 4 million can be requested in the proposal in total to cover eligible 'start-up' costs for Principal Investigators moving to the EU or an Associated Country from elsewhere as a consequence of receiving an ERC grant and/or the purchase of major equipment and/or access to large facilities.

Deadline: 05 November 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Elizabeth Penner

 

APEX Awards

Summary: In partnership with the British Academy, the Royal Society and the Royal Academy of Engineering ("the Academies") and supported generously by the Leverhulme Trust, the APEX Awards (Academies Partnership in Supporting Excellence in Cross-disciplinary research) offer established independent researchers, with a strong track record in their respective area and proven ability to lead collaborative work , an exciting opportunity to pursue genuine interdisciplinary and curiosity-driven research to benefit wider society. Successful applicants will be expected to work in collaboration with relevant researchers from other disciplines.

The objectives of this scheme are to:

  • promote collaboration across disciplines, with a particular emphasis on the boundary between science, engineering, and the social sciences and humanities
  • support outstanding interdisciplinary research which is unlikely to be supported through conventional funding programmes
  • support researchers with an outstanding track record in developing their research in a new direction through collaboration with partners from other disciplines
  • enable outstanding researchers to focus on advancing their innovative research through seed funding

Award: Awards are expected to commence between 1 October and 31 December 2025 and can be held for up to 24 months. Support is up to £200,000 to fund staff costs for the lead applicant and the co-applicant, and associated research costs representing no more than 25 per cent of the total award value. These can include consumables, equipment, and collaborative travel. ‘Staff Costs’ can now include funds to support research assistants, undergraduate/Master’s students and PhD students in addition to teaching replacement.

Successful applicants will also have the opportunity to separately apply for up to £10,000 to create and lead public engagement projects linked to their APEX Award.

Funder Deadline: 09 September 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

International Writing Workshops 2025

Summary: The intention of the Writing Workshops is to support early career researchers in developing countries, working to stimulate professional networks, develop research partnerships, encourage skills development, provide advice on career development, and promote the uptake of research emanating from developing countries.

Through the Writing Workshops programme, the British Academy aims to encourage and support early career researchers in developing countries to publish in high impact journals in the fields of the humanities and social sciences, and enable them to develop connections with academics and journal editors based nationally and internationally. The writing workshops are in affect making a career intervention, instilling and aiming to change long term academic culture, and engaging with the wider ecosystem researchers inhabit.

These workshops are required to take place in Brazil, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, Philippines, South Africa, Turkey, Thailand, Vietnam and/or Least Developed Countries.

Award: Awards are set at a maximum of £30,000. Funding must be used in the direct delivery of the workshops, and can cover travel and related expenses, subsistence costs, clerical assistance and consumables, childcare support (including for participants), networking, meeting and/or conference costs.

Funder Deadline: 17 September 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

International Interdisciplinary Research Projects 2026

Summary: The purpose of each project will be to develop new international research led by and grounded in the humanities and/or social sciences, to further understanding of transnational and planetary challenges. The collaboration can include any SHAPE or STEM discipline as long as the research is led by and grounded in the humanities and/or social sciences. 

The Academy will only accept applications that focus on one or more of the following four transnational and planetary challenge domains. Applications should engage with both the important technical and/or scientific components of each domain, and also with those aspects which make the challenge difficult for a single sovereign states to manage individually. To do so, applications must address how non-state actors and transnational organisations might contribute to the selected challenge.

  • Earth system governance, including problems related to climate change, biodiversity loss, oceanic degradation, and other forms of environmental pollution
  • Digital and other transformative technologies, including the challenges presented by artificial intelligence (AI), cyber, synthetic biology, nanotech, and other breakthroughs
  • Global health, particularly the rising threat posed by pandemic disease and the linkages among human, animal, and environmental health (“One Health”)
  • Outer space governance, encompassing the dilemmas posed by accumulating orbital debris, space traffic congestion, property and sovereignty claims, and arms racing.

Award: The total funding available per award in this call is up to £300,000 over 2 years. Within that limit of £300,000 over 2 years the award is offered at 80% FEC (i.e. the total contribution requested from the Academy may not exceed £300,000 and the total project value at 100% FEC may not exceed £375,000).

Funder Deadline: 17 September 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

NIHR Research Professorships and Global Health Research Professorships (Restricted Calls)

Summary: It is expected that NIHR will issue a call for the Research Professorships, Round 16 (RP) and Global Health Research Professorships, Round 9 (GHRP) in September. Both schemes are aimed at health, public health and adult social care researchers, and methodologists with an outstanding research record of clinical and applied health, and/or care research and its effective translation for improved health and care. For both schemes, the priority is on promoting effective translation of research into practice. For the Global Health Research Professorships, the focus is on translation in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Each award will consist of a five-year package of maximum £2M (on average between £1.7 and 1.8M) to support a professorship, including support posts, research running costs, a travel fund and a leadership and development programme which includes access to the NIHR Leadership Programme.

For both schemes: Candidates will need to demonstrate a steep career trajectory over the last 5-10 years and will have spent no more than five years at their current level of seniority at the time of application. Candidates should not already be established leaders in their field but be on an upward trajectory to become leaders after the period of award. Nominees should be working in the fields of experimental medicine, public health, health services research, social care research or methodological research. They should have a demonstrable record in effective translation of research into improved health, public health or adult social care. Applications involving basic research or work involving animals or their tissue will be deemed ineligible.  

For RP only: Nominations are only eligible where the Higher Education Institution (HEI) is working in partnership with NHS (or vice versa), or organisations/commissioners/providers of public health and/or care services, based in England. 

For GHRP only: UK-based nominees must have partner organisation(s) in LMIC(s) on the OECD DAC list of Official Development Assistance (ODA) countries.  Research should be ODA-compliant, and the proposal should plan to strengthen these collaborations and support training and capacity development.    
 
For more information about the scheme, including detailed requirements and eligibility, please see the general call pages and the previous round’s guidance pages Round 15 Guidance for the Research Professorships  and  Round 8 Guidance for the Global Health Research Professorships.

Key expectations for both schemes: 

Salary recycling:
The basic salary of the Research Professor is funded by NIHR. Host institutions are required to recycle the salary costs released from the Professor’s previous role. This means the institution must reinvest those funds to build research capacity—such as hiring new academic or research staff, supporting early career researchers, or enhancing research infrastructure. This plan must be clearly documented and is assessed as part of the application.

Institutional support and future employment:
Institutions must demonstrate a strong and sustained commitment to the nominee. This includes ensuring that the individual has access to appropriate administrative and research support and guaranteeing the availability of necessary infrastructure and facilities. In addition, institutions are expected to support the nominee’s leadership development, including their participation in the NIHR Leadership Programme. 

For RP only:
Institutions must commit to supporting the individual beyond the lifetime of the award. This includes a long-term employment plan and sustaining the individual’s role and research leadership after the NIHR funding ends. The award is intended to strengthen institutional research leadership capacity, so there should be a clear plan for the nominee’s long-term integration into the institution’s strategic research direction 

University Internal selection for both calls:   

NIHR restricts the number of nominations Higher Education Institutions (HEI) can put forward to these funding calls. The limit of the number of applications per HEI in each round applies regardless of whether the HEI will be the lead employing organisation or the partner organisation:

  • For the Research Professorship, NIHR allow a maximum of 3 nominations provided that at least one applicant is from an ethnic minority group. This is in addition to the requirement that at least 1 applicant is female if more than 1 nomination is made. If the University puts forward 2 nominees, at least one applicant must be female. 
  • For the Global Health Research Professorship, NIHR allow a maximum of 2 nominations. If the University puts forward 2 nominees, at least one applicant must be female.  

Therefore, this call will be managed according to the University’s restricted calls procedure.  

Schools have been asked to each provide a ranked lists of individuals they recommend are supported to apply to this round of funding. Departments should therefore await communication from their School office to understand the selection/ranking process and timetable. Please note that applicants that haven’t been through the School ranking stage of the internal selection process will not be accepted or included in the University of Cambridge submission for this funding call.

Funder Deadline: 22 September 2025 (restricted call internal deadline). Anticipated funder deadline: 10th December 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik and researchstrategy@admin.cam.ac.uk.

 

Dan David Prize

Summary: The Dan David Prize is the world’s largest history prize, annually awarding prizes to early and midcareer scholars and practitioners in the historical disciplines, to acknowledge their outstanding achievements and support future work.

Nominees can come from any field related to the study of the human past, both within academia and outside it.

We are looking for researchers in disciplines such as history, archaeology, art history, digital humanities and human palaeontology, as well as independent scholars, public historians, museum curators and documentary filmmakers.

Anyone can nominate | Self-nominations will not be considered | Renominations from previous years are encouraged

The Dan David Prize board will determine the winners based on a shortlist of finalists compiled by a dedicated international selection committee.

Award: $300,000

Funder Deadline: 24 September 2025

Research Facilitator Contact: Dr Elizabeth Penner

 

BA Global Innovation Fellowships: The German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) 2025-26

Summary: The objective of the Global Innovation Fellowships is to provide opportunities to UK-based early- and mid-career researchers from across the humanities and social sciences to develop their skills, networks and careers in the creative and cultural, public, private and policy sectors to address challenges that require innovative approaches and solutions. Through the Global Innovation Fellowships, researchers in the SHAPE community will be supported to create new and deeper links beyond academia, so enabling knowledge mobilisation and translation, as well as individual skills development.

Applications are invited in any of the following areas:

•    Security, Defence, and Resilience
•    Europe as an International Actor
•    Strategy-Making in a Geopolitical World

Successful applicants would be expected to produce policy-relevant analysis for German decision-makers. They do not need an understanding of German politics, but they should be able to offer new approaches to typical foreign policy dilemmas in their chosen field and be ready to engage with policymakers and further stakeholders in Germany.

Award: Global Innovation Fellowships are expected to commence by September 2026. An earlier start date of March or April 2026 may be possible, in this case the applicant will need to explain how they will plan and manage their relocation on this faster timeline. The Academy is offering up to two one-year fellowships hosted in DGAP's offices in Berlin. These are offered as awards for up to £150,000 for 12 months in duration (with Full Economic Costing at 80%).

Funder Deadline: 24 September 2025

Research Facilitator Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

BA Global Innovation Fellowships: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Summary: The objective of the Global Innovation Fellowships is to provide opportunities to UK-based early- and mid-career researchers from across the humanities and social sciences to develop their skills, networks and careers in the creative and cultural, public, private and policy sectors to address challenges that require innovative approaches and solutions. Through the Global Innovation Fellowships, researchers in the SHAPE community will be supported to create new and deeper links beyond academia, so enabling knowledge mobilisation and translation, as well as individual skills development.

Applications are invited in any of the following five areas:

•    Sustainability, Climate and Geopolitics.
•    Global Order and Institutions.
•    South and East Asia.
•    Middle East and North Africa.
•    Security and Defence.

There are no preconceived ideas about the disciplinary background of the award holder, but the applicant will need to demonstrate a solid understanding of the relevant issues, including the applicable policy landscape and the systemic challenges that it faces. Language skills where relevant are desirable but not essential.

Award: The Academy is offering up to two one-year fellowships hosted in Carnegie’s offices in Washington DC, Singapore or Beirut. These are offered as awards for up to £150,000 for 12 months in duration (with Full Economic Costing at 80%).

Funder Deadline: 24 September 2025

Research Facilitator Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Wellcome Trust Early-Career Awards

Summary: This scheme provides funding for early-career researchers from any discipline who are ready to develop their research identity. The researcher will deliver shifts in understanding that could improve human life, health and wellbeing. By the end of the aware, they will be ready to lead their own independent research programme. Project duration is usually 5 years, but may be less for some disciplines and longer if held on a part-time basis.

Award: Your salary and up to £400,000 for research expenses.

Funder Deadline: 30 September 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Innovation Fellowships Scheme 2025 - Route B: Policy Led (FCDO)

Summary: The Innovation Fellowships scheme will provide funding and support for established early-career and mid-career researchers in the humanities and social sciences to partner with organisations and business in the creative, cultural, public, private and policy sectors, to address challenges that require innovative approaches and solutions. Through the Innovation Fellowships, our researchers in the SHAPE community will be supported to create new and deeper links beyond academia, so enabling knowledge mobilisation and translation, as well as individual skills development.

The Innovation Fellowships scheme has two routes: Route A: Researcher-led and Route B: Policy-led. This call is for Route B with the Academy, working with the FCDO.

Please note the final fellowship would be hosted by the National Security Secretariat in the Cabinet Office.

The FCDO has specialised research requirements, operating in a context where timely access to high-quality evidence-based analysis can mean the difference between success and failure. Exerting influence, negotiating and leveraging others’ power at precisely the right moment is at a premium. This can make it difficult for researchers operating outside the FCDO to have a significant impact. These Fellowships will provide an opportunity to change that by enabling close interaction with FCDO policymakers directly in the heart of this government department’s work.

The Academy and the FCDO invite applications for Fellowships in any of the following areas:

  • Western Balkans
  • Serious Organised Crime and Migration
  • Humanitarian Crises
  • UK National Security Strategy

Award: The Academy is able to offer awards of up to £120,000 for 12 months in duration (with Full Economic Costing at 80 per cent).

Funder Deadline: 01 October 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Leverhulme Trust Visiting Professorship

Summary: For UK institutions to invite an eminent senior professor from overseas, to bring genuinely novel expertise and enhance the skills and knowledge of academic staff and students in an underrepresented area in the UK. Priority will be given to new or recent collaborations and visits with a variety of activities beyond research.
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Award: Applications are invited for a minimum of £10,000 and a maximum of £150,000. A Visiting Professorship must last at least 3 months. Grants between 3 and 6 months must be completed in one visit. Grants between 6 and 12 months can be spread over two or more visits, with 12 months being the maximum duration for a visit.

Funder Deadline: 02 October 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Nuffield Foundation Racial Diversity UK Fund

Summary: Our Racial Diversity UK fund (RDUK) supports research on racial diversity within the UK. This programme is funded by an endowment that supports work relating to the Commonwealth. As such, our interest is in the future of UK society as shaped by its colonial past, specifically by the migration of people from former British colonies to the UK. This migration and the accompanying dynamics of racialisation, resources and power have produced the UK’s distinct racial diversity and its patterns of racial discrimination and inequality. Within this context we take a broad view of racial diversity as covering all racial or ethnic groups living in the UK, including White populations. 

The priority theme for the RDUK autumn 2025 application round is migration, arrivals, and legacies. 

Our particular areas of interest within this theme are:  

•    How colonial legacies and connections shape the UK’s racially diverse past, present and future 
•    Patterns and experiences of migration, arrivals, settlements, and departures 
•    Impacts of migration on places, opportunities, and outcomes for all communities, new and established     
•    Migration and demographic projections and the future of a multi-racial UK 
•    Rights and routes to residency and citizenship  

Award: Grants from £15,000 to £500,000 are available, though most awards are expected to be less than £300,000.

Funder Deadline: 06 October 2025

Research Facilitator Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

BA Talent Development Awards 2025-26

Summary: The aim of the scheme is to enable researchers to build their skills and capacities in core areas to develop their current and future research. This includes core areas like quantitative skills, data science, digital humanities and languages. This scheme promotes the acquisition and advancement of skills in relevant areas, supporting innovative research methods, be that through skills development, collaboration or dissemination.

It is also designed for researchers who wish to adopt an interdisciplinary approach to their work and seek to advance their skills in a new area that may fall outside the traditional bounds of their subject discipline. It provides Early Career Researchers with the opportunity to develop specialist skills to support the foundations of their career. Additionally, the scheme offers mid and senior-career researchers the chance to diversify their skills and methodological approaches in response to new avenues of research interest. The scheme encourages researchers to champion their newly acquired skills within their wider community, contributing to the ongoing development of skills for future generations.

The overarching aims of the scheme are to invest in UK talent and skills, and as a result, to contribute to the development and delivery of high quality regional, national and international research by:

  • raising the quality of advanced quantitative skills and/or data science skills used in research, including digital methods;
  • creating new opportunities for knowledge and skills to exchange across disciplines and sectors; and
  • promoting language learning and the transferable skills that language learning provides.

Award: Maximum grant is £10,000. Awards are for a minimum period of six months and up to a maximum period of 12 months, starting no earlier than 1 March 2026 and no later than 31 March 2026.

Funder Deadline: 08 October 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Wellcome Trust Career Development Award

Summary: This scheme provides funding for mid-career researchers from any discipline who have the potential to be international research leaders. They will develop their research capabilities, drive innovative programmes of work and deliver significant shifts in understanding that could improve human life, health and wellbeing.
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Award: Provides a salary for the grantholder (if required) and research expenses. Please request for level and duration of funding that's justifiable for your proposed research.

Funder Deadline: 20 November 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Wellcome Trust Discovery Awards

Summary: This scheme provides funding for established researchers and teams from any discipline who want to pursue bold and creative research ideas to deliver significant shifts in understanding related to human life, health and wellbeing. 

Research questions should generate knowledge that leads to a shift in understanding or delivers new insight into how human life and health work. We welcome proposals that may have a clinical or societal impact or have translational potential, but the focus should be on discovery research.   

We fund research into the: 

  • fundamental processes that underpin biology, to understand more about how human life works
  • complexities of human health and disease, including clinical and population-based approaches
  • burden of disease and its determinants where this brings new and transformational knowledge
  • development of methodologies, conceptual frameworks, technologies, tools or techniques that could benefit health-related research
  • needs, values and priorities of the people and communities affected by disease and health disparities
  • social, ethical, cultural, political, economic and historical contexts of human health and disease.

Award: The average size of a Discovery Award is £3.5 million. Applications above £5 million will be subject to additional scrutiny. Awards can be up to 8 years, but may be less for some disciplines, and may be longer if held on a part-time basis. The average duration of a Discovery Award is 7 years, although we have supported awards from 3 to 8 years.

Funder Deadline: 25 November 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Nuffield Foundation Strategic Fund

Summary: The Nuffield Foundation’s Strategic Fund is  open to ambitious, cross-cutting research  proposals that seek to address some of the  most pressing social challenges of our time.

The Strategic Fund is reserved for the funding of original, transformative ideas that have the scale and ambition to anticipate and address some of the most significant themes and  developments shaping the UK public policy agenda, now and in the future. These are major grants, typically in the range of £1–3 million and are expected to last between two and  five years. 

Strategic Fund applications should respond to one or more of our five priority questions, and/or explore the connections between them:

  • How can we build a prosperous and fair society, where people are secure
  • How can we build an inclusive society, where people thrive and feel they belong, in the context of changing
    demography and ways of life?
  • How can we ensure that rapid developments in science and technology work for people and society?
  • How can policies to address climate change be developed in a way that promotes a prosperous, fair and inclusive society? 
  • How can we build and maintain the effective, accountable and trustworthy institutions that our society and democracy need and can fulfil their potential?

Award: Between £1 million and £3 million

Funder Deadline: 16 March 2026

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Large Grant Contribution Fund

Summary: Research grant applications for funding over £1 million for AHSS subject areas can request financial contributions from this fund. Funding may be requested for activities that are complementary to the external funding and contributions from Departments / Schools / Non-school institutions. Activities that add value in the following areas are particularly encouraged: widening participation and inclusion; improving partnerships locally / nationally / internationally; capacity and capability building; working with less advantaged partners. Leveraging funding for existing grant awards is not in the remit of this fund. All applications must include one or more external partners and only applications led by Cambridge PIs are eligible.

Award: Up to 10% of the award value. PI buyout and equipment are not eligible costs for request.

Funder Deadline: Minimum 4 weeks before funder deadline.

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik and Rpc@admin.cam.ac.uk

 

REF Impact Funding

Summary: Internal funding is available from the Research Strategy Office to support the development of the University’s REF impact submission. It is expected that successful applications will fund impact activities that may feed into potential impact case studies only where no other monies are available. Applications will be reviewed by the Impact and Knowledge Exchange Team. 

Submissions may include (but are not restricted to):

  • Support for gathering feedback from public engagement activities
  • Economic health monitoring
  • Surveying/engaging with research users to evaluate impact
  • Independent evaluation of impacts
  • Resource to collate citations in policy documents

Award: Up to £10,000.

Funder Deadline: Rolling basis

Research Facilitation Contact: Please contact your relevant member of the Impact and Knowledge Exchange Team

 

All Council Harmonised IAA Impact Starter Fund Call 2024-2025

Summary: Impact Starter funding will be available on a rolling basis to fund short-term projects of up to three months duration. Projects are expected to be short, cost-effective ways of kick-starting impact creation from research findings. The Impact Starter Fund will only consider projects that do not qualify for other IAA funding calls.

Award: Varies.

Funder Deadline: Rolling basis

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Lucy Sheerman

 

Public Engagement Starter Fund

Summary: The Public Engagement Starter Fund is an exciting opportunity for University of Cambridge researchers to apply for small grants to undertake innovative public engagement with research activities.

The fund supports novel projects based on contemporary research at the University of Cambridge which aim to do one or more of the following:

  • Reach a specific target audience
  • Develop a partnership with a community of interest
  • Create an innovative activity for any of the Cambridge Festivals

Proposed projects can take a variety of formats, provided a clear rationale is given regarding the appropriateness of the method of engagement adopted, and how the necessary resources and expertise will be secured. This variety of formats includes (but is not limited to):

  •  Live events e.g. festivals, discussions, workshops, science cafes.
  • Collaborative projects e.g. with publics/organisations as partners in research.
  • Public involvement e.g. patient and public, citizen science.
  • Media e.g. social media, discussions via blogs, broadcasting-led activities.
  • Exhibitions and installations e.g. museums and galleries.
  • Education resources and programmes that connect pupils, teachers and/or education providers directly with research.

Award: Up to £4000
Funder deadline: 05 September 2025
Research Facilitation Contact: starterfund@admin.cam.uk

 

Cambridge-Africa ALBORADA Research Fund 2025
Summary: The Cambridge-Africa programme is pleased to announce that the call for proposals to the ALBORADA Research Fund is now open. Applications are invited from pairs of researchers (post-doctoral level and above) from the University of Cambridge or an affiliated institute and African universities or research institutes, across all disciplines, to initiate and/or strengthen research collaborations. Please note that the African applicant can be based in any African country and the awards are no longer restricted to African researchers from sub-Saharan Africa.
 
Award: The Cambridge-Africa ALBORADA Research Fund competitively awards grants of between £1,000 and £20,000 for:

  • research costs (such as reagents, fieldwork and equipment)
  • research-related travel between Cambridge and Africa
  • conducting research training activities in Africa (e.g. workshops/courses)

Funder deadline: 05 September 2025
Research Facilitation Contact: Any queries should be directed to alboradafund@cambridge-africa.cam.ac.uk

 

Cambridge Centre for Data-driven Discovery and Accelerate Science Funding Call 2025

Summary: We are offering small grants for Cambridge University researchers pursuing innovative applications of AI in research or real-world contexts with a focus on inter and multidisciplinary collaboration.

Funding can support a variety of activities, including research, events, workshops, teaching, software development, or software development, with a focus on interdisciplinary collaboration.
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Award: 

  • Early Career Seed Funding: Small grants of up to £5,000 for early career researchers (PhD students or postdocs) to provide a step towards an independent research career.
  • Funding for events: Up to £15,000 to convene networks and events.
  • Project grants: Funding of up to £25,000 for larger scale projects.

Funder Deadline: 12 September 2025

Research Facilitation Contact:  accelerate-science@cst.cam.ac.uk and coordinator@c2d3.cam.ac.uk

 

Enhancing Research Culture Fund

Summary: Research culture is a broad and encompassing term and there are many activities which may contribute to improving it. The panel will consider activities that explicitly fall within the following areas:

  • Reward & recognition
  • EDI
  • Careers & professional development
  • Open research and collaboration
  • Positive research leadership
  • Inclusive and safe working environments

A reminder that our institutional priorities for research culture are:

  • Precarity: How do we address the issues created by fixed-term contracts in early research careers?
  • Access & Participation: Who gets to do research? Can everyone fully participate as is expected of them?
  • Challenging interpersonal and group dynamics: How do we support researchers who are struggling with difficult research dynamics? How do we support leaders to change?
  • Time & space: How do we ensure people have the time and space to embody and enact good research culture?

Award: Applications may be entered in one of two streams: up to £60K or £60-100K (please note that few applications will be funded in the £60-100k range).

Funder Deadline: 15 September 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: researchculture@admin.cam.ac.uk

 

DAAD-University of Cambridge Research Hub

Summary: The Hub seeks to draw upon and support the activities of all Cambridge scholars working on German-related and comparative themes from any period and from across all subjects in the Arts, Humanities and the Social Sciences.

CATEGORIES OF FUNDING

  1. Workshops and seed funding for projects:
    We are keen to encourage Cambridge-based academics seeking to establish collaborations with colleagues at German universities and research institutions. We are particularly interested in fostering collaborations that go beyond the bilateral, for example those that link British and German colleagues with networks in North America, Central and Eastern Europe and the developing world. For examples of current workshops, please follow this link to see our website.
  2. Visits to Cambridge by German scholars:
    To encourage long-term scholarly exchange and collaboration, funds can be applied for to cover the costs of visits to Cambridge by German scholars, for up to two weeks. Note that German visitors may not apply directly to the Hub but must be nominated by a Cambridge academic who will be prepared to act as their academic host. It is desirable that the scholar’s research will contribute to that of the Cambridge counterpart. Proposals will be judged on the value that they add to a group of scholars and graduate students and/or the quality of a future collaborative project/research grant application to be worked on during the visit. Guests should also give a paper/lecture, which will be held in the relevant Department/research seminar but also be advertised openly via the Hub website; the general topic should be included in the application. It is possible to apply for funding for a visiting scholar together with funding for a workshop. Approval for the visit from the Faculty Chair will be needed.
  3. Public engagement activities:
    The Hub wishes to broaden its target audience and therefore this call includes this category. Past activities were primarily aimed at an academic audience and the Hub will continue its support for such events, whilst events which specifically address a non-academic audience are now also welcome and will help fulfil the Hub’s aim to reach an audience beyond the immediate university community. This funding strand is for specific public engagement activities, but please note that public engagement activities may also be incorporated into funding strands 1-2 above.

Award: Between £6,000 and £5,000 depending on strand.

Funder Deadline: 15 September 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Please contact Ingrid Hobbis with any questions at Ingrid.Hobbis@admin.cam.ac.uk.

 

Keynes Fund

Summary: The focus of the teaching and research supported by the Fund is the sources and consequences of failure of market efficiency, particularly but not exclusively as a result of Agency costs. In particular, research into: capital market mispricing; the design of incentive systems and mechanisms to reduce the incidence and significance of institutional or general economic failure as well as into responsive public policies. The scope of work to be funded shall include interactions between the financial markets and the real economy.

The Fund will also consider seed funding to help researchers develop large-scale research proposals to be submitted to external funders such as the ESRC.

Award: 
Standard Grant Applications
•    Applications for funds up to £50,000 are classified as standard grants.
•    Proposals for a standard grant, excluding attached CVs, should be no more than 2000 words and proposers should suggest a minimum of one internal reviewer and two external qualified reviewers.

Large Grant Applications
•    Applications for funds in excess of £50,000 are classified as large grants.
•    Proposals for large grants, excluding attached CVs, should be no more than 4000 words and should suggest a minimum of two internal and three external qualified reviewers.

Funder Deadline: 28 September 2025

Contact: Marion Reusch, Keynes Fund Administrator, keynes.fund@econ.cam.ac.uk 

 

CRASSH at 25 | Anniversary open call

Summary: In 2026, CRASSH will mark its 25th anniversary with a programme of events and activities to celebrate the global reputation it has earned for innovative, interdisciplinary research. The programme will highlight CRASSH’s role in promoting new forms of collaboration across and beyond the academic community, as well as its commitment to exploring how knowledge is produced, contested, and mobilised in times of global uncertainty and division.

The anniversary theme: Knowledge in a Fractured World
The anniversary programme, under the theme ‘Knowledge in a Fractured World’, will bring together scholars, artists, activists, and practitioners to examine the challenges and opportunities for knowledge-making in contexts shaped by political polarisation, technological disruption, environmental crisis, and shifting global power. We are interested in asking what happens to the production of knowledge in these contexts and what roles knowledge might play in reinforcing divisions or overcoming them.

Call for event proposals
CRASSH invites proposals for the following events from anyone currently employed at, or studying at, the University of Cambridge (including its Colleges):

Half-day symposia, workshops or other forms of creative/participatory events that address the anniversary theme. To be considered for the anniversary programme, events should be:

  • co-convened by members of the University. The convening team should consist of at least two people from different disciplines
  • planned for May 2026
  • of interest to a wide range of potential audience members, in and outside of academia
  • structured to create critical debate by inviting diverging perspectives 
  • designed to promote dialogue and/or collaboration across different sectors of society

Proposals involving co-convenors from the sciences and/or considering the relationship between the humanities and the sciences are also very welcome. All proposals will be considered by a selection panel drawn from the School of Arts and Humanities and the School of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Award: CRASSH will provide funding of up to £1500 for each half-day event and full logistical support.

Funder Deadline: 28 September 2025

Contact: CRASSH’s Events Manger at events@crassh.cam.ac.uk

 

CRASSH Events & Initiatives Funding

Summary: CRASSH offers support to postdocs and academic staff employed by the University of Cambridge or one of its Colleges to run a wide range of events and creative initiatives. We invite you to apply for funding and logistical support for any activity that will foster the exchange of ideas across disciplines and cultures, forge new collaborations between researchers and other participants, bring academic research to wider publics, or explore the connections between research and artistic practice. Events are to take place between March and June 2026.

Award: Funding of up to £1500 is available for one-day events, £2500 for two-day events, and £1000 for other kinds of initiative. Additional funding may be available for events that experiment with new formats and/or introduce creative or collaborative elements.

Funder Deadline: 15 October 2025

Contact: CRASSH’s Events Manger at events@crassh.cam.ac.uk

 

New Opportunities for the research community to engage with Parliament
UK Parliament Knowledge Exchange Unit
Various dates August 2025

New calls for evidence:

 
All other inquiries currently accepting written evidence:

 
What do select committees do?
Select committees are groups of parliamentarians whose role is to examine a particular area of government or national policy.  They can be formed from the House of Commons, the House of Lords, or as joint committees with members from both Houses. Committee members come from different political viewpoints. They aim to work together and reach agreement.
 
Select committees run inquiries on specific topics. At the end of an inquiry, they usually produce a report that makes recommendations for improvements. Usually, the recommendations are for the Government, but they can be for other institutions too.  Committees’ recommendations are not binding on the Government. But they are influential, with one of the reasons being the range of evidence and experience that committees hear.
 
Why do committees want to hear from me?
Committees want to hear from a wide range of people who know about the topic that they investigate. This helps committee members understand problems and make recommendations for improvements. The more ideas they hear and the more people they hear from, the better their work will be. You might know about the topic because of your work, research, or study. You might have personal experience of it, like using government services. All this expertise is valuable to inquiries.

 

Apply to be a University of Cambridge Delegate at COP30 in Brazil
12 August 2024, Expression of Interest deadline 
[SUBMIT EoI HERE]
 
As an official Observer to the UNFCCC negotiations, the University of Cambridge can nominate delegates to attend the COP30 climate change event in Belém, Brazil (10-21 November, 2025). The nomination process is being coordinated by the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) and Cambridge Zero (CZ); more information on the context, selection process and timeline can be found here.

 

ERC Synergy Grants Webinar hosted by the British Academy
08 September 2025, 14.00 to 15.30 
[REGISTER HERE]
 
The Academy will be holding its next webinar focused on the ERC Synergy Grants on Monday, 8 September 2025 14:00-15:30.
 
If you would like to submit a B1 draft proposal to be considered for feedback during the webinar, please register your interest on the registration form and send your B1 draft to Hannah Moscovitz (h.moscovitz@thebritishacademy.ac.uk) no later than Thursday, 21 August 12:00 (midday).

 

ERC Starting Grant Webinar hosted by the British Academy
24 September 2025, 14.00 to 15.30
[REGISTER HERE]
 
The Academy will be holding its next webinar focused on the ERC Starting Grants on Wednesday 24 September, 2025 14:00-15:30.
 
If you would like to submit a B1 draft proposal to be considered for feedback during the webinar, please register your interest on the registration form and send your B1 draft to Hannah Moscovitz (h.moscovitz@thebritishacademy.ac.uk) no later than Tuesday, 9 September 12:00 (midday).

AHSS Bulletin July 2025

AHSS Research and Impact Facilitation Bulletin

July 2025

 

If you want to discuss funding opportunities or you are working on an application for research funding and would like feedback on a draft, please do contact the School’s Research Facilitators – Anna Cieslik (UK Funding) and Elizabeth Penner (EU/International Funding).  For Impact related queries please contact Lucy Sheerman (Impact Facilitator).

 

You can find more information on the AHSS Research Website, search our External Funding Deadline Calendar and look at Previous Bulletins.  We are also now on Twitter! Follow us for updates on funding calls and information sessions.

 

UK Research Council Funding

 

EU Funding

 

Charity Funding

 

Internal Funding

 

Training / Other

 

UKRI Gambling Harms Research Coordination Centre (GHRCC)

Summary: The UK government’s new Gambling Levy offers an innovative and exciting opportunity to fund interdisciplinary, relevant, and wide-ranging research to stimulate interest, capacity, and investment in the gambling research field.

The Centre will coordinate and maximise the impact of a range of activities commissioned by UKRI under the new gambling levy, including the GHRIPs, ensuring an integrated approach throughout. It will also be expected to lead, plan, deliver, and manage a multidisciplinary programme of research and devolved funding to identify gaps in the current evidence base, increase diversity, and expand the disciplinary reach of the gambling field.

The Centre will bring together expertise from academic, industry, policy communities, and people with lived experience, working closely with cross-UKRI convened expert advice.

Award: The full economic cost of your project can be up to £10 million. UKRI will fund 80% of the full economic cost.

Funder Deadline: 16 September 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Gambling harms research and innovation partnerships

Summary: The programme will fund a network of Gambling Harms Research and Innovation Partnerships (GHRIPs) to address critical gaps in the evidence base and support the development of innovative, stakeholder-informed responses to gambling-related harms.

These partnerships will act as thematic spokes within a wider research ecosystem, working collaboratively with a central coordination hub to generate actionable insights, build research capacity, and inform policy and practice across the UK.

GHRIPs will connect relevant stakeholders and research partners, providing research, evidence, data and expertise to tackle gambling harms in their various forms.

Applications should focus on creating a single GHRIP in a defined thematic area, from the list below:

  • intersectionality
  • structural drivers
  • direct/lived experience
  • digital gambling ecosystems
  • preventive, protective and recovery factors
  • co-occurring issues

Phases
To support the delivery of these objectives and ensure the strongest applications are funded, the GHRIPs will be commissioned through a two-phased competitive process.

The phase one funding opportunity offers initial seed-corn funding so that applicants may dedicate time to developing partnerships. The funding is intended to resource the development of high-quality proposals to the phase two funding opportunity, by ensuring that partnership building is resourced, reflecting the essential role of partners in the public, third and private sectors.

During phase two, each successful GHRIP will deliver a co-designed programme of activity that reflects the funding opportunity aims and objectives. For a detailed overview, see ‘phase one activity’ and ‘phase two activity’ below.

Phase one activity
The purpose of phase one is to provide resource and support capacity across stakeholders to undertake partnership development and landscape evidence analysis required to design the phase two work programme.

You will be expected to deliver the following activities and outputs during phase one:

  • building, strengthening or diversifying partnerships between research organisations or research teams and relevant stakeholders
  • dialogue and co-creation with stakeholders and lived experience participants to further understand needs and surface opportunities for collaboration
  • design and deliver workshops
  • mapping of relevant data
  • landscape and evidence analysis to build the evidence base for the phase two application
  • embed co-creation practices and evaluation mechanisms into public and community engagement activities to ensure they are inclusive, impactful, and responsive to stakeholder needs.
  • establish an appropriate model for phase two

Phase two activity
The purpose of phase two is to select the strongest partnerships with potential to deliver insights and solutions tailored to the most pressing issues caused by gambling harm.

Phase two GHRIP awards will be applying for up to £5 million (100% FEC) per project, with funding available for a duration of up to four years. Projects will be expected to commence in October 2026, following a separate competitive assessment process.

Award: The full economic cost of your phase one project can be up to £100,000. UKRI will fund 80% of the full economic cost. UKRI will fund up to 20 phase one awards for nine months. All applicants successful at phase one will be invited to submit an application for phase two.

Phase two applications will be subject to a separate assessment process. We anticipate awarding a minimum of six grants of a value of £5 million at 100% full economic cost per award, with a duration of 48 months.

Awards at phase one and phase two will be made at 80% full economic cost, and the research organisation must agree to find the balance of full economic cost from other resources.

Funder Deadline: 16 September 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Pre-announcement: DARE UK Real-world Research Exemplar Programme - UKRI

Summary: We invite research teams from across UKRI research councils remit to partner with TREs of appropriate maturity to deliver real-world research utilising new capabilities introduced through the DARE UK programme, these are:

  • data federation, enabling a researcher to be able to log in to one TRE and work transparently with approved data held in other remote TREs
  • analytics federation, enabling a researcher to be able log in to one TRE and send computational jobs to run in other remote TREs against approved data
  • semi-automation of output disclosure checks, including from complex artificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning (ML) algorithms

The real-world research programmes will serve both as testcases, helping to harden federation capabilities towards production-level maturity, and as showcases, proving the utility of the technology in addressing challenging real-world research questions.

**This is a pre-announcement, and the information may change. The funding opportunity will open on 08 September 2025. More information will be available on this page then.

Award: The full economic cost (FEC) of your project can be from £365,700 up to £609,500. UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) will fund 80% of the FEC. The duration of this award is a maximum of 12 months.

Funder Deadline: 05 November 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Collaborative doctoral landscape award in the arts and humanities

Summary: UK non-higher education institutions (non-HEI), individual organisations or consortia, can apply to become arts and humanities collaborative doctoral landscape award grant holders to support and provide high-quality doctoral training.

AHRC will support up to 50 doctoral studentships per year, for four years through this scheme. You can apply for a minimum of three students per year (two in exceptional circumstances). Doctoral projects must align with the organisation’s priorities and are undertaken with a university partner.

The first cohort of students will start in October 2027.

Non-HEIs can be any type of organisation in the UK that has the research capacity to host doctoral students. This would include a wide range of creative and cultural organisations contributing to arts and humanities research, for example:

  • galleries
  • libraries
  • museums and archives
  • the creative industries
  • public and third sector organisations

The application must be from a non-HEI organisation either:

  • as an individual organisation
  • as a consortia of non-HEI organisations
  • with a university partner, in specific circumstances

Non-HEIs do not need to have held awards under the Collaborative Doctoral Partnership (CDP) scheme to be eligible to apply or have independent research organisation status. However, you must be able to demonstrate that you have the capacity to manage at least three studentships per year.

Non-HEIs, which do not have capacity to host three students per year, may wish to submit a joint application as a consortium. If successful, the consortium would be the collaborative doctoral landscape award grant holder.

Award: Between three and fifty studentships

Funder Deadline: 20 November 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Horizon Europe Update: UK Eligibility Update

Horizon Europe Work Programme 2023 (and previous years)
Successful UK applicants to calls under the Horizon Europe Work Programme 2023 (and previous years) will be funded under the UKRI Guarantee Funding. This Guarantee Funding has recently been extended to cover successful applications made by UK-based businesses and researchers to calls under the Horizon Europe 2021, 2022 or 2023 work programmes. 
 
Horizon Europe 2024 Work Programme Calls
Successful UK applicants will be funded by the EU, under the Horizon Europe Programme.
Updates on Association: Please visit the Research Operation Office’s EU pages. 

 

2025 Horizon Europe Funding Opportunities: with a focus on arts, humanities and social sciences research

Follow this link to view these opportunities.

With the publication of the 2025 Work Programme of Horizon Europe and the UK’s associated member status, there are numerous funding opportunities available to Cambridge researchers. Highlighted in this document are key funding schemes that are currently open that have a focus on arts, humanities and social sciences research. The list is not exhaustive, so if there is a call you do not see here, please do read through the full call documentation.

If you are a researcher working in the Arts, Humanities or Social Sciences and you have any questions about applying to Horizon Europe funding, please do not hesitate to get in contact with Dr Elizabeth Penner, AHSS Research Facilitator (EU/Intl funding)

 

Africa Initiative III

Summary: Africa Initiative III is a component of Horizon Europe’s international cooperation dimension, aiming to accelerate the translation of scientific knowledge into action around shared global challenges in Africa and Europe. The calls are now open and fall under four thematic pillars:

  • Public Health (€50 million)
  • Green Transition (€241 million)
  • Innovation & Technology (€186.5 million)
  • Capacities for Science (€3.5 million)
  • Cross-cutting issues (€19.5 million)

These calls are designed to involve African institutions and researchers, ensuring meaningful participation in consortia tackling shared challenges in areas such as climate change adaptation, clean energy, sustainable agriculture, digital innovation, science for policy, and equitable access to health.
 

Calls involved in the Africa Initiative III

Cluster 1

Cluster 2

Cluster 3

Cluster 4

Cluster 5

Cluster 6

Missions

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Elizabeth Penner

 

ERC Advanced Grant

Summary: The ERC Advanced Grant is for established research leaders with a recognised track record of research achievements in the last 10 years. PIs should be exceptional leaders in terms of originality and significance of their research contributions.

Award: € 2.5 million for a period of 5 years. An additional € 1 million can be requested to cover start-up costs, the purchase of major equipment and/or access to large facilities.

Funder Deadline: 28 August 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Elizabeth Penner

 

MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships

Summary: The objective of PFs is to support researchers’ careers and foster excellence in research. The Postdoctoral Fellowships action targets researchers holding a PhD who wish to carry out their research activities abroad, acquire new skills and develop their careers. PFs help researchers gain experience in other countries, disciplines and non-academic sectors.

There are 2 types of Postdoctoral Fellowships:

  1. European Postdoctoral Fellowships. They are open to researchers moving within Europe or coming to Europe from another part of the world to pursue their research career. These fellowships take place in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country and can last between 1 and 2 years. Researchers of any nationality can apply.
  2. Global Postdoctoral Fellowships. They fund the mobility of researchers outside Europe. The fellowship lasts between 2 to 3 years, of which the first 1 to 2 years will be spent in a non-associated Third Country, followed by a mandatory return phase of 1 year to an organisation based in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country. Only nationals or long-term residents of the EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries can apply.

Both types of fellowships may also include short-term secondments anywhere in the world during the fellowship (except during the return phase of a Global Fellowship).

In an effort to build bridges between the academic and non-academic sector, researchers can receive additional support to carry out a placement of up to 6 months in a non-academic organisation based in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country. This placement needs to take place at the end of their fellowship.

Award: The Fellowship provides support in the form of a living allowance; mobility allowance; family and long-term leave and special needs allowances; research, training and networking activities; management and indirect costs.

Funder Deadline: 10 September 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Elizabeth Penner

 

ERC Proof of Concept

Summary: The ERC Proof of Concept funding is made available only to those who already have an ERC award to establish proof of concept of an idea that was generated in the course of their ERC-funded projects.

Frontier research often generates radically new ideas that drive innovation and business inventiveness and tackle societal challenges. The ERC PoC Grants aim at facilitating exploration of the commercial and social innovation potential of ERC funded research and are therefore available only to PIs whose proposals draw substantially on their ERC funded research.

Proof of Concept Grants aim at maximising the value of the excellent research that the ERC funds, by funding further work (i.e. activities which were not scheduled to be funded by the original ERC frontier research grant) to verify the innovation potential of ideas arising from ERC funded projects.

Award: A lump sum of € 150,000 for a period of 18 months.

Funder Deadline: 18 September 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Elizabeth Penner

 

MSCA Staff Exchange Call

Summary: The Staff Exchanges action offers a unique opportunity to promote the transfer of knowledge and innovation through international research collaborations.

Who can apply?
To be eligible, consortia must consist of at least three organisations from three different countries. Two of them must be located in different EU Member States or Horizon Europe associated countries. In addition, organisations from any country in the world can participate.

Organisations from all socioeconomic sectors in any country can apply to Staff Exchanges.

Staff secondments
Secondments are the main method to foster cooperation among organisations participating in Staff Exchanges. Selected projects exchange and train researchers and innovators, as well as administrative, technical or managerial staff involved in research activities.

Participants go abroad for up to 12 months. By working in other organisations they gain new skills and competencies, expand their networks, exchange knowledge, and carry out cutting-edge research.

Award: A top-up allowance (for travel, accommodation, subsistence costs), which is on top of the salary paid by their organisation; a special needs allowance, if applicable. In addition, funding is provided for research, training and networking activities, management and indirect costs.

Funder Deadline: 08 October 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Elizabeth Penner

 

Innovation Fellowships 2025-26 -- Route B: Policy-led (Sustainable Futures)

Summary: The British Academy is inviting applications for funding for policy-led Innovation Fellowships: Route B, through which applicants must apply to work with one of our partners. Our partners for this funding call are the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra); the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ); and the Government Office for Science (GO Science).

Through the Innovation Fellowships, our researchers in the humanities and social sciences are supported to create new and deeper links beyond academia, enabling knowledge mobilisation and translation, as well as individual skills development.

This call will enable researchers to partner with a central government department for 12 months. Successful applicants will work within specific policy areas set out by their chosen partner. These policy areas broadly correlate to the British Academy’s own Sustainable Futures policy programme.

The Academy and the partners invite applications for Fellowships in any of the following areas:

  • Landscape Recovery (Defra).
  • Public Participation Strategy (DESNZ).
  • Climate, Society and International (GO Science).

Award: Route B: Policy-led awards are on the basis of Full Economic Costing (FEC) at 80%. The British Academy will award up to £120,000. The applicant must commit between 0.4 and 0.8 FTE time to the Fellowship.

Funder Deadline: 06 August 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

APEX Awards

Summary: In partnership with the British Academy, the Royal Society and the Royal Academy of Engineering ("the Academies") and supported generously by the Leverhulme Trust, the APEX Awards (Academies Partnership in Supporting Excellence in Cross-disciplinary research) offer established independent researchers, with a strong track record in their respective area and proven ability to lead collaborative work , an exciting opportunity to pursue genuine interdisciplinary and curiosity-driven research to benefit wider society. Successful applicants will be expected to work in collaboration with relevant researchers from other disciplines.

The objectives of this scheme are to:

  • promote collaboration across disciplines, with a particular emphasis on the boundary between science, engineering, and the social sciences and humanities
  • support outstanding interdisciplinary research which is unlikely to be supported through conventional funding programmes
  • support researchers with an outstanding track record in developing their research in a new direction through collaboration with partners from other disciplines
  • enable outstanding researchers to focus on advancing their innovative research through seed funding

Award: Awards are expected to commence between 1 October and 31 December 2025 and can be held for up to 24 months. Support is up to £200,000 to fund staff costs for the lead applicant and the co-applicant, and associated research costs representing no more than 25 per cent of the total award value. These can include consumables, equipment, and collaborative travel. ‘Staff Costs’ can now include funds to support research assistants, undergraduate/Master’s students and PhD students in addition to teaching replacement.

Successful applicants will also have the opportunity to separately apply for up to £10,000 to create and lead public engagement projects linked to their APEX Award.

Funder Deadline: 09 September 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

International Writing Workshops 2025

Summary: The intention of the Writing Workshops is to support early career researchers in developing countries, working to stimulate professional networks, develop research partnerships, encourage skills development, provide advice on career development, and promote the uptake of research emanating from developing countries.

Through the Writing Workshops programme, the British Academy aims to encourage and support early career researchers in developing countries to publish in high impact journals in the fields of the humanities and social sciences, and enable them to develop connections with academics and journal editors based nationally and internationally. The writing workshops are in affect making a career intervention, instilling and aiming to change long term academic culture, and engaging with the wider ecosystem researchers inhabit.

These workshops are required to take place in Brazil, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, Philippines, South Africa, Turkey, Thailand, Vietnam and/or Least Developed Countries.

Award: Awards are set at a maximum of £30,000. Funding must be used in the direct delivery of the workshops, and can cover travel and related expenses, subsistence costs, clerical assistance and consumables, childcare support (including for participants), networking, meeting and/or conference costs.

Funder Deadline: 17 September 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

International Interdisciplinary Research Projects 2026

Summary: The purpose of each project will be to develop new international research led by and grounded in the humanities and/or social sciences, to further understanding of transnational and planetary challenges. The collaboration can include any SHAPE or STEM discipline as long as the research is led by and grounded in the humanities and/or social sciences. 

The Academy will only accept applications that focus on one or more of the following four transnational and planetary challenge domains. Applications should engage with both the important technical and/or scientific components of each domain, and also with those aspects which make the challenge difficult for a single sovereign states to manage individually. To do so, applications must address how non-state actors and transnational organisations might contribute to the selected challenge.

  • Earth system governance, including problems related to climate change, biodiversity loss, oceanic degradation, and other forms of environmental pollution
  • Digital and other transformative technologies, including the challenges presented by artificial intelligence (AI), cyber, synthetic biology, nanotech, and other breakthroughs
  • Global health, particularly the rising threat posed by pandemic disease and the linkages among human, animal, and environmental health (“One Health”)
  • Outer space governance, encompassing the dilemmas posed by accumulating orbital debris, space traffic congestion, property and sovereignty claims, and arms racing.

Award: The total funding available per award in this call is up to £300,000 over 2 years. Within that limit of £300,000 over 2 years the award is offered at 80% FEC (i.e. the total contribution requested from the Academy may not exceed £300,000 and the total project value at 100% FEC may not exceed £375,000).

Funder Deadline: 17 September 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Wellcome Trust Early-Career Awards

Summary: This scheme provides funding for early-career researchers from any discipline who are ready to develop their research identity. The researcher will deliver shifts in understanding that could improve human life, health and wellbeing. By the end of the aware, they will be ready to lead their own independent research programme. Project duration is usually 5 years, but may be less for some disciplines and longer if held on a part-time basis.

Award: Your salary and up to £400,000 for research expenses.

Funder Deadline: 30 September 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Leverhulme Trust Visiting Professorship

Summary: For UK institutions to invite an eminent senior professor from overseas, to bring genuinely novel expertise and enhance the skills and knowledge of academic staff and students in an underrepresented area in the UK. Priority will be given to new or recent collaborations and visits with a variety of activities beyond research.
.
Award: Applications are invited for a minimum of £10,000 and a maximum of £150,000. A Visiting Professorship must last at least 3 months. Grants between 3 and 6 months must be completed in one visit. Grants between 6 and 12 months can be spread over two or more visits, with 12 months being the maximum duration for a visit.

Funder Deadline: 02 October 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Wellcome Trust Career Development Award

Summary: This scheme provides funding for mid-career researchers from any discipline who have the potential to be international research leaders. They will develop their research capabilities, drive innovative programmes of work and deliver significant shifts in understanding that could improve human life, health and wellbeing.
.
Award: Provides a salary for the grantholder (if required) and research expenses. Please request for level and duration of funding that's justifiable for your proposed research.

Funder Deadline: 20 November 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Wellcome Trust Discovery Awards

Summary: This scheme provides funding for established researchers and teams from any discipline who want to pursue bold and creative research ideas to deliver significant shifts in understanding related to human life, health and wellbeing. 

Research questions should generate knowledge that leads to a shift in understanding or delivers new insight into how human life and health work. We welcome proposals that may have a clinical or societal impact or have translational potential, but the focus should be on discovery research.   

We fund research into the: 

  • fundamental processes that underpin biology, to understand more about how human life works
  • complexities of human health and disease, including clinical and population-based approaches
  • burden of disease and its determinants where this brings new and transformational knowledge
  • development of methodologies, conceptual frameworks, technologies, tools or techniques that could benefit health-related research
  • needs, values and priorities of the people and communities affected by disease and health disparities
  • social, ethical, cultural, political, economic and historical contexts of human health and disease.

Award: The average size of a Discovery Award is £3.5 million. Applications above £5 million will be subject to additional scrutiny. Awards can be up to 8 years, but may be less for some disciplines, and may be longer if held on a part-time basis. The average duration of a Discovery Award is 7 years, although we have supported awards from 3 to 8 years.

Funder Deadline: 25 November 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Large Grant Contribution Fund

Summary: Research grant applications for funding over £1 million for AHSS subject areas can request financial contributions from this fund. Funding may be requested for activities that are complementary to the external funding and contributions from Departments / Schools / Non-school institutions. Activities that add value in the following areas are particularly encouraged: widening participation and inclusion; improving partnerships locally / nationally / internationally; capacity and capability building; working with less advantaged partners. Leveraging funding for existing grant awards is not in the remit of this fund. All applications must include one or more external partners and only applications led by Cambridge PIs are eligible.

Award: Up to 10% of the award value. PI buyout and equipment are not eligible costs for request.

Funder Deadline: Minimum 4 weeks before funder deadline.

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik and Rpc@admin.cam.ac.uk

 

REF Impact Funding

Summary: Internal funding is available from the Research Strategy Office to support the development of the University’s REF impact submission. It is expected that successful applications will fund impact activities that may feed into potential impact case studies only where no other monies are available. Applications will be reviewed by the Impact and Knowledge Exchange Team. 

Submissions may include (but are not restricted to):

  • Support for gathering feedback from public engagement activities
  • Economic health monitoring
  • Surveying/engaging with research users to evaluate impact
  • Independent evaluation of impacts
  • Resource to collate citations in policy documents

Award: Up to £10,000.

Funder Deadline: Rolling basis

Research Facilitation Contact: Please contact your relevant member of the Impact and Knowledge Exchange Team

 

All Council Harmonised IAA Impact Starter Fund Call 2024-2025

Summary: Impact Starter funding will be available on a rolling basis to fund short-term projects of up to three months duration. Projects are expected to be short, cost-effective ways of kick-starting impact creation from research findings. The Impact Starter Fund will only consider projects that do not qualify for other IAA funding calls.

Award: Varies.

Funder Deadline: Rolling basis

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Lucy Sheerman

 

Public Engagement Starter Fund

Summary: The Public Engagement Starter Fund is an exciting opportunity for University of Cambridge researchers to apply for small grants to undertake innovative public engagement with research activities.

The fund supports novel projects based on contemporary research at the University of Cambridge which aim to do one or more of the following:

  • Reach a specific target audience
  • Develop a partnership with a community of interest
  • Create an innovative activity for any of the Cambridge Festivals

Proposed projects can take a variety of formats, provided a clear rationale is given regarding the appropriateness of the method of engagement adopted, and how the necessary resources and expertise will be secured. This variety of formats includes (but is not limited to):

  •  Live events e.g. festivals, discussions, workshops, science cafes.
  • Collaborative projects e.g. with publics/organisations as partners in research.
  • Public involvement e.g. patient and public, citizen science.
  • Media e.g. social media, discussions via blogs, broadcasting-led activities.
  • Exhibitions and installations e.g. museums and galleries.
  • Education resources and programmes that connect pupils, teachers and/or education providers directly with research.

Award: Up to £4000
Funder deadline: 05 September 2025
Research Facilitation Contact: starterfund@admin.cam.uk

 

Cambridge-Africa ALBORADA Research Fund 2025
Summary: The Cambridge-Africa programme is pleased to announce that the call for proposals to the ALBORADA Research Fund is now open. Applications are invited from pairs of researchers (post-doctoral level and above) from the University of Cambridge or an affiliated institute and African universities or research institutes, across all disciplines, to initiate and/or strengthen research collaborations. Please note that the African applicant can be based in any African country and the awards are no longer restricted to African researchers from sub-Saharan Africa.
 
Award: The Cambridge-Africa ALBORADA Research Fund competitively awards grants of between £1,000 and £20,000 for:

  • research costs (such as reagents, fieldwork and equipment)
  • research-related travel between Cambridge and Africa
  • conducting research training activities in Africa (e.g. workshops/courses)

Funder deadline: 05 September 2025
Research Facilitation Contact: Any queries should be directed to alboradafund@cambridge-africa.cam.ac.uk

 

Cambridge Centre for Data-driven Discovery and Accelerate Science Funding Call 2025

Summary: We are offering small grants for Cambridge University researchers pursuing innovative applications of AI in research or real-world contexts with a focus on inter and multidisciplinary collaboration.

Funding can support a variety of activities, including research, events, workshops, teaching, software development, or software development, with a focus on interdisciplinary collaboration.
.
Award: 

  • Early Career Seed Funding: Small grants of up to £5,000 for early career researchers (PhD students or postdocs) to provide a step towards an independent research career.
  • Funding for events: Up to £15,000 to convene networks and events.
  • Project grants: Funding of up to £25,000 for larger scale projects.

Funder Deadline: 12 September 2025

Research Facilitation Contact:  accelerate-science@cst.cam.ac.uk and coordinator@c2d3.cam.ac.uk

 

Enhancing Research Culture Fund

Summary: Research culture is a broad and encompassing term and there are many activities which may contribute to improving it. The panel will consider activities that explicitly fall within the following areas:

  • Reward & recognition
  • EDI
  • Careers & professional development
  • Open research and collaboration
  • Positive research leadership
  • Inclusive and safe working environments

A reminder that our institutional priorities for research culture are:

  • Precarity: How do we address the issues created by fixed-term contracts in early research careers?
  • Access & Participation: Who gets to do research? Can everyone fully participate as is expected of them?
  • Challenging interpersonal and group dynamics: How do we support researchers who are struggling with difficult research dynamics? How do we support leaders to change?
  • Time & space: How do we ensure people have the time and space to embody and enact good research culture?

Award: Applications may be entered in one of two streams: up to £60K or £60-100K (please note that few applications will be funded in the £60-100k range).

Funder Deadline: 15 September 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: researchculture@admin.cam.ac.uk

 

New Opportunities for the research community to engage with Parliament
UK Parliament Knowledge Exchange Unit
Various dates June to August 2025

New calls for evidence:
•            Health impacts of breast implants and other cosmetic procedures | Women and Equalities Committee | 4 July 2025
•            UK trade with the US, India and EU | Business and Trade Committee | 31 August 2025
 
All other inquiries currently accepting written evidence:
•            Local bus services in England | Public Accounts Committee | 3 July 2025
•            Resilience to threats from animal disease | Public Accounts Committee | 7 July 2025
•            Sub judice resolution in the House of Commons | Procedure Committee | 31 July 2025
•            Propriety, ethics and the wider standards landscape in the UK | Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee | 26 August 2025
•            Accountability in small government bodies | Public Accounts Committee | No date
•            Call lists | Procedure Committee | No date
•            Electronic voting | Procedure Committee | No date
•            Government use of data analytics to make fraud and error savings | Public Accounts Committee | No date
 
 
What do select committees do?
Select committees are groups of parliamentarians whose role is to examine a particular area of government or national policy.  They can be formed from the House of Commons, the House of Lords, or as joint committees with members from both Houses. Committee members come from different political viewpoints. They aim to work together and reach agreement.
 
Select committees run inquiries on specific topics. At the end of an inquiry, they usually produce a report that makes recommendations for improvements. Usually, the recommendations are for the Government, but they can be for other institutions too.  Committees’ recommendations are not binding on the Government. But they are influential, with one of the reasons being the range of evidence and experience that committees hear.
 
Why do committees want to hear from me?
Committees want to hear from a wide range of people who know about the topic that they investigate. This helps committee members understand problems and make recommendations for improvements. The more ideas they hear and the more people they hear from, the better their work will be. You might know about the topic because of your work, research, or study. You might have personal experience of it, like using government services. All this expertise is valuable to inquiries.

 

Research Impact - Monitoring and Evaluation Approaches: Research Strategy Clinic
30 June 2025, 13.00 to 14.00 on Teams
[REGISTER HERE]
 
During this Clinic we will focus on monitoring and evaluation approaches and asking three main questions: ‘how?’, ‘what?’, and ‘why?’. More specifically, the session will include: discussions on methods that help build monitoring and evaluation into the progress of a project, quantitative and qualitative options for evidence gathering, and the benefits of undertaking effective monitoring and evaluation (including why this important as we prepare for REF 2029).

The session will be led by Tamsin Varney, Impact and Knowledge Exchange Coordinator, Research Strategy Office, with Dr Andrea Salter, AHSS Research Strategy Manager and REF Lead for AHSS.

 

An Introduction to REF 2029: Research Strategy Clinic
 03 July 2025, 10.00 to 12.00 on Teams
[REGISTER HERE]
 
With institutions gearing up their preparations for REF 2029, this Clinic will provide a strong grounding on the fundamentals and practicalities of REF for both researchers and administrators across the arts, humanities and social sciences. It will cover the constituent elements that make up a REF submission both at Institutional and UoA level, highlight significant policy changes in REF 2029, and overview guidance known to date and the University’s approach to this. Key resources and contacts will be highlighted.

The session will consist of short presentations from colleagues working in lead professional service roles supporting the University’s REF preparations with plenty of time for Q&As.

Come to this session if you have any REF questions no matter how big or small and we’ll do our best to address these! Whether HESA, volume, impact, research culture, decoupling of outputs or more besides.

 

Journal Negotiations: Town Halls
Cambridge University Library
17 July 2025, 13.00 to 14.00
21 July 2025, 12.00 to 13.00
 
Negotiations are taking place to establish new agreements for 2026 with five of the major journal publishers – Elsevier, Springer Nature, Wiley, Taylor & Francis, and Sage. The outcome of these negotiations may affect how you read and publish research, and we want to hear from you.
Find out more about what’s happening, what we’re asking for and why, and let us know your views.

  • Town Hall for Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences in Little Hall: 17th July, 1-2pm: booking link
  • Online Town Hall for any disciplines: 21st July, 12-1pm: booking link

All welcome. The views of the University’s academic and research community at all levels are vital.
For more information, visit our webpage, which will be kept up to date throughout the process.

 

Leadership Retreat
Research Culture Team
21-23 October 2025 and 27-29 January 2026
 
Spaces still available.
 
Sign up to take part in a leadership retreat specifically designed for PIs/fellowship holders in the early years of establishing research teams & collaborations. The Research Culture team are delighted to offer two opportunities – on 21-23 October 2025 or 27-29 January 2026 – to participate in this transformative 2.5 day programme designed by the Future Leaders Fellows Development Network and normally only available to FLF award holders.
 
Email researchculture@admin.cam.ac.uk to register your interest. Further details about the programme are available here.

AHSS Bulletin June 2025

AHSS Research and Impact Facilitation Bulletin

June 2025

 

If you want to discuss funding opportunities or you are working on an application for research funding and would like feedback on a draft, please do contact the School’s Research Facilitators – Anna Cieslik (UK Funding) and Elizabeth Penner (EU/International Funding).  For Impact related queries please contact Lucy Sheerman (Impact Facilitator).

 

You can find more information on the AHSS Research Website, search our External Funding Deadline Calendar and look at Previous Bulletins.  We are also now on Twitter! Follow us for updates on funding calls and information sessions.

 

UK Research Council Funding

 

EU Funding

 

Charity Funding

 

Internal Funding

 

Training

 

ESRC New Investigator Grant - restricted call

The ESRC have announced their New Investigator Grant scheme. This scheme is suitable for early career researchers who have yet to make the transition to be an independent researcher. Proposals are welcome in any topic which falls within ESRC’s remit, including projects at the “interface with the wider sciences”, provided that social sciences accounts for at least 50% of the proposed research.
 
University Internal selection
 
The ESRC expect the University to run an internal selection process to ensure that we submit only bids from outstanding individuals with the potential to become the research leaders of the future. The University may only submit a limited number of applications. To meet these requirements, this call will be overseen by a cross-school Committee, as decided by University’s Research Policy Committee.
 
There are three internal calls every year (October, March, and June).  Only applicants whose proposals have been approved through the internal selection process will be allowed to proceed with submission of their applications to ESRC.
 
Interested applicants should submit an online application.   
 
You will be required to upload the following:
 

  • Your research project proposal (template provided) 
  • A letter of support from your Head of Department

This letter is very important to the success of the application as it is needed to confirm the details of the departmental support and the applicant’s eligibility. The letter must also specify a department/faculty based mentor, and a reviewer, both of whom have agreed to provide feedback on the full proposal, should the applicant be selected to proceed. The reviewer may be from within or outside the applicant’s department/faculty. Please note that naming a reviewer is an internal requirement, and the reviewer will not be named on the full application to ESRC. The mentor and the named reviewer will be expected to provide feedback on the full proposal prior to submission to ESRC. This will be coordinated by the School Research Facilitator.

  • An X5 PDF report

The report should show the preliminary costing for the project, including the cost of the applicant’s salary and research assistance (if required). The Worktribe report should not be submitted for ROO approval at this stage; the costing is for indicative purposes only, to inform the internal selection. It will be possible to modify it after the internal selection.
 
Award: The ESRC will award grants of between £100-350K (covered at 80%fEC).
Deadline: 20 June 2025, for restricted call
Research Facilitation Contact: If you have any questions, please write to ESRCNewInv@admin.cam.ac.uk.

 

UKRI policy fellowships 2025

Summary: Spend 18 months as a UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) core policy fellow, a Natural Hazards and Resilience policy fellow or a What Works Innovation fellow to inform policy to address pressing national and global challenges.

You will:

  • co-design research with the host organisation to inform policy on a priority area
  • help improve the exchange of knowledge between policy and academic institutions

Addressing the challenges and opportunities facing citizens, society and the economy requires an integrated, thriving and inclusive research-policy system that can act as a catalyst for innovation, social and institutional change. Central to this is enabling researchers and policymakers to collaborate and build relationships that are rich, deep and can be sustained.

Opportunities that help people move between research and policy communities to share and develop their knowledge and capabilities are a key mechanism to help develop this collaborative, connected system.

UKRI fund a cohort of policy fellows. Fellows will provide research and expert advice on the host’s policy priority areas and support wider knowledge exchange between government, policy, and academia.

This high-profile initiative provides a route for you to bring your expertise to bear on critical policy challenges facing governments across the UK, as well as to generate new insights into how to best support effective collaboration and knowledge exchange that will shape your career as well as support wider change.

These fellowships are demanding and intellectually stimulating roles, providing an exciting opportunity to combine your specialist knowledge and research expertise with the opportunity to inform decision-makers at the heart of policymaking.

Award: Between £180,000 and £280,000

Funder Deadline: 15 July 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Pre-announcement: DARE UK Real-world Research Exemplar Programme - UKRI

Summary: We invite research teams from across UKRI research councils remit to partner with TREs of appropriate maturity to deliver real-world research utilising new capabilities introduced through the DARE UK programme, these are:

  • data federation, enabling a researcher to be able to log in to one TRE and work transparently with approved data held in other remote TREs
  • analytics federation, enabling a researcher to be able log in to one TRE and send computational jobs to run in other remote TREs against approved data
  • semi-automation of output disclosure checks, including from complex artificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning (ML) algorithms

The real-world research programmes will serve both as testcases, helping to harden federation capabilities towards production-level maturity, and as showcases, proving the utility of the technology in addressing challenging real-world research questions.

**This is a pre-announcement, and the information may change. The funding opportunity will open on 08 September 2025. More information will be available on this page then.

Award: The full economic cost (FEC) of your project can be from £365,700 up to £609,500. UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) will fund 80% of the FEC. The duration of this award is a maximum of 12 months.

Funder Deadline: 05 November 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Collaborative doctoral landscape award in the arts and humanities

Summary: UK non-higher education institutions (non-HEI), individual organisations or consortia, can apply to become arts and humanities collaborative doctoral landscape award grant holders to support and provide high-quality doctoral training.

AHRC will support up to 50 doctoral studentships per year, for four years through this scheme. You can apply for a minimum of three students per year (two in exceptional circumstances). Doctoral projects must align with the organisation’s priorities and are undertaken with a university partner.

The first cohort of students will start in October 2027.

Non-HEIs can be any type of organisation in the UK that has the research capacity to host doctoral students. This would include a wide range of creative and cultural organisations contributing to arts and humanities research, for example:

  • galleries
  • libraries
  • museums and archives
  • the creative industries
  • public and third sector organisations

The application must be from a non-HEI organisation either:

  • as an individual organisation
  • as a consortia of non-HEI organisations
  • with a university partner, in specific circumstances

Non-HEIs do not need to have held awards under the Collaborative Doctoral Partnership (CDP) scheme to be eligible to apply or have independent research organisation status. However, you must be able to demonstrate that you have the capacity to manage at least three studentships per year.

Non-HEIs, which do not have capacity to host three students per year, may wish to submit a joint application as a consortium. If successful, the consortium would be the collaborative doctoral landscape award grant holder.

Award: Between three and fifty studentships

Funder Deadline: 20 November 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Horizon Europe Update: UK Eligibility Update

Horizon Europe Work Programme 2023 (and previous years)
Successful UK applicants to calls under the Horizon Europe Work Programme 2023 (and previous years) will be funded under the UKRI Guarantee Funding. This Guarantee Funding has recently been extended to cover successful applications made by UK-based businesses and researchers to calls under the Horizon Europe 2021, 2022 or 2023 work programmes. 
 
Horizon Europe 2024 Work Programme Calls
Successful UK applicants will be funded by the EU, under the Horizon Europe Programme.
Updates on Association: Please visit the Research Operation Office’s EU pages. 

 

2025 Horizon Europe Funding Opportunities: with a focus on arts, humanities and social sciences research

Follow this link to view these opportunities.

With the publication of the 2025 Work Programme of Horizon Europe and the UK’s associated member status, there are numerous funding opportunities available to Cambridge researchers. Highlighted in this document are key funding schemes that are currently open that have a focus on arts, humanities and social sciences research. The list is not exhaustive, so if there is a call you do not see here, please do read through the full call documentation.

If you are a researcher working in the Arts, Humanities or Social Sciences and you have any questions about applying to Horizon Europe funding, please do not hesitate to get in contact with Dr Elizabeth Penner, AHSS Research Facilitator (EU/Intl funding)

 

Africa Initiative III

Summary: Africa Initiative III is a component of Horizon Europe’s international cooperation dimension, aiming to accelerate the translation of scientific knowledge into action around shared global challenges in Africa and Europe. The calls are now open and fall under four thematic pillars:

  • Public Health (€50 million)
  • Green Transition (€241 million)
  • Innovation & Technology (€186.5 million)
  • Capacities for Science (€3.5 million)
  • Cross-cutting issues (€19.5 million)

These calls are designed to involve African institutions and researchers, ensuring meaningful participation in consortia tackling shared challenges in areas such as climate change adaptation, clean energy, sustainable agriculture, digital innovation, science for policy, and equitable access to health.
 

Calls involved in the Africa Initiative III

Cluster 1

Cluster 2

Cluster 3

Cluster 4

Cluster 5

Cluster 6

Missions

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Elizabeth Penner

 

ERC Advanced Grant

Summary: The ERC Advanced Grant is for established research leaders with a recognised track record of research achievements in the last 10 years. PIs should be exceptional leaders in terms of originality and significance of their research contributions.

Award: € 2.5 million for a period of 5 years. An additional € 1 million can be requested to cover start-up costs, the purchase of major equipment and/or access to large facilities.

Funder Deadline: 28 August 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Elizabeth Penner

 

MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships

Summary: The objective of PFs is to support researchers’ careers and foster excellence in research. The Postdoctoral Fellowships action targets researchers holding a PhD who wish to carry out their research activities abroad, acquire new skills and develop their careers. PFs help researchers gain experience in other countries, disciplines and non-academic sectors.

There are 2 types of Postdoctoral Fellowships:

  1. European Postdoctoral Fellowships. They are open to researchers moving within Europe or coming to Europe from another part of the world to pursue their research career. These fellowships take place in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country and can last between 1 and 2 years. Researchers of any nationality can apply.
  2. Global Postdoctoral Fellowships. They fund the mobility of researchers outside Europe. The fellowship lasts between 2 to 3 years, of which the first 1 to 2 years will be spent in a non-associated Third Country, followed by a mandatory return phase of 1 year to an organisation based in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country. Only nationals or long-term residents of the EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries can apply.

Both types of fellowships may also include short-term secondments anywhere in the world during the fellowship (except during the return phase of a Global Fellowship).

In an effort to build bridges between the academic and non-academic sector, researchers can receive additional support to carry out a placement of up to 6 months in a non-academic organisation based in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country. This placement needs to take place at the end of their fellowship.

Award: The Fellowship provides support in the form of a living allowance; mobility allowance; family and long-term leave and special needs allowances; research, training and networking activities; management and indirect costs.

Funder Deadline: 10 September 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Elizabeth Penner

 

ERC Proof of Concept

Summary: The ERC Proof of Concept funding is made available only to those who already have an ERC award to establish proof of concept of an idea that was generated in the course of their ERC-funded projects.

Frontier research often generates radically new ideas that drive innovation and business inventiveness and tackle societal challenges. The ERC PoC Grants aim at facilitating exploration of the commercial and social innovation potential of ERC funded research and are therefore available only to PIs whose proposals draw substantially on their ERC funded research.

Proof of Concept Grants aim at maximising the value of the excellent research that the ERC funds, by funding further work (i.e. activities which were not scheduled to be funded by the original ERC frontier research grant) to verify the innovation potential of ideas arising from ERC funded projects.

Award: A lump sum of € 150,000 for a period of 18 months.

Funder Deadline: 18 September 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Elizabeth Penner

 

MSCA Staff Exchange Call

Summary: The Staff Exchanges action offers a unique opportunity to promote the transfer of knowledge and innovation through international research collaborations.

Who can apply?
To be eligible, consortia must consist of at least three organisations from three different countries. Two of them must be located in different EU Member States or Horizon Europe associated countries. In addition, organisations from any country in the world can participate.

Organisations from all socioeconomic sectors in any country can apply to Staff Exchanges.

Staff secondments
Secondments are the main method to foster cooperation among organisations participating in Staff Exchanges. Selected projects exchange and train researchers and innovators, as well as administrative, technical or managerial staff involved in research activities.

Participants go abroad for up to 12 months. By working in other organisations they gain new skills and competencies, expand their networks, exchange knowledge, and carry out cutting-edge research.

Award: A top-up allowance (for travel, accommodation, subsistence costs), which is on top of the salary paid by their organisation; a special needs allowance, if applicable. In addition, funding is provided for research, training and networking activities, management and indirect costs.

Funder Deadline: 08 October 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Elizabeth Penner

 

Wellcome Trust Career Development Award

Summary: This scheme provides funding for mid-career researchers from any discipline who have the potential to be international research leaders. They will develop their research capabilities, drive innovative programmes of work and deliver significant shifts in understanding that could improve human life, health and wellbeing.
.
Award: Provides a salary for the grantholder (if required) and research expenses. Please request for level and duration of funding that's justifiable for your proposed research.

Funder Deadline: 24 July 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Wellcome Trust Discovery Awards

Summary: This scheme provides funding for established researchers and teams from any discipline who want to pursue bold and creative research ideas to deliver significant shifts in understanding related to human life, health and wellbeing. 

Research questions should generate knowledge that leads to a shift in understanding or delivers new insight into how human life and health work. We welcome proposals that may have a clinical or societal impact or have translational potential, but the focus should be on discovery research.   

We fund research into the: 

  • fundamental processes that underpin biology, to understand more about how human life works
  • complexities of human health and disease, including clinical and population-based approaches
  • burden of disease and its determinants where this brings new and transformational knowledge
  • development of methodologies, conceptual frameworks, technologies, tools or techniques that could benefit health-related research
  • needs, values and priorities of the people and communities affected by disease and health disparities
  • social, ethical, cultural, political, economic and historical contexts of human health and disease.

Award: The average size of a Discovery Award is £3.5 million. Applications above £5 million will be subject to additional scrutiny. Awards can be up to 8 years, but may be less for some disciplines, and may be longer if held on a part-time basis. The average duration of a Discovery Award is 7 years, although we have supported awards from 3 to 8 years.

Funder Deadline: 29 July 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Wellcome Trust Early-Career Awards

Summary: This scheme provides funding for early-career researchers from any discipline who are ready to develop their research identity. The researcher will deliver shifts in understanding that could improve human life, health and wellbeing. By the end of the aware, they will be ready to lead their own independent research programme. Project duration is usually 5 years, but may be less for some disciplines and longer if held on a part-time basis.

Award: Your salary and up to £400,000 for research expenses.

Funder Deadline: 30 September 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Leverhulme Trust Visiting Professorship

Summary: For UK institutions to invite an eminent senior professor from overseas, to bring genuinely novel expertise and enhance the skills and knowledge of academic staff and students in an underrepresented area in the UK. Priority will be given to new or recent collaborations and visits with a variety of activities beyond research.
.
Award: Applications are invited for a minimum of £10,000 and a maximum of £150,000. A Visiting Professorship must last at least 3 months. Grants between 3 and 6 months must be completed in one visit. Grants between 6 and 12 months can be spread over two or more visits, with 12 months being the maximum duration for a visit.

Funder Deadline: 02 October 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Large Grant Contribution Fund

Summary: Research grant applications for funding over £1 million for AHSS subject areas can request financial contributions from this fund. Funding may be requested for activities that are complementary to the external funding and contributions from Departments / Schools / Non-school institutions. Activities that add value in the following areas are particularly encouraged: widening participation and inclusion; improving partnerships locally / nationally / internationally; capacity and capability building; working with less advantaged partners. Leveraging funding for existing grant awards is not in the remit of this fund. All applications must include one or more external partners and only applications led by Cambridge PIs are eligible.

Award: Up to 10% of the award value. PI buyout and equipment are not eligible costs for request.

Funder Deadline: Minimum 4 weeks before funder deadline.

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik and Rpc@admin.cam.ac.uk

 

REF Impact Funding

Summary: Internal funding is available from the Research Strategy Office to support the development of the University’s REF impact submission. It is expected that successful applications will fund impact activities that may feed into potential impact case studies only where no other monies are available. Applications will be reviewed by the Impact and Knowledge Exchange Team. 

Submissions may include (but are not restricted to):

  • Support for gathering feedback from public engagement activities
  • Economic health monitoring
  • Surveying/engaging with research users to evaluate impact
  • Independent evaluation of impacts
  • Resource to collate citations in policy documents

Award: Up to £10,000.

Funder Deadline: Rolling basis

Research Facilitation Contact: Please contact your relevant member of the Impact and Knowledge Exchange Team

 

All Council Harmonised IAA Impact Starter Fund Call 2024-2025

Summary: :Impact Starter funding will be available on a rolling basis to fund short-term projects of up to three months duration. Projects are expected to be short, cost-effective ways of kick-starting impact creation from research findings. The Impact Starter Fund will only consider projects that do not qualify for other IAA funding calls.

Award: Varies.

Funder Deadline: Rolling basis

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Lucy Sheerman

 

Cambridge Humanities Research Grants

Summary: The Cambridge Humanities Research Grants scheme (CHRG) supports research in the arts, humanities and social sciences across the University. The scheme welcomes applications from any independent researcher holding a current contract of employment at the point of application.

The Scheme is designed to enable researchers to conduct small-scale research activities, of the highest quality, that will enable them to bid successfully for larger-scale funding from external sponsors, and/or to generate publications, and/or to contribute materially in other ways towards the research objectives of their home institution.

Applications may be made at any time in the year, for the next available gathered field, with outcomes known approximately six weeks later.
.
Award:

  • Tier 1 up to £1,500: Short-term support for initial/experimental research, or to expedite a research output
  • Tier 2 between £1,500 and £20,000: General research grants, to be assessed primarily on academic quality
  • Tier 3 between £1,000 and £10,000: Joint research activities between Cambridge researchers and researchers based outside the UK whose institutions will match the Cambridge contribution
  • Tier 4 up to £10,000: For early career researchers working in line with AHSS strategic priorities and research themes

Funder Deadline: 16 June 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: GrantsAHSS@admin.cam.ac.uk

 

Policy Innovation Fund 2025

Summary: The University’s Research Office is working with the Centre for Science and Policy to distribute  project funding for researchers to work in partnership with policy professionals to address a public policy need with an innovative concept and develop potential policy impact. The funding comes from Research England’s Policy Support Fund. In total, £60,000 is available through this call.

Funding is open to researchers employed by the collegiate University. All applicants must have 
Principal Investigator (PI) status in a University of Cambridge department for the duration of the 
proposed project. All applications will require a Head of Department signature. Applications from 
early career researchers (ECR) are welcome. 

*PhD students may be involved in a Policy Innovation Fund project, but the project needs to have a 
PI status researcher (as defined above) as its lead, and any costs for PhD students’ time will need to 
be costed on a day rate through the Temporary Employment Service.
(*An ECR for the purpose of this award is considered as someone who is within eight years of the 
award of the PhD.)

The completed application form should be sent to pif@csap.cam.ac.uk.
.
Award: Award amount: up to £10,000 per application. Project duration: up to 9 months

Funder Deadline: 30 June 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: For further consultation, please email Kavya Neeba (k.neeba@jbs.cam.ac.uk)

 

Cambridge Centre for Data-driven Discovery and Accelerate Science Funding Call 2025

Summary: We are offering small grants for Cambridge University researchers pursuing innovative applications of AI in research or real-world contexts with a focus on inter and multidisciplinary collaboration.

Funding can support a variety of activities, including research, events, workshops, teaching, software development, or software development, with a focus on interdisciplinary collaboration.
.
Award: 

  • Early Career Seed Funding: Small grants of up to £5,000 for early career researchers (PhD students or postdocs) to provide a step towards an independent research career.
  • Funding for events: Up to £15,000 to convene networks and events.
  • Project grants: Funding of up to £25,000 for larger scale projects.

Funder Deadline: 12 September 2025

Research Facilitation Contact:  accelerate-science@cst.cam.ac.uk and coordinator@c2d3.cam.ac.uk

 

UK Data Service Introductory Training Series: Spring 2025
10 June 2025

 
The UK Data Service provide access to a wide range of social science data for reuse. To help you get the most from these resources, we run a free introductory training series every spring and autumn to introduce different aspects of the UK Data Service.
 
Our training series workshops in spring 2025 are listed below and you can also browse our training and events pages for a full list of what is available.

 
Recordings of UK Data Service events are made available on our YouTube channel and, together with the slides, on our past events pages soon after the event has taken place.

 

Advanced Grant Information Webinar
10 June 2025, 11:00 to 13:00, Online
REGISTER HERE
 
The UK Research Office (UKRO), in its capacity as UK National Contact Point for the European Research Council (ERC), is organising a webinar for researchers who are interested in applying for the 2025 ERC Advanced Grant call.

Attendance will be free of charge, but registration for each webinar is required.

The webinar will provide information on the submission process, how proposals are evaluated and other elements you’ll need to consider when designing a project for your research excellence idea ahead of the ERC Advanced Grant deadline 28th August 2025.

Joining the webinar will be Antonino Puglisi, UK National Contact Point and Professor Rachel Gibson who will share details of her journey towards getting an ERC Advanced grant.

The session will last 2 hours with a break midway through.

The overall aim of this webinar is to provide participants with detailed, practical information about the ERC Advanced Grant scheme. Participants should gain a deeper understanding of the proposal format and the key issues they are required to address in planning, writing and costing a proposal. The evaluation procedure and how to approach writing an application will also be explained.

 

Horizon Europe - Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Networks 2025 - Call info day
24 June 2025, 8:30 UK time
Online [REGISTER HERE]

Aim of the event

  • Inform all potential applicants and stakeholders about the key aspects of the MSCA-DN-2025 call for proposals
  • Promote the Industrial Doctorate and Joint Doctorate modes and present the main incentives

Who should attend?
This is an information event for anyone interested in the MSCA-DN-2025 call for proposals which will open on 28 May 2025.

Programme outline
The Doctoral Networks are a key part of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions under the Framework Programme Horizon Europe. There are three different implementation modes: Standard Doctoral Networks (DNs), Joint Doctorates (JDs) and Industrial Doctorates (IDs).

The MSCA 2025 Call Info event aims at informing all potential applicants and stakeholders about all important requirements for 2025 and promoting the ID and JD modes. The participants will have the opportunity to raise their questions through Slido, in advance of the event (as of 29 May 2025) and during the Q&A session of the event.

It will be an online event, which will be opened with a welcome address and some introductory remarks, followed by the main presentation of the DN-2025 call. After a short coffee-break, a live Q&A session will take place through Slido.

 

CSaP Annual Conference: Resilience in a Changing World
24 June 2025, 10.00 to 19.30
Royal Society [REGISTER HERE]

Join us at our annual conference—designed for researchers and policy professionals from government, industry, and the third sector, as well as anyone interested in how research evidence can inform policymaking.

This year's annual conference will cover a range of themes, from life sciences and economic growth to disinformation and democracy, critical minerals and net zero, and inclusive innovation in cities such as Cambridge and Manchester.

Click here to explore conference themes

AHSS Bulletin May 2025

AHSS Research and Impact Facilitation Bulletin

May 2025

 

If you want to discuss funding opportunities or you are working on an application for research funding and would like feedback on a draft, please do contact the School’s Research Facilitators – Anna Cieslik (UK Funding) and Elizabeth Penner (EU/International Funding).  For Impact related queries please contact Lucy Sheerman (Impact Facilitator).

You can find more information on the AHSS Research Website, search our External Funding Deadline Calendar and look at Previous Bulletins.  We are also now on Twitter! Follow us for updates on funding calls and information sessions.

 

UK Research Council Funding

 

EU Funding

 

Charity Funding

Internal Funding

 

Workshops & Events

 

DARE UK next-generation trusted research environment capabilities

Summary: This flagship initiative is an opportunity to better understand, predict and prevent (re)emergence of infectious animal, human, or plant diseases of epidemic potential. It aims to improve epidemic preparedness by supporting ambitious interdisciplinary research that will:

  • improve our understanding of factors that influence the risk and severity of infectious disease threats
  • inform new ways to manage and respond to infections disease threats

A social and behavioural research perspective is encouraged. Applications may also explore the role of economic factors and incentives, culture, history, linguistics, and other humanities in understanding, predicting and preventing infectious diseases with epidemic potential.

Areas of research could include, but are not limited to:

  • understanding the context, impacts of and interplay between biological, physiological, cultural, environmental (natural and built), political, historical, linguistic, legal and socioeconomic factors affecting infectious disease (re-)emergence, transmission and epidemiology
  • understanding factors contributing to the spill over of infectious diseases between different species, as well as the different factors affecting these risks and the opportunities for intervening to effect change
  • understanding communities’ concerns, priorities, risks, needs, and capacities in their response to outbreaks, through for example, lessons learned from previous outbreaks to inform prediction and prevention activities
  • developing and evaluating multifaceted evidence-based disease prevention and control interventions to prevent spillover and infection and interrupt transmission in and between animals, humans, or plants, that go beyond pharmacological interventions. For example, social, ecological and cultural measures (including structural or system interventions) that could be at an individual, community or regional level; biosecurity or environmental strategies; aspects of the built environment
  • novel analytical or modelling methods, for example, the integration of diverse data sets yielding new interdisciplinary insights
  • developing ways of comparing the impact of prevention strategies that factors in the complex and wide-ranging effects these can have. This might include multiparameter modelling, learning from communities affected by prior outbreak prevention strategies, and assessment of cost effectiveness
  • within low and middle-income country (LMIC) settings, areas of research could also include identifying and demonstrating effects of processes intended to enhance resilience and responsiveness of systems (that is, preparedness) to support populations at high risk of zoonotic spillover or epidemic spread due to ecological, climatic factors, or conflict and migration

Award: The full economic cost (FEC) of your project can be up to £390,000. MRC will fund 80% of the FEC. The project will be funded for 12 months from September 2025 to September 2026.

Funder Deadline: 05 June 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

Interdisciplinary research to tackle epidemic threats

Summary: This flagship initiative is an opportunity to better understand, predict and prevent (re)emergence of infectious animal, human, or plant diseases of epidemic potential. It aims to improve epidemic preparedness by supporting ambitious interdisciplinary research that will:

  • improve our understanding of factors that influence the risk and severity of infectious disease threats
  • inform new ways to manage and respond to infections disease threats

A social and behavioural research perspective is encouraged. Applications may also explore the role of economic factors and incentives, culture, history, linguistics, and other humanities in understanding, predicting and preventing infectious diseases with epidemic potential.

Areas of research could include, but are not limited to:

  • understanding the context, impacts of and interplay between biological, physiological, cultural, environmental (natural and built), political, historical, linguistic, legal and socioeconomic factors affecting infectious disease (re-)emergence, transmission and epidemiology
  • understanding factors contributing to the spill over of infectious diseases between different species, as well as the different factors affecting these risks and the opportunities for intervening to effect change
  • understanding communities’ concerns, priorities, risks, needs, and capacities in their response to outbreaks, through for example, lessons learned from previous outbreaks to inform prediction and prevention activities
  • developing and evaluating multifaceted evidence-based disease prevention and control interventions to prevent spillover and infection and interrupt transmission in and between animals, humans, or plants, that go beyond pharmacological interventions. For example, social, ecological and cultural measures (including structural or system interventions) that could be at an individual, community or regional level; biosecurity or environmental strategies; aspects of the built environment
  • novel analytical or modelling methods, for example, the integration of diverse data sets yielding new interdisciplinary insights
  • developing ways of comparing the impact of prevention strategies that factors in the complex and wide-ranging effects these can have. This might include multiparameter modelling, learning from communities affected by prior outbreak prevention strategies, and assessment of cost effectiveness
  • within low and middle-income country (LMIC) settings, areas of research could also include identifying and demonstrating effects of processes intended to enhance resilience and responsiveness of systems (that is, preparedness) to support populations at high risk of zoonotic spillover or epidemic spread due to ecological, climatic factors, or conflict and migration

Award: The full economic cost (FEC) of your application can be up to £3,750,000. UKRI will fund 80% of the FEC and 100% of permitted exceptions, including project co-leads (international).

Funder Deadline: 19 June 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

UKRI policy fellowships 2025

Summary: Spend 18 months as a UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) core policy fellow, a Natural Hazards and Resilience policy fellow or a What Works Innovation fellow to inform policy to address pressing national and global challenges.

You will:

  • co-design research with the host organisation to inform policy on a priority area
  • help improve the exchange of knowledge between policy and academic institutions

Addressing the challenges and opportunities facing citizens, society and the economy requires an integrated, thriving and inclusive research-policy system that can act as a catalyst for innovation, social and institutional change. Central to this is enabling researchers and policymakers to collaborate and build relationships that are rich, deep and can be sustained.

Opportunities that help people move between research and policy communities to share and develop their knowledge and capabilities are a key mechanism to help develop this collaborative, connected system.

UKRI fund a cohort of policy fellows. Fellows will provide research and expert advice on the host’s policy priority areas and support wider knowledge exchange between government, policy, and academia.

This high-profile initiative provides a route for you to bring your expertise to bear on critical policy challenges facing governments across the UK, as well as to generate new insights into how to best support effective collaboration and knowledge exchange that will shape your career as well as support wider change.

These fellowships are demanding and intellectually stimulating roles, providing an exciting opportunity to combine your specialist knowledge and research expertise with the opportunity to inform decision-makers at the heart of policymaking.

Award: Between £180,000 and £280,000

Funder Deadline: 15 July 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

Collaborative doctoral landscape award in the arts and humanities

Summary: UK non-higher education institutions (non-HEI), individual organisations or consortia, can apply to become arts and humanities collaborative doctoral landscape award grant holders to support and provide high-quality doctoral training.

AHRC will support up to 50 doctoral studentships per year, for four years through this scheme. You can apply for a minimum of three students per year (two in exceptional circumstances). Doctoral projects must align with the organisation’s priorities and are undertaken with a university partner.

The first cohort of students will start in October 2027.

Non-HEIs can be any type of organisation in the UK that has the research capacity to host doctoral students. This would include a wide range of creative and cultural organisations contributing to arts and humanities research, for example:

  • galleries
  • libraries
  • museums and archives
  • the creative industries
  • public and third sector organisations

The application must be from a non-HEI organisation either:

  • as an individual organisation
  • as a consortia of non-HEI organisations
  • with a university partner, in specific circumstances

Non-HEIs do not need to have held awards under the Collaborative Doctoral Partnership (CDP) scheme to be eligible to apply or have independent research organisation status. However, you must be able to demonstrate that you have the capacity to manage at least three studentships per year.

Non-HEIs, which do not have capacity to host three students per year, may wish to submit a joint application as a consortium. If successful, the consortium would be the collaborative doctoral landscape award grant holder.

Award: Between three and fifty studentships

Funder Deadline: 20 November 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

Horizon Europe Update: UK Eligibility Update

Horizon Europe Work Programme 2023 (and previous years)
Successful UK applicants to calls under the Horizon Europe Work Programme 2023 (and previous years) will be funded under the UKRI Guarantee Funding. This Guarantee Funding has recently been extended to cover successful applications made by UK-based businesses and researchers to calls under the Horizon Europe 2021, 2022 or 2023 work programmes. 
 
Horizon Europe 2024 Work Programme Calls
Successful UK applicants will be funded by the EU, under the Horizon Europe Programme.
Updates on Association: Please visit the Research Operation Office’s EU pages. 

Amended Horizon Europe Main Work Programme 2023-2025

The adoption of the Work Programme 2025 and the amended Work Programme 2023-2025 is planned for May 2025.

Pre-published work programme 2025 parts:

The amended parts of the work programme 2023-2025 have also been pre-published:

ERC Advanced Grant

Summary: The ERC Advanced Grant is for established research leaders with a recognised track record of research achievements in the last 10 years. PIs should be exceptional leaders in terms of originality and significance of their research contributions.

Award: € 2.5 million for a period of 5 years. An additional € 1 million can be requested to cover start-up costs, the purchase of major equipment and/or access to large facilities.

Funder Deadline: 28 August 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Elizabeth Penner

MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships

Summary: The objective of PFs is to support researchers’ careers and foster excellence in research. The Postdoctoral Fellowships action targets researchers holding a PhD who wish to carry out their research activities abroad, acquire new skills and develop their careers. PFs help researchers gain experience in other countries, disciplines and non-academic sectors.

There are 2 types of Postdoctoral Fellowships:

  1. European Postdoctoral Fellowships. They are open to researchers moving within Europe or coming to Europe from another part of the world to pursue their research career. These fellowships take place in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country and can last between 1 and 2 years. Researchers of any nationality can apply.
  2. Global Postdoctoral Fellowships. They fund the mobility of researchers outside Europe. The fellowship lasts between 2 to 3 years, of which the first 1 to 2 years will be spent in a non-associated Third Country, followed by a mandatory return phase of 1 year to an organisation based in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country. Only nationals or long-term residents of the EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries can apply.

Both types of fellowships may also include short-term secondments anywhere in the world during the fellowship (except during the return phase of a Global Fellowship).

In an effort to build bridges between the academic and non-academic sector, researchers can receive additional support to carry out a placement of up to 6 months in a non-academic organisation based in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country. This placement needs to take place at the end of their fellowship.

Award: The Fellowship provides support in the form of a living allowance; mobility allowance; family and long-term leave and special needs allowances; research, training and networking activities; management and indirect costs.

Funder Deadline: 10 September 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Elizabeth Penner

ERC Proof of Concept

Summary: The ERC Proof of Concept funding is made available only to those who already have an ERC award to establish proof of concept of an idea that was generated in the course of their ERC-funded projects.

Frontier research often generates radically new ideas that drive innovation and business inventiveness and tackle societal challenges. The ERC PoC Grants aim at facilitating exploration of the commercial and social innovation potential of ERC funded research and are therefore available only to PIs whose proposals draw substantially on their ERC funded research.

Proof of Concept Grants aim at maximising the value of the excellent research that the ERC funds, by funding further work (i.e. activities which were not scheduled to be funded by the original ERC frontier research grant) to verify the innovation potential of ideas arising from ERC funded projects.

Award: A lump sum of € 150,000 for a period of 18 months.

Funder Deadline: 18 September 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Elizabeth Penner

MSCA Staff Exchange Call

Summary: The Staff Exchanges action offers a unique opportunity to promote the transfer of knowledge and innovation through international research collaborations.

Who can apply?
To be eligible, consortia must consist of at least three organisations from three different countries. Two of them must be located in different EU Member States or Horizon Europe associated countries. In addition, organisations from any country in the world can participate.

Organisations from all socioeconomic sectors in any country can apply to Staff Exchanges.

Staff secondments
Secondments are the main method to foster cooperation among organisations participating in Staff Exchanges. Selected projects exchange and train researchers and innovators, as well as administrative, technical or managerial staff involved in research activities.

Participants go abroad for up to 12 months. By working in other organisations they gain new skills and competencies, expand their networks, exchange knowledge, and carry out cutting-edge research.

Award: A top-up allowance (for travel, accommodation, subsistence costs), which is on top of the salary paid by their organisation; a special needs allowance, if applicable. In addition, funding is provided for research, training and networking activities, management and indirect costs.

Funder Deadline: 08 October 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Elizabeth Penner

British Academy / Leverhulme Small Grants

Summary: The BA/Leverhulme Small Research Grants are available to support primary research in the humanities and social sciences. These awards provided to cover the cost of the expenses arising from a defined research project.

Awards are open to postdoctoral scholars (or equivalent) who are ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom. Applications require the approval of the applicant's employing institution, but are not limited to those of any particular status (e.g. Lecturer, Professor etc). Co-applicants may be from anywhere in the world, but the Principal Applicant must be ordinarily resident in the UK.

Award: Between £500 and £10,000 for a project duration of up to 24 months maximum.
Funder Deadline: 04 June 2025
Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

The Big Questions

Summary: Supported by the John Templeton Foundation, The National Geographic Society seeks innovative photography, short film, writing, data visualization and other storytelling proposals to help people consider some of the greatest questions of our time.
 
These projects should in some way work to explore one of the following questions:

  1. What does it mean to be human?
    1. We seek novel approaches to this question, science-driven stories that help us understand our own strange, yet familiar species in a new way.
    2. Stories may investigate human origins, as well as look into the future of human/machine interaction and shifts in human consciousness.
    3. Narratives around experiences of spirituality, family, gender, culture, interaction with the natural world and more.
  2. Curiosity: What are the boundaries of Earth, or more precisely, what are the limits to what we can understand?
    1. Stories will take us to the edges of the physical, scientific, and philosophical world – and beyond. These will be the most ambitious and deeply geographic projects; journeys to the deepest parts of the ocean and the highest heights and – literally and figuratively – to more fully understand the natural world, ourselves and our place in the universe.
  3. Human/Nature: What is the relationship between the human and natural worlds?
    1. Among other topics, areas may include traditional ecological knowledge, wisdom of the natural world (including animal and plant intelligence) and how it shapes progress, evolution, and human flourishing, biomimicry and shared consciousness between the human and natural worlds.
    2. Stories that spark awe and wonder in the cultural and natural world- Humans’ connection to, and reliance on nature – from the science of green space as respite and comfort, to the ways some cultures have historically and still view land as an entity to care for, just as it cares for us.

Award: Applicants may request up to $100,000 USD, though it is recommended that if you have five years or less of experience, you request up to $20,000 USD. Budgets of successful proposals will include reasonable, well justified costs directly required to complete the project. Successful applicants may use awarded funds over the course of one year. All applications should explicitly state the plan for evaluating the impact of the proposed work. Applicants may use a portion of the budget for Hostile Environment and First Aid Training (HEFAT) or other security training, if applicable.
Funder Deadline: 24 June 2025
Contact:  funding@ngs.org

Wellcome Trust Career Development Award

Summary: This scheme provides funding for mid-career researchers from any discipline who have the potential to be international research leaders. They will develop their research capabilities, drive innovative programmes of work and deliver significant shifts in understanding that could improve human life, health and wellbeing.
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Award: Provides a salary for the grantholder (if required) and research expenses. Please request for level and duration of funding that's justifiable for your proposed research.

Funder Deadline: 24 July 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

Wellcome Trust Discovery Awards

Summary: This scheme provides funding for established researchers and teams from any discipline who want to pursue bold and creative research ideas to deliver significant shifts in understanding related to human life, health and wellbeing. 

Research questions should generate knowledge that leads to a shift in understanding or delivers new insight into how human life and health work. We welcome proposals that may have a clinical or societal impact or have translational potential, but the focus should be on discovery research.   

We fund research into the: 

  • fundamental processes that underpin biology, to understand more about how human life works
  • complexities of human health and disease, including clinical and population-based approaches
  • burden of disease and its determinants where this brings new and transformational knowledge
  • development of methodologies, conceptual frameworks, technologies, tools or techniques that could benefit health-related research
  • needs, values and priorities of the people and communities affected by disease and health disparities
  • social, ethical, cultural, political, economic and historical contexts of human health and disease.

Award: The average size of a Discovery Award is £3.5 million. Applications above £5 million will be subject to additional scrutiny. Awards can be up to 8 years, but may be less for some disciplines, and may be longer if held on a part-time basis. The average duration of a Discovery Award is 7 years, although we have supported awards from 3 to 8 years.

Funder Deadline: 29 July 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

Wellcome Trust Early-Career Awards

Summary: This scheme provides funding for early-career researchers from any discipline who are ready to develop their research identity. The researcher will deliver shifts in understanding that could improve human life, health and wellbeing. By the end of the aware, they will be ready to lead their own independent research programme. Project duration is usually 5 years, but may be less for some disciplines and longer if held on a part-time basis.

Award: Your salary and up to £400,000 for research expenses.

Funder Deadline: 30 September 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

Leverhulme Trust Visiting Professorship

Summary: For UK institutions to invite an eminent senior professor from overseas, to bring genuinely novel expertise and enhance the skills and knowledge of academic staff and students in an underrepresented area in the UK. Priority will be given to new or recent collaborations and visits with a variety of activities beyond research.
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Award: Applications are invited for a minimum of £10,000 and a maximum of £150,000. A Visiting Professorship must last at least 3 months. Grants between 3 and 6 months must be completed in one visit. Grants between 6 and 12 months can be spread over two or more visits, with 12 months being the maximum duration for a visit.

Funder Deadline: 02 October 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

Large Grant Contribution Fund

Summary: Research grant applications for funding over £1 million for AHSS subject areas can request financial contributions from this fund. Funding may be requested for activities that are complementary to the external funding and contributions from Departments / Schools / Non-school institutions. Activities that add value in the following areas are particularly encouraged: widening participation and inclusion; improving partnerships locally / nationally / internationally; capacity and capability building; working with less advantaged partners. Leveraging funding for existing grant awards is not in the remit of this fund. All applications must include one or more external partners and only applications led by Cambridge PIs are eligible.

Award: Up to 10% of the award value. PI buyout and equipment are not eligible costs for request.

Funder Deadline: Minimum 4 weeks before funder deadline.

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik and Rpc@admin.cam.ac.uk

REF Impact Funding

Summary: Internal funding is available from the Research Strategy Office to support the development of the University’s REF impact submission. It is expected that successful applications will fund impact activities that may feed into potential impact case studies only where no other monies are available. Applications will be reviewed by the Impact and Knowledge Exchange Team. 

Submissions may include (but are not restricted to):

  • Support for gathering feedback from public engagement activities
  • Economic health monitoring
  • Surveying/engaging with research users to evaluate impact
  • Independent evaluation of impacts
  • Resource to collate citations in policy documents

Award: Up to £10,000.

Funder Deadline: Rolling basis

Research Facilitation Contact: Please contact your relevant member of the Impact and Knowledge Exchange Team

All Council Harmonised IAA Impact Starter Fund Call 2024-2025

Summary: :Impact Starter funding will be available on a rolling basis to fund short-term projects of up to three months duration. Projects are expected to be short, cost-effective ways of kick-starting impact creation from research findings. The Impact Starter Fund will only consider projects that do not qualify for other IAA funding calls.

Award: Varies.

Funder Deadline: Rolling basis

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Lucy Sheerman

N2H Visiting Fellowship: Natural History Humanities

Summary: We invite early career researchers to apply for Visiting Fellowships within our Natural History Humanities [N2H] research programme, to be held for up to three weeks in person, depending on funding. The goal of the N2H Fellowships is to foster long-term collaborations and knowledge exchange, and we will support Fellows remotely before they arrive in Cambridge and for a period of twelve months after their residency. We especially encourage applications from early career researchers from the Global South. 

During their Fellowship, and with the help of a mentor, the N2H Fellows will develop their initial research questions by taking advantage of the University of Cambridge’s collections across its museums, libraries, archives and botanic garden, and those of Collegiate Cambridge, as well as its vibrant research community. The aim is to provide the Fellows with a set of intellectual and practical tools that will support them longer-term in applying for fellowships or grant applications that will bring them back to the University of Cambridge, including support from a research facilitator. 

We are holding an online sandpit, to allow for more participation, during which you will be able to ask questions to the Co-Chairs of CCC, and the academic lead of the N2H initiative, as well as collections staff. 

13 May 2025, 1-2pm BST

Please, email info@ccc.cam.ac.uk if you would like to take part in one of the two sandpits and receive the Zoom link.

Award: Return (economy fare) travel, single ensuite accommodation for up to 21 days, depending on funding (subsistence not included); IT support, and full access to libraries and other collections at the University of Cambridge. Support will be provided to cover the cost of a standard visitor’s visa, if needed. 

Funder Deadline: 26 May 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: info@ccc.cam.ac.uk

Collections-based Research in the Humanities

Summary: INT is pleased to offer, through a new two-year pilot scheme funded by Trinity College, small grants of up to £5,000 for collection-based research in the Humanities through modest-sized study sessions and/or workshops of up to two days in Collegiate Cambridge.  Up to eight grants are available in each academic year for two years, starting in 2024-25.
 
Collections, libraries, archives and galleries are the ‘laboratories’ of humanities scholars. Collegiate Cambridge has a wealth of such collections, large and small, as well as collections within collections that may not be well known to scholars or whose research potential is yet to be fully appreciated and realised. While most repositories welcome new research and scholarship of their holdings, they are often limited in supporting such research because of staff shortage or limited funds for conservation.
 
The purpose of this scheme is to promote enhanced engagement with physical items in the collection, so in-person, modest-sized meetings are encouraged. Applications to part-fund a single large international conference are therefore unlikely to succeed.
 
Award: up to £5,000
Funder Deadline: 30 May 2025
Contact: Trust Administrator

Cambridge Humanities Research Grants

Summary: The Cambridge Humanities Research Grants scheme (CHRG) supports research in the arts, humanities and social sciences across the University. The scheme welcomes applications from any independent researcher holding a current contract of employment at the point of application.

The Scheme is designed to enable researchers to conduct small-scale research activities, of the highest quality, that will enable them to bid successfully for larger-scale funding from external sponsors, and/or to generate publications, and/or to contribute materially in other ways towards the research objectives of their home institution.

Applications may be made at any time in the year, for the next available gathered field, with outcomes known approximately six weeks later.
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Award: Tier 1 up to £1,500; Tier 2 between £1,500 and £20,000; Tier 3 between £1,000 and £10,000.

Funder Deadline: 16 June 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: GrantsAHSS@admin.cam.ac.uk

West Hub Media Lab Content Creators Club
various dates in May

The West Hub is thrilled to introduce a dynamic series of practical workshops through its Media Lab, aimed at empowering individuals and groups with the skills and knowledge needed to create high-quality digital content. Our workshops cover a wide range of topics, including video production, audio recording, media training, and social media strategy guidance.

In today's digital age, the ability to create compelling content is invaluable. Whether you're a beginner eager to explore new creative avenues or an experienced creator looking to refine your skills, our workshops are designed to meet you at your level and help you achieve your content creation goals.

Programme Highlights:

  • Hands-On Experience: Gain practical skills in content creation through interactive and engaging workshops.
  • Expert Instructors: Learn from industry professionals with extensive experience in media and digital content creation.
  • Inclusive Learning Environment: Our workshops are tailored to accommodate all skill levels, ensuring everyone can benefit.
  • Community Building: Connect with fellow content creators, exchange ideas, and collaborate on exciting projects.
  • Access to Cutting-Edge Facilities: Fully utilise the state-of-the-art resources available at the West Hub Media Lab.

Session 1 - How to Create a Podcast - 6th May 2025
Session 2 - How to Promote Your Podcast - 13th May 2025
Session 3 - How to Present to Camera - 20th May 2025
Session 4 - How to Create a 2-Minute Promotional Film - 27th May 2025

UK Data Service Introductory Training Series: Spring 2025
various dates March to June 2025

 
The UK Data Service provide access to a wide range of social science data for reuse. To help you get the most from these resources, we run a free introductory training series every spring and autumn to introduce different aspects of the UK Data Service.
 
Our training series workshops in spring 2025 are listed below and you can also browse our training and events pages for a full list of what is available.

 
Recordings of UK Data Service events are made available on our YouTube channel and, together with the slides, on our past events pages soon after the event has taken place.

Invitation to DFG and DAAD presentation on funding opportunities for international collaboration
06 May 2025, 15.30 to 17.00
General Board Room at the Old Schools (please go to the reception at the Old Schools)

On 6 May, DFG colleagues will hold an information session to give a short overview about funding opportunities for international collaboration within the DFG funding portfolio, concluding with a Q&A session on UK-German research cooperation. We are also delighted to welcome Andreas Hoeschen, Director of the DAAD London Office, who will outline DAAD funding opportunities beyond the Cambridge DAAD Hub.

Please register for the event via Eventbrite and please note there are only 30 spaces available. Please also send this on to anyone you think might have an interest in attending the event.

Contact: Ingrid Hobbis at Ingrid.Hobbis@admin.cam.ac.uk.

Venture Building 101
07 May 2025, 13:00 to 17:30 (including lunch)
The Pitt Building, Trumpington Street

Are you looking to start a company or social enterprise? Perhaps you are already working with Cambridge Enterprise on the development of your idea and are considering spinning out a company?

This half-day, interactive, workshop is open to staff and postgraduate students of the University of Cambridge who are considering or are in the process of commercialising their research and expertise. It will provide helpful tools to assist in the process of starting a company or social venture.

The session focusses on the three core pillars of what experience tells us it takes to create a viable spin out: Technology, People and Funding.

Register here

UKRO 2025 MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships Information Webinar
12 May 2025, 10:00 to 12:00, Online
REGISTER HERE

UKRO, in its capacity as UK National Contact Point for the Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA), is holding an information webinar for organisations and individuals interested in applying to the 2025 MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships call (call opens 8 May 2025).

The fellowships support researchers’ careers and foster excellence in research. The Postdoctoral Fellowships action targets researchers holding a PhD who wish to carry out their research activities abroad, acquire new skills and develop their careers. PFs help researchers gain experience in other countries, disciplines and non-academic sectors.

Horizon Europe info days - Cluster 4 'Digital, Industry and Space'
13 May 2025, 08:30am, Online
RESIGTER HERE
 
This event aims to inform potential applicants about the funding opportunities within the Work Programme 2025 of the Horizon Europe Cluster 4 ‘Digital, Industry and Space’.
 
Speakers from the European Commission will provide detailed insights into the call topics, evaluation and award processes. Attendees will have the opportunity to pose questions about new developments and learn how to draft successful proposals.
 
Under the pillar II of Horizon Europe, Cluster 4 focuses on Digital, Industry and Space, aiming to deliver on the following 6 Destinations aligned with the Strategic Plan:
 
  • Climate neutral, circular and digitised production
  • Increased autonomy in key strategic value chains for resilient industry
  • World leading data and computing technologies
  • Digital and emerging technologies for competitiveness and fit for the Green Deal
  • Open strategic autonomy in developing, deploying and using global space-based infrastructures, services, applications and data
  • A human-centred and ethical development of digital and industrial technologies
Cambridge Open Research Conference
13 May 2025, 09.00 to 16.00 
In-person and online places are available for the morning session; the workshop is in-person only.
RESIGTER HERE

The self-organised research communities across the University of Cambridge who publish their own journals and publishing projects have been attracting attention recently as a researcher-controlled alternative to traditional academic publishing. Cambridge contains a flourishing ecosystem of DIY projects across all disciplines, from student-led publications through journals organised by academic departments to those hosted within the library.    

Our hybrid, free, one-day, event is split into two sessions. In the morning session we will hear from practitioners and service providers of community-led publishing. The afternoon session will host a practical workshop hosted by the Cambridge Diamond Platform. The workshop is primarily a hands-on session to explore how community-led journals can use the Cambridge Diamond service to publish and make their content available for the long term.

This event warmly welcomes University of Cambridge and external researchers, students, librarians and administrators at every career stage.
Creative Cambridge 2025
15 May 2025, 10:00 to 18:00
Storey's Field Centre, Eddington, Cambridge
 
Our annual conference explores the collaboration and innovation between University research and Cambridge's creative and cultural industries.
 
Cambridge is renowned globally for its contributions to the creative industries, particularly in gaming technology innovations. However, navigating the extensive networks and support services that connect universities and local creative communities can be challenging. This is especially true for freelancers, micro-companies, start-ups, and individual academics or students.
 
This free event is open to anyone interested in developing new collaborations in the creative, cultural and heritage industries in Cambridgeshire or further afield. We aim to have a wonderful mix of academic researchers, innovators, artists and creatives, students, local businesses, cultural institutions, and representatives from the funders and networks who support the creative economy in Cambridge.
Humanities Summits 2025
15 & 22 May 2025
REGISTER HERE
 
Our Humanities Summits bring together colleagues from across the UK to discuss the key challenges and opportunities facing the arts and humanities, and to devise new approaches that will shape the future of our disciplines.
 
This year, the summits will focus on the theme of collaboration as a response to the pressures facing the sector. How can we work together more effectively? In what ways might we connect our existing infrastructure and link resources together at a regional and national level? And how do we continue to create opportunities to collaborate with other disciplines and sectors? 
 
The Humanities Summits will provide a critical forum to consider these questions, share ideas and look ahead to future strategic priorities.
 
This year we are holding two summits. Both summits will have a similar programme, so please register for the date and location that is most convenient for you. Lunch and refreshments will be provided.
  • Thursday 15 May, 10:30-16:30, Manchester Museum
  • Thursday 22 May, 10:30-16:30, Senate House, University of London

Find out more and register here: https://www.sas.ac.uk/news-events/events/humanities-summits
 
The event is free to attend.
EIC Board applications open
19 May 2025
Apply to become a new EIC Board Member

The European Commission has launched a call for applications for the selection of new members for the European Innovation Council (EIC) Board, a high-level expert group advising on breakthrough innovation in Europe.

The EIC Board plays a crucial role in shaping the EIC’s strategy, overseeing the implementation of its funding programmes, and providing recommendations to enhance Europe’s innovation ecosystem. Comprising 15-20 independent high-level members, the Board brings together entrepreneurs, corporate leaders, investors, researchers, and public administration experts.

Applications are open to individuals that can contribute with deep knowledge on the challenges for deep tech companies to not only get started, but also grow big in Europe, with European customers and European capital. Applicants should have a strong deep tech focus and a strong track record in any of the areas of growing a deep tech company, corporate innovation, public sector transformation, venture capital, or research. Selected members will also promote Europe’s innovation leadership and engaging with key stakeholders across the ecosystem.

In addition to new EIC Board members, the European Innovation Council is also seeking high-level expertise for other roles supporting the wider innovation ecosystem. Applicants may also be considered for future opportunities such as EIC expert groups, jury membership, coaching roles, or appointments to the EIC Fund Board. Please indicate in your application in case you are open to being contacted about other expert roles or collaboration opportunities within the EIC.
Horizon Europe info days - Cluster 1 'Health'
22 May 2025, 08:00, Online
REGISTER HERE
 
This info day aims to inform (potential) applicants about the topics included in the Cluster 1 'Health' work programme of 2025.

Under the pillar 2 of Horizon Europe, Cluster 1 focuses on Health and aims to deliver on the following six destinations matching the Strategic Plan:

  • Staying healthy in a rapidly changing society
  • Living and working in a health-promoting environment
  • Tackling diseases and reducing disease burden
  • Ensuring access to innovative, sustainable and high-quality health care
  • Unlocking the full potential of new tools, technologies and digital solutions for a healthy society
  • Maintaining an innovative, sustainable and globally competitive health-related industry
Advanced Grant Information Webinar
10 June 2025, 11:00 to 13:00, Online
REGISTER HERE
 
The UK Research Office (UKRO), in its capacity as UK National Contact Point for the European Research Council (ERC), is organising a webinar for researchers who are interested in applying for the 2025 ERC Advanced Grant call.

Attendance will be free of charge, but registration for each webinar is required.

The webinar will provide information on the submission process, how proposals are evaluated and other elements you’ll need to consider when designing a project for your research excellence idea ahead of the ERC Advanced Grant deadline 28th August 2025.

Joining the webinar will be Antonino Puglisi, UK National Contact Point and Professor Rachel Gibson who will share details of her journey towards getting an ERC Advanced grant.

The session will last 2 hours with a break midway through.

The overall aim of this webinar is to provide participants with detailed, practical information about the ERC Advanced Grant scheme. Participants should gain a deeper understanding of the proposal format and the key issues they are required to address in planning, writing and costing a proposal. The evaluation procedure and how to approach writing an application will also be explained.
Horizon Europe - Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Networks 2025 - Call info day
24 June 2025, 8:30 UK time
Online [REGISTER HERE]

Aim of the event

  • Inform all potential applicants and stakeholders about the key aspects of the MSCA-DN-2025 call for proposals
  • Promote the Industrial Doctorate and Joint Doctorate modes and present the main incentives

Who should attend?
This is an information event for anyone interested in the MSCA-DN-2025 call for proposals which will open on 28 May 2025.

Programme outline
The Doctoral Networks are a key part of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions under the Framework Programme Horizon Europe. There are three different implementation modes: Standard Doctoral Networks (DNs), Joint Doctorates (JDs) and Industrial Doctorates (IDs).

The MSCA 2025 Call Info event aims at informing all potential applicants and stakeholders about all important requirements for 2025 and promoting the ID and JD modes. The participants will have the opportunity to raise their questions through Slido, in advance of the event (as of 29 May 2025) and during the Q&A session of the event.

It will be an online event, which will be opened with a welcome address and some introductory remarks, followed by the main presentation of the DN-2025 call. After a short coffee-break, a live Q&A session will take place through Slido.

 

AHSS Bulletin April 2025

AHSS Research and Impact Facilitation Bulletin

April 2025

If you want to discuss funding opportunities or you are working on an application for research funding and would like feedback on a draft, please do contact the School’s Research Facilitators – Anna Cieslik (UK Funding) and Elizabeth Penner (EU/International Funding).  For Impact related queries please contact Lucy Sheerman (Impact Facilitator).

You can find more information on the AHSS Research Website, search our External Funding Deadline Calendar and look at Previous Bulletins.  We are also now on Twitter! Follow us for updates on funding calls and information sessions.

UK Research Council Funding

 

EU Funding

 

Charity Funding

 

Internal Funding

Training / Other

 

Centre-UB Early Career Researchers Fellowship 2025

Summary: Apply for a Centre-UB early career researcher fellowship to:

  • work together with the University of Birmingham and partner organisations to capitalise the knowledge exchange and impact of your behavioural research
  • continue your development as a behavioural researcher and conduct further behavioural research
  • promote a positive research culture and a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion
  • gain vital experience of developing and applying behavioural research outside of academic settings and develop skills aimed at translating research into real-world benefit

Award: The fellowships provide funding and support for up to one year full-time or two years part-time. Funding will cover salary and associated costs and up to £10,000 for all other costs. Projects must start by 1 October 2025.

Funder Deadline: 01 May 2025 (Expression of Interest deadline); 08 May 2025 (Funder deadline)

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

UKRI Creating opportunities: rethinking economic (in)activity

Summary: A record number of people are registered as economically inactive across the UK, with a significant proportion not in local labour markets because of ill-health, disability, and informal caregiving responsibilities. This has profound implications for individuals, households, and local communities, as well as for the UK’s economy and society as a whole.

Funding is for a single innovative, interdisciplinary, and collaborative project to identify ways of supporting good quality, sustainable economic activity in places experiencing high rates of ill-health, disability, and informal care in the UK.

The project will develop a deeper contextual understanding of place-based economic inactivity in the UK, with a focus on:

  • how different place-based and systemic factors interact to shape and condition health, disability, and informal care-driven economic inactivity at the local level in the UK
  • how this economic inactivity, in turn, shapes and conditions local economic conditions and local labour market opportunities
  • what types of support are offered to people experiencing ill-health, disability, or informal caring responsibilities, to help them access, remain in, and progress in work. How does this vary between places? How have support offered and the actors involved changed over time?
  • what types of support are most effective in assisting economic activity long-term among these groups, and in what contexts. How can this learning inform the design and implementation of effective future support?

In this opportunity, we are interested in informal caregiving as it relates to working age adults providing unpaid care for adult relatives, friends, and neighbours.

Award: The full economic cost (FEC) of your project can be up to £1,200,000. UKRI will fund 80% of the FEC. Funding is for a single award. The project must begin by 12 January 2026 and run for 24 months.

Funder Deadline: 06 May 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

P2R: increasing UK policymaker engagement with research

Summary: P2R enables direct connections between public and civil servants and research organisations. P2R is part of a wider approach to policy engagement that aims to build trusted relationships between public and civil servants and academic researchers in order to support the creation of effective evidence-informed public policy.

This 42-month Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) investment in a P2R infrastructure will enable policymakers to enhance their transferable skills and understanding of research, evidence and data by engaging in relevant activities in an academic setting. The infrastructure will increase the number and range of opportunities for UK public and civil servants, at all career stages, to engage with the UK research community through various formats, such as professional development, training, immersive workshops, placements, and networking.

The aim of this investment is to help build an inclusive ‘connective infrastructure’ that facilitates impactful, sustained collaboration between research and policy stakeholders. This investment will enhance public and civil servant’s transferable skills and understanding of how to access and apply research evidence. It will build stronger connections between research and policy communities. Through these initiatives, this investment will support the development of effective public policy based on robust evidence and the expertise of the UK’s world leading research organisations.

Award: The maximum full economic cost (FEC) of your project is £3.8 million. ESRC’s maximum contribution will be £3 million. The 42-month project must start by 2 February 2026.

Funder Deadline: 06 May 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Access to high performance computing facilities: spring 2025

Summary: We are looking to support a portfolio of projects across the HPC ecosystem, including but not limited to:

  • extended feasibility or proof of concept studies (at a larger scale than is possible in pump priming projects)
  • computational projects which may not warrant a full grant application
  • computational projects linking consecutive grant applications or aiding the preparation of a full grant or fellowship application
  • large amounts of compute for ambitious, computationally intensive simulations and calculations
  • collaborations with industrial and international partners
  • increase the development of computational science skills, such as allowing students to work jointly with project leads to achieve the aims of the proposed research, leading to improved software and coding skills, and career paths

Your proposal should align with at least one of the above aims.

This application process is purely for compute resource. No funding is available to successful applicants.

You may apply for up to 50% of the resources available on any one system. The resources you apply for must be justified and deemed appropriate to the objectives of your project.

The HPC services available are:

  • ARCHER2, Tier-1 national supercomputer service (EPSRC and NERC research only); EPSRC-remit research only. NERC-remit research should follow the separate established process
  • Isambard 3, Tier-2 HPC service (UKRI-remit)

Award: This application process is purely for compute resource for up to 12 months. No funding is available to successful applicants. Projects for ARCHER2 can be up to 12 months in duration. Projects for Isambard3 can be in blocks of six or 12 months in duration.

Funder Deadline: 22 May 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Interdisciplinary research to tackle epidemic threats

Summary: This flagship initiative is an opportunity to better understand, predict and prevent (re)emergence of infectious animal, human, or plant diseases of epidemic potential. It aims to improve epidemic preparedness by supporting ambitious interdisciplinary research that will:

  • improve our understanding of factors that influence the risk and severity of infectious disease threats
  • inform new ways to manage and respond to infections disease threats

A social and behavioural research perspective is encouraged. Applications may also explore the role of economic factors and incentives, culture, history, linguistics, and other humanities in understanding, predicting and preventing infectious diseases with epidemic potential.

Areas of research could include, but are not limited to:

  • understanding the context, impacts of and interplay between biological, physiological, cultural, environmental (natural and built), political, historical, linguistic, legal and socioeconomic factors affecting infectious disease (re-)emergence, transmission and epidemiology
  • understanding factors contributing to the spill over of infectious diseases between different species, as well as the different factors affecting these risks and the opportunities for intervening to effect change
  • understanding communities’ concerns, priorities, risks, needs, and capacities in their response to outbreaks, through for example, lessons learned from previous outbreaks to inform prediction and prevention activities
  • developing and evaluating multifaceted evidence-based disease prevention and control interventions to prevent spillover and infection and interrupt transmission in and between animals, humans, or plants, that go beyond pharmacological interventions. For example, social, ecological and cultural measures (including structural or system interventions) that could be at an individual, community or regional level; biosecurity or environmental strategies; aspects of the built environment
  • novel analytical or modelling methods, for example, the integration of diverse data sets yielding new interdisciplinary insights
  • developing ways of comparing the impact of prevention strategies that factors in the complex and wide-ranging effects these can have. This might include multiparameter modelling, learning from communities affected by prior outbreak prevention strategies, and assessment of cost effectiveness
  • within low and middle-income country (LMIC) settings, areas of research could also include identifying and demonstrating effects of processes intended to enhance resilience and responsiveness of systems (that is, preparedness) to support populations at high risk of zoonotic spillover or epidemic spread due to ecological, climatic factors, or conflict and migration

Award: The full economic cost (FEC) of your application can be up to £3,750,000. UKRI will fund 80% of the FEC and 100% of permitted exceptions, including project co-leads (international).

Funder Deadline: 19 June 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Horizon Europe Update: UK Eligibility Update

Horizon Europe Work Programme 2023 (and previous years)
Successful UK applicants to calls under the Horizon Europe Work Programme 2023 (and previous years) will be funded under the UKRI Guarantee Funding. This Guarantee Funding has recently been extended to cover successful applications made by UK-based businesses and researchers to calls under the Horizon Europe 2021, 2022 or 2023 work programmes. 
 
Horizon Europe 2024 Work Programme Calls
Successful UK applicants will be funded by the EU, under the Horizon Europe Programme.
Updates on Association: Please visit the Research Operation Office’s EU pages. 

 

Horizon Europe Main Work Programme

This PDF offers further details on calls relevant to SAHSS.  This list is not exhaustive so please refer the Horizon Europe Portal for full details. UKRO also have some very useful Factsheets that outline the thematic clusters that make up the three pillars of research support offered.
 
Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Elizabeth Penner

 

ERC Advanced Grant

Summary: The ERC Advanced Grant is for established research leaders with a recognised track record of research achievements in the last 10 years. PIs should be exceptional leaders in terms of originality and significance of their research contributions.

Award: € 2.5 million for a period of 5 years. An additional € 1 million can be requested to cover start-up costs, the purchase of major equipment and/or access to large facilities.

Funder Deadline: 28 August 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Elizabeth Penner

 

ERC Proof of Concept

Summary: The ERC Proof of Concept funding is made available only to those who already have an ERC award to establish proof of concept of an idea that was generated in the course of their ERC-funded projects.

Frontier research often generates radically new ideas that drive innovation and business inventiveness and tackle societal challenges. The ERC PoC Grants aim at facilitating exploration of the commercial and social innovation potential of ERC funded research and are therefore available only to PIs whose proposals draw substantially on their ERC funded research.

Proof of Concept Grants aim at maximising the value of the excellent research that the ERC funds, by funding further work (i.e. activities which were not scheduled to be funded by the original ERC frontier research grant) to verify the innovation potential of ideas arising from ERC funded projects.

Award: A lump sum of € 150,000 for a period of 18 months.

Funder Deadline: 18 September 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Elizabeth Penner

 

Leverhulme Trust Visiting Professorships

Summary: For UK institutions to invite an eminent senior professor from overseas, to bring genuinely novel expertise and enhance the skills and knowledge of academic staff and students in an underrepresented area in the UK. Priority will be given to new or recent collaborations and visits with a variety of activities beyond research.
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Award: Applications are invited for a minimum of £10,000 and a maximum of £150,000. A Visiting Professorship must last at least 3 months. Grants between 3 and 6 months must be completed in one visit. Grants between 6 and 12 months can be spread over two or more visits, with 12 months being the maximum duration for a visit.

Funder Deadline: 01 May 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Seedcorn and Research Capacity Network grants

Summary: BAICE Seedcorn grants fund small-scale pilots and scoping activities for larger projects. This may be through a combination of activities including (but not limited to) literature review, mapping exercises, data generation, analysis of secondary data, scoping visits and partner visits.

BAICE Research Capacity / Network grants fund the inception and development of innovative collaborations in new and priority research areas, aligned with the aims of BAICE. It is expected that the Research Capacity / Network grants do more than simply provide an opportunity for people to come together – they must demonstrate potential for building a new community of researchers to facilitate ongoing work and funding. If you would like funding to host a series of events or seminars, please see our BAICE Thematic Forum grant page.

For both Seedcorn and Research Capacity / Network grant we especially welcome applications that emphasise collaboration across different contexts, disciplines and career stages. 

Award: Up to £5,000
Funder Deadline: 01 May 2025
Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Spatial Thinking: Inspiring Action through Place-Based Solutions

Summary: Understanding our world starts with place and space — everything happens somewhere. Spatial thinking involves visualizing, interpreting, and reasoning information using location, patterns, scale, relationships, movement, and change over time in order to understand our world and develop impactful solutions relevant to a place and its unique conditions for those who live there. It is much more than the ability to create, use and understand maps. We continue to face big, complex, and rapidly changing challenges such as climate adaptation and mitigation, water scarcity, biodiversity conservation, and preserving and better understanding cultural knowledge and human stories. Spatial thinking is a powerful tool for understanding and telling stories of the past and present of a place and its inhabitants. It can help us understand a place’s unique conditions, how people and our planet relate to those conditions, and create and implement solutions needed to address challenges of a place.
 
This funding opportunity supports projects that identify a challenge related to a specific place and its unique conditions and leverages an educational solution using spatial thinking to enable people to act on behalf of our planet and its people.
Submissions should describe projects that are co-developed with members of a community or developed by community(ies) that will be impacted, or provide a detailed justification of that omission. We are particularly interested in projects that make connections across disciplines to identify creative solutions through interdisciplinary methods, use experiential learning, and define spatial thinking broadly, which could include tools such as geospatial technologies, maps, data, inquiry-based learning, or innovative technologies or tools (on the low to high tech spectrum) to engage learners (of any age, in any setting) in framing and visualizing data to develop solutions to challenges. Projects do not need to use technology in order to be competitive.
 
Competitive Proposals should include:

  1. Explicit identification of a challenge related to place and an educational solution using spatial thinking that enables people to act on behalf of our planet and its people related to:
    1. At least one of these focus areas: Oceans; Wildlife; Land; Human Histories and Culture; Space; Planetary Health
    2. OR, within the Land focus area, focusing specifically on freshwater availability, quality, and/or sustainability
  2. Sufficient description of the educational basis of the project design (e.g. the learning outcomes, methods, and learners are clearly described and are likely to achieve the proposed goals)
    1. The learning methodologies and activities are clearly outlined.
    2. The learning outcomes are clearly defined.
    3. The learners impacted (i.e. the population receiving the educational solution) are clearly identified, including how they will reach intended learners.
    4. Relevant spatial thinking tools and/or methods are well defined.
  3. Clear articulation of impact goals and, for Level II grants, description of how impact will be measured
  4. Description of how the work is developed by members of a community or co-developed with the community(ies) that will be impacted by the work, or provide a detailed justification of that omission.

Award: Level I is $20,000 USD; Level II is up to $100,000 USD
Funder Deadline: 05 May 2025, pre-application deadline
Contact:  funding@ngs.org and Dr Elizabeth Penner

 

Leverhulme Major Research Fellowship

Summary: For well-established, distinguished researchers in the humanities and social sciences to complete a piece of original research. Fellowships are particularly aimed at those who are or have been prevented by routine duties from completing a programme of original research.
Award: Replacement salary costs for the duration of the Fellowship.
Funder Deadline: 09 May 2025
Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Wellcome Trust Early-Career Awards

Summary: This scheme provides funding for early-career researchers from any discipline who are ready to develop their research identity. The researcher will deliver shifts in understanding that could improve human life, health and wellbeing. By the end of the aware, they will be ready to lead their own independent research programme. Project duration is usually 5 years, but may be less for some disciplines and longer if held on a part-time basis.

Award: Your salary and up to £400,000 for research expenses.

Funder Deadline: 22 May 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Wellcome Trust Career Development Award

Summary: This scheme provides funding for mid-career researchers from any discipline who have the potential to be international research leaders. They will develop their research capabilities, drive innovative programmes of work and deliver significant shifts in understanding that could improve human life, health and wellbeing.
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Award: Provides a salary for the grantholder (if required) and research expenses. Please request for level and duration of funding that's justifiable for your proposed research.

Funder Deadline: 24 July 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

The Big Questions

Summary: Supported by the John Templeton Foundation, The National Geographic Society seeks innovative photography, short film, writing, data visualization and other storytelling proposals to help people consider some of the greatest questions of our time.
 
These projects should in some way work to explore one of the following questions:

  1. What does it mean to be human?
    1. We seek novel approaches to this question, science-driven stories that help us understand our own strange, yet familiar species in a new way.
    2. Stories may investigate human origins, as well as look into the future of human/machine interaction and shifts in human consciousness.
    3. Narratives around experiences of spirituality, family, gender, culture, interaction with the natural world and more.
  2. Curiosity: What are the boundaries of Earth, or more precisely, what are the limits to what we can understand?
    1. Stories will take us to the edges of the physical, scientific, and philosophical world – and beyond. These will be the most ambitious and deeply geographic projects; journeys to the deepest parts of the ocean and the highest heights and – literally and figuratively – to more fully understand the natural world, ourselves and our place in the universe.
  3. Human/Nature: What is the relationship between the human and natural worlds?
    1. Among other topics, areas may include traditional ecological knowledge, wisdom of the natural world (including animal and plant intelligence) and how it shapes progress, evolution, and human flourishing, biomimicry and shared consciousness between the human and natural worlds.
    2. Stories that spark awe and wonder in the cultural and natural world- Humans’ connection to, and reliance on nature – from the science of green space as respite and comfort, to the ways some cultures have historically and still view land as an entity to care for, just as it cares for us.

 
Award: Applicants may request up to $100,000 USD, though it is recommended that if you have five years or less of experience, you request up to $20,000 USD. Budgets of successful proposals will include reasonable, well justified costs directly required to complete the project. Successful applicants may use awarded funds over the course of one year. All applications should explicitly state the plan for evaluating the impact of the proposed work. Applicants may use a portion of the budget for Hostile Environment and First Aid Training (HEFAT) or other security training, if applicable.
Funder Deadline: 24 June 2025
Contact:  funding@ngs.org

 

Wellcome Trust Discovery Awards

Summary: This scheme provides funding for established researchers and teams from any discipline who want to pursue bold and creative research ideas to deliver significant shifts in understanding related to human life, health and wellbeing. 

Research questions should generate knowledge that leads to a shift in understanding or delivers new insight into how human life and health work. We welcome proposals that may have a clinical or societal impact or have translational potential, but the focus should be on discovery research.   

We fund research into the: 

  • fundamental processes that underpin biology, to understand more about how human life works
  • complexities of human health and disease, including clinical and population-based approaches
  • burden of disease and its determinants where this brings new and transformational knowledge
  • development of methodologies, conceptual frameworks, technologies, tools or techniques that could benefit health-related research
  • needs, values and priorities of the people and communities affected by disease and health disparities
  • social, ethical, cultural, political, economic and historical contexts of human health and disease.

Award: The average size of a Discovery Award is £3.5 million. Applications above £5 million will be subject to additional scrutiny. Awards can be up to 8 years, but may be less for some disciplines, and may be longer if held on a part-time basis. The average duration of a Discovery Award is 7 years, although we have supported awards from 3 to 8 years.

Funder Deadline: 29 July 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Large Grant Contribution Fund

Summary: Research grant applications for funding over £1 million for AHSS subject areas can request financial contributions from this fund. Funding may be requested for activities that are complementary to the external funding and contributions from Departments / Schools / Non-school institutions. Activities that add value in the following areas are particularly encouraged: widening participation and inclusion; improving partnerships locally / nationally / internationally; capacity and capability building; working with less advantaged partners. Leveraging funding for existing grant awards is not in the remit of this fund. All applications must include one or more external partners and only applications led by Cambridge PIs are eligible.

Award: Up to 10% of the award value. PI buyout and equipment are not eligible costs for request.

Funder Deadline: Minimum 4 weeks before funder deadline.

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik and Rpc@admin.cam.ac.uk

 

REF Impact Funding

Summary: Internal funding is available from the Research Strategy Office to support the development of the University’s REF impact submission. It is expected that successful applications will fund impact activities that may feed into potential impact case studies only where no other monies are available. Applications will be reviewed by the Impact and Knowledge Exchange Team. 

Submissions may include (but are not restricted to):

  • Support for gathering feedback from public engagement activities
  • Economic health monitoring
  • Surveying/engaging with research users to evaluate impact
  • Independent evaluation of impacts
  • Resource to collate citations in policy documents

Award: Up to £10,000.

Funder Deadline: Rolling basis

Research Facilitation Contact: Please contact your relevant member of the Impact and Knowledge Exchange Team

 

All Council Harmonised IAA Impact Starter Fund Call 2024-2025

Summary: :Impact Starter funding will be available on a rolling basis to fund short-term projects of up to three months duration. Projects are expected to be short, cost-effective ways of kick-starting impact creation from research findings. The Impact Starter Fund will only consider projects that do not qualify for other IAA funding calls.

Award: Varies.

Funder Deadline: Rolling basis

Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Lucy Sheerman

 

Cambridge Humanities Research Grants

Summary: The Cambridge Humanities Research Grants scheme (CHRG) supports research in the arts, humanities and social sciences across the University. The scheme welcomes applications from any independent researcher holding a current contract of employment at the point of application.

The Scheme is designed to enable researchers to conduct small-scale research activities, of the highest quality, that will enable them to bid successfully for larger-scale funding from external sponsors, and/or to generate publications, and/or to contribute materially in other ways towards the research objectives of their home institution.

Applications may be made at any time in the year, for the next available gathered field, with outcomes known approximately six weeks later.
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Award: Tier 1 up to £1,500; Tier 2 between £1,500 and £20,000; Tier 3 between £1,000 and £10,000.

Funder Deadline: 28 April 2025; 16 June 2025

Research Facilitation Contact: GrantsAHSS@admin.cam.ac.uk

 

CRASSH Research Networks

Summary: The Research Networks programme facilitates the exchange of ideas across disciplinary boundaries and allows Cambridge researchers to explore new forms of collaborative work. The programme is open to all academic staff (UTOs/CTOs), postdocs and postgraduate students. Since its inception in 2006, the Research Networks programme has hosted 94 networks. Each runs for a full year, with a programme of seminars, reading groups, workshops and other activities.
 
Network events are free and open to all unless otherwise stated.
 
Award: up to £2,000 per academic year, plus an in-kind contribution in the form of administrative assistance, a platform for virtual and hybrid sessions, and help with running in-person or online events
Funder Deadline: 02 May 2025
Contact: Research Network Programme Manager

 

Returning Carers Scheme

Summary: The Returning Carers Scheme (RCS) is an annual fund which provides awards of up to £10,000 to support employees who can evidence that their career / work-life:

  • Has been, is being, or will be, disrupted owing to taking a break of at least three months or working part-time/reduced hours (equivalent to three months or more).
  • This career break must have taken place within the last three years.
  • Applicants must be able to show how funds provided through this scheme will support their career development and/or enhance their work opportunities.

Award: Requests for funds should not exceed £10,000 in total, based on direct costs
Funder Deadline: 15 May 2025
Contact: returningcarers@admin.cam.ac.uk

 

Collections-based Research in the Humanities

Summary: INT is pleased to offer, through a new two-year pilot scheme funded by Trinity College, small grants of up to £5,000 for collection-based research in the Humanities through modest-sized study sessions and/or workshops of up to two days in Collegiate Cambridge.  Up to eight grants are available in each academic year for two years, starting in 2024-25.
 
Collections, libraries, archives and galleries are the ‘laboratories’ of humanities scholars. Collegiate Cambridge has a wealth of such collections, large and small, as well as collections within collections that may not be well known to scholars or whose research potential is yet to be fully appreciated and realised. While most repositories welcome new research and scholarship of their holdings, they are often limited in supporting such research because of staff shortage or limited funds for conservation.
 
The purpose of this scheme is to promote enhanced engagement with physical items in the collection, so in-person, modest-sized meetings are encouraged. Applications to part-fund a single large international conference are therefore unlikely to succeed.
 
Award: up to £5,000
Funder Deadline: 30 May 2025
Contact: Trust Administrator

 

Cambridge-Africa Researchers Database
Resource 

Researchers from across the University of Cambridge and its affiliated institutes are engaging with the initiatives of the Cambridge-Africa Programme by carrying out collaborative research with African colleagues, and/or supporting African fellows.
 
In order to encourage new collaborations with African researchers and to support African PhD students and post-doctoral fellows, we have built (and are continuously expanding) a database of current and potential Cambridge collaborators and their expertise. The Cambridge researchers listed are either already engaging with, or have indicated their interest in being matched to Africans who have similar research interests. Cambridge researchers who would like to get involved do not need to have a pre-prepared project available, or existing African links, in order to be included in the database. If you would like your details to be included, please complete the (short and painless) registration form.

 

UK Data Service Introductory Training Series: Spring 2025
various dates March to June 2025

 
The UK Data Service provide access to a wide range of social science data for reuse. To help you get the most from these resources, we run a free introductory training series every spring and autumn to introduce different aspects of the UK Data Service.
 
Our training series workshops in spring 2025 are listed below and you can also browse our training and events pages for a full list of what is available.
 

 
Recordings of UK Data Service events are made available on our YouTube channel and, together with the slides, on our past events pages soon after the event has taken place.

 

Cambridge Creative Encounters retrospective
05 April 2025

We challenged our researchers to work with creative professionals to rethink the ways they communicate their research, by means of animation, illustration, poetry, performance, photography, animation and moving image. In this retrospective exhibition, we will revisit poetry and films produced over the last 3 years of the project at All Saints Church. 

University of Cambridge researchers have worked with professionals from the creative arts to bring their research outside of the world of academia through a diverse range of artistic media. The research questions and disciplines are as varied as the creative ways in which they are presented – there will be plenty to reflect on and learn from this thought-provoking event. 

During the event there will be a poetry reading, the chance to watch the films and animations produced during the project, and a panel discussion with some of the artists and researchers involved.
 
The event will take place at All Saints Church, a masterpiece of Victorian architecture richly decorated with hand painted walls and suggestive stained glass windows. The church offers a wonderful backdrop to the creative value that the works showcased will bring. 

Refreshments will be served. 
 
Booking required here https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cambridge-creative-encounters-tickets-1237430962319

For any questions please email Claudia.antolini@admin.cam.ac.uk

 

Apply to observe a Wellcome funding advisory committee
14 April 2025

APPLY HERE.

Wellcome offers the opportunity to observe funding advisory committees. Researchers who are considering applying for Wellcome funding in the next two years can apply to observe a shortlisting committee.

When you’re a committee observer, you can watch how Wellcome assesses grant applications. This can help give you a better understanding of how Wellcome works before you submit your own application. Observers will gain understanding of:

  • how committees use our assessment criteria
  • how different aspects of the application are considered during assessment.

We encourage observers to share their experience with other potential applicants. Observers must not share any sensitive information about the applications they observe.

Being a committee observer doesn’t mean that you will be eligible to apply for a Wellcome grant.

Researchers can apply to be ‘committee observers’ who watch shortlisting meetings for the: 

Observers will attend shortlisting meetings online for half a day, watching the discussion of applications.

 

Venture Building 101
07 May 2025, 13:00 to 17:30 (including lunch)
The Pitt Building, Trumpington Street

Are you looking to start a company or social enterprise? Perhaps you are already working with Cambridge Enterprise on the development of your idea and are considering spinning out a company?

This half-day, interactive, workshop is open to staff and postgraduate students of the University of Cambridge who are considering or are in the process of commercialising their research and expertise. It will provide helpful tools to assist in the process of starting a company or social venture.

The session focusses on the three core pillars of what experience tells us it takes to create a viable spin out: Technology, People and Funding.

Register here

 

Horizon Europe info days - Cluster 4 'Digital, Industry and Space'
13 May 2025, 08:30am, Online
RESIGTER HERE
 
This event aims to inform potential applicants about the funding opportunities within the Work Programme 2025 of the Horizon Europe Cluster 4 ‘Digital, Industry and Space’.
 
Speakers from the European Commission will provide detailed insights into the call topics, evaluation and award processes. Attendees will have the opportunity to pose questions about new developments and learn how to draft successful proposals.
 
Under the pillar II of Horizon Europe, Cluster 4 focuses on Digital, Industry and Space, aiming to deliver on the following 6 Destinations aligned with the Strategic Plan:
 

  • Climate neutral, circular and digitised production
  • Increased autonomy in key strategic value chains for resilient industry
  • World leading data and computing technologies
  • Digital and emerging technologies for competitiveness and fit for the Green Deal
  • Open strategic autonomy in developing, deploying and using global space-based infrastructures, services, applications and data
  • A human-centred and ethical development of digital and industrial technologies

 

Creative Cambridge 2025
15 May 2025, 10:00 to 18:00
Storey's Field Centre, Eddington, Cambridge
 
Our annual conference explores the collaboration and innovation between University research and Cambridge's creative and cultural industries.
 
Cambridge is renowned globally for its contributions to the creative industries, particularly in gaming technology innovations. However, navigating the extensive networks and support services that connect universities and local creative communities can be challenging. This is especially true for freelancers, micro-companies, start-ups, and individual academics or students.
 
This free event is open to anyone interested in developing new collaborations in the creative, cultural and heritage industries in Cambridgeshire or further afield. We aim to have a wonderful mix of academic researchers, innovators, artists and creatives, students, local businesses, cultural institutions, and representatives from the funders and networks who support the creative economy in Cambridge.

 

Humanities Summits 2025
15 & 22 May 2025
REGISTER HERE
 
Our Humanities Summits bring together colleagues from across the UK to discuss the key challenges and opportunities facing the arts and humanities, and to devise new approaches that will shape the future of our disciplines.
 
This year, the summits will focus on the theme of collaboration as a response to the pressures facing the sector. How can we work together more effectively? In what ways might we connect our existing infrastructure and link resources together at a regional and national level? And how do we continue to create opportunities to collaborate with other disciplines and sectors? 
 
The Humanities Summits will provide a critical forum to consider these questions, share ideas and look ahead to future strategic priorities.
 
This year we are holding two summits. Both summits will have a similar programme, so please register for the date and location that is most convenient for you. Lunch and refreshments will be provided.

  • Thursday 15 May, 10:30-16:30, Manchester Museum
  • Thursday 22 May, 10:30-16:30, Senate House, University of London

Find out more and register here: https://www.sas.ac.uk/news-events/events/humanities-summits
 
The event is free to attend.

 

Horizon Europe info days - Cluster 1 'Health'
22 May 2025, 08:00, Online
REGISTER HERE
 
This info day aims to inform (potential) applicants about the topics included in the Cluster 1 'Health' work programme of 2025.

Under the pillar 2 of Horizon Europe, Cluster 1 focuses on Health and aims to deliver on the following six destinations matching the Strategic Plan:

  • Staying healthy in a rapidly changing society
  • Living and working in a health-promoting environment
  • Tackling diseases and reducing disease burden
  • Ensuring access to innovative, sustainable and high-quality health care
  • Unlocking the full potential of new tools, technologies and digital solutions for a healthy society
  • Maintaining an innovative, sustainable and globally competitive health-related industry

 

Horizon Europe - Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Networks 2025 - Call info day
24 June 2025, 8:30 UK time
Online [REGISTER HERE]

Aim of the event

  • Inform all potential applicants and stakeholders about the key aspects of the MSCA-DN-2025 call for proposals
  • Promote the Industrial Doctorate and Joint Doctorate modes and present the main incentives

Who should attend?
This is an information event for anyone interested in the MSCA-DN-2025 call for proposals which will open on 28 May 2025.

Programme outline
The Doctoral Networks are a key part of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions under the Framework Programme Horizon Europe. There are three different implementation modes: Standard Doctoral Networks (DNs), Joint Doctorates (JDs) and Industrial Doctorates (IDs).

The MSCA 2025 Call Info event aims at informing all potential applicants and stakeholders about all important requirements for 2025 and promoting the ID and JD modes. The participants will have the opportunity to raise their questions through Slido, in advance of the event (as of 29 May 2025) and during the Q&A session of the event.

It will be an online event, which will be opened with a welcome address and some introductory remarks, followed by the main presentation of the DN-2025 call. After a short coffee-break, a live Q&A session will take place through Slido.

AHSS Bulletin March 2025

AHSS Research and Impact Facilitation Bulletin

March 2025

If you want to discuss funding opportunities or you are working on an application for research funding and would like feedback on a draft, please do contact the School’s Research Facilitators – Anna Cieslik (UK Funding) and Elizabeth Penner (EU/International Funding).  For Impact related queries please contact Lucy Sheerman (Impact Facilitator).

You can find more information on the AHSS Research Website, search our External Funding Deadline Calendar and look at Previous Bulletins.  We are also now on Twitter! Follow us for updates on funding calls and information sessions.

UK Research Council Funding

P2R: increasing UK policymaker engagement with research (06 May 2025) ESRC

P2R: increasing UK policymaker engagement with research (06 May 2025) ESRC

EU Funding

 

Charity Funding

 

Internal Funding

Training

ESRC Postdoctoral Fellowship

Summary: The scheme is aimed at providing a career development opportunity for those in the immediately postdoctoral stage of their career, to provide the opportunity to consolidate their PhD through developing publications, their networks, and their research and professional skills.

For the majority this is likely to be a research career in academia; however, those with a clearly articulated programme of activities to support their transition to a research career outside of academia (eg a researcher in public, private, or civil society organisations) will also be considered.

The grants provide funding for up to one year full-time, or up to two years part-time to give fellows time to prepare for a successful career in research either within or beyond academia.

Fellowships must start of 1 October 2024.

Award: Fellow's salary and up to £10,000 for all other costs (to include costs such as mentoring costs, travel and subsistence, conference attendance, training, and fieldwork, for example).
Deadline: 21 March 2024 (Cambridge internal deadline); 16 May 2024 (funder deadline)
Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

The UKRI Ayrton challenge programme, outline

Summary: Work funded will span the Ayrton Fund themes: Low Carbon Supplies, Super-Efficient Demand, and Smart Delivery. The programme will target the Ayrton thematic challenges including:

  • next generation solar
  • zero-emissions generators
  • sustainable cooling for all
  • modern cooking
  • energy efficiency
  • industrial decarbonisation
  • clean transport
  • smart energy systems
  • energy storage
  • clean hydrogen
  • critical minerals
  • inclusive energy and leave no-one behind

The Ayrton challenge programme will fund interdisciplinary research projects helping to drive forward the clean energy transition in developing countries, by developing both innovative technologies and the knowledge needed to enable delivery of long-term sustainable change.

Projects will contribute to meeting the United Nations(UN) Sustainable Development Goals 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), or 13 (Climate Action) and lead to climate change mitigation in developing countries.

Award: Between £2 million and £4 million.
Deadline: 09 April 2024
Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Arts and humanities-led research commercialisation

Summary: This funding opportunity seeks to encourage innovative applications for enhancing inclusive engagement with research funded by UKRI through the application of arts and humanities-led methodologies in a commercial context. We are looking to build a portfolio of research commercialisation activities involving a wide variety of collaborations across a diverse range of stakeholders and partners including public, private and third sector organisations, the general public, and community groups. The outcomes and impacts of this funding opportunity will influence the development of future AHRC commercialisation programmes.
Award: £50,000
Deadline: 10 April 2024
Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Transforming data collections infrastructure for the social sciences

Summary: This funding opportunity aims to support innovative and ambitious initiatives with the potential to transform foundational social science data infrastructure, through the development of data collections generated specifically for research purposes. For more detail, see the ‘Scope’ section.

Applications are invited in any disciplinary areas of social and economic science (please also see the remit requirement for ESRC funding) under one or both of the following themes:

  • theme A: Initial scoping for a larger project to establish transformational data collection infrastructure, broadly defined
  • theme B: Facilitating development of innovative data collection methods that offer an alternative to mainstream survey approaches

Funding is available for up to 12 months. Projects can start from 1 June 2024 but must be completed by 30 June 2025. 

Award: Between £50,000 and £350,000 funded at 80% fEC.
Deadline: 16 April 2024
Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

UK-Germany Bilateral: Collaborative R&D Round 3

Summary: Innovate UK has announced the UK – Germany Bilateral: Collaborative R&D Round 3 call. In partnership with The German Federal Ministry For Economic Affairs And Climate Action (BMWK), Innovate is investing up to £4 million in innovation projects.

The aim of this competition is to enhance UK and German collaborations and capabilities in emerging fields of technology in our society. These fields of emerging technologies include but are not limited to: quantum, AI, semiconductor applications, engineering biology, future telecommunications, green technologies. There must be a clear route to market within 2 to 3 years of project completion. The UK side of the bid must be led by a UK registered business and the bid must involve at least one German registered small to medium sized enterprise (SME). UK partners' grant funding request must not exceed £500,000 in total. For more on the categories of research and development which Innovate UK fund, see here. 

For more information about the scheme, please visit the call page.  

University Internal selection:  

Institutions can collaborate on a maximum of 3 applications. Therefore, this call will be managed according to the University’s restricted calls procedure.

To take part in the internal selection, please complete our online form by 16th April (NB: if asked to log-in, please use your crsid/Raven details; note that a Form cannot be saved and returned to).  

You will need the following documents and information to complete the Form:  

  • a project summary that demonstrates what makes your project innovative, its impact, and how it fits the scope of the scheme
  • head of department support letter confirming the department is happy to host the grant
  • list of UK and German partners, including the lead UK business and German lead SME. 

Internal Assessment Criteria: 

Please note that the assessment of internal applications will focus on the following core funder criteria: 

  • Criterion 1: Fit to scope: how well does the project fit the scope of the competition? 
  • Criterion 2: Innovation: what is the technological challenge? What approach will be taken? And where will the focus of innovation be? 
  • Criterion 3: Impact:  What impact might this project have outside the project team, economically and socially?

Funder deadline: 3rd June, 2024.  

If you have any queries, please don’t hesitate to contact us at researchstrategy@admin.cam.ac.uk  

Award: Up to £500,000.
Deadline: 16 April 2024 (restricted call deadline); 3 June 2024 (funder deadline)
Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

ACCESS Flexible Fund Round 2

Summary: We are looking to make three awards to projects that contribute to the ACCESS project's main goal to enhance the visibility, use and impact of climate and environmental social science. Projects will be expected to deliver at least TWO of the following outcomes:

  • New ideas or frameworks
  • New methods of translating evidence or insights (e.g. communication tools)
  • New networks
  • Development of new skills of capacities
  • Increased use of social science amongst specific target groups, for example people in diverse sectors (business/industry, civil society, public sector, journalists and media actors) or non-social scientist disciplinary experts (e.g. natural scientists, engineering and physical scientists).

Applications to Round 2 must have an early career researcher on the project team, either playing a Principal Investigator (Project Lead) or Co-Investigator role.
Award: Between £200,000 and £240,000 funded at 100% fEC for projects up to 2 years in duration.
Deadline: 26 April 2024
Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

AHRC Innovation Scholars secondments in design: second round

Summary: Apply for funding to develop your skills and exchange knowledge through the UKRI Innovation Scholars programme. This secondment opportunity is focused on design. For this AHRC opportunity, the aim is to enhance the skills and careers of individuals in design research and innovation. This will be achieved through funding individual secondments focused on research and innovation, with networking events for the secondees.

You must have a desire to proactively engage with design and the motivation to work within it. Interdisciplinary secondment proposals as well as practice-based ones will be welcomed.

Your secondment is expected to:

  • boost your skills, knowledge, networking opportunities and therefore career development
  • intensify knowledge exchange and create porosity between different sectors, resulting in innovative outputs
  • bring benefits to your host organisation
  • add value to the design sector and the UK economy

Projects can last between six months and 36 months and can be full or part-time, or hybrid (a combination of part-time and full-time).

Award: Up to £200,000 funded at 100% for eligible salary, travel and subsistence costs.
Deadline: 30 April 2024
Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

AHRC Catalyst Awards

Summary: Catalyst awards support researchers without prior experience of leading a significant research project to accelerate their trajectory as independent researchers, unlocking their potential and building leadership and convenor experience through the delivery of ambitious or complex projects.

The scheme takes a people-centred approach with funding available to support the development of researchers and their research ideas. It is flexible, and applications are welcomed from teams, networks and solo researchers.

Development is at the core of this scheme; projects must clearly articulate how the funding will contribute to the development of all those involved through the way that the project has been designed and will be managed, with appropriate support structures in place.

Award: Between £100,000 and £300,000 funded at 80% fEC.
Deadline: 30 April 2024
Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

AHRC Curiosity Award

Summary: Curiosity awards support early-stage ambitious and novel fundamental research which has the potential to act as a springboard towards new and exciting research agendas.

The funding opportunity celebrates the full diversity of the arts and humanities. It is flexible, and applications are welcomed from teams, networks, and solo researchers.

Projects can be single discipline, interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary, and transdisciplinary. The majority of the disciplinary focus of the project must fall within our subject remit; see section seven of the AHRC research funding guide for our remit coverage. Practice-based and practice-led research is supported by this funding opportunity.

Award: Up to £100,000 funded at 80% fEC.
Deadline: 30 April 2024
Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Amazon +10 Initiative: research expeditions to the Amazon

Summary: The funding opportunity aims to support research and technological development in Legal Amazonia, focusing on a deeper understanding of nature-society interactions for sustainable and inclusive development in the region.

We welcome multidisciplinary applications that span the remits of NERC and AHRC though it is not a requirement for funding. Details of the topics we cover can be found on the NERC and AHRC websites.

We invite applications that address the following funding opportunity objectives:

  • support the organisation of scientific expeditions aimed at expanding our knowledge about biodiversity or socio-cultural diversity in the Amazon
  • build institutional research partnerships between organisations in the Amazon and outside the region, and connect researchers with different affiliations
  • foster the strengthening of local research infrastructure and training of professionals in taxonomy, systematics, museology and ethnobiology, under the coordination of teams based in the Amazon
  • encourage scientific research in remote and understudied parts of the Amazon
  • encourage scientific research that proposes ways to surmount the challenges of studying less well-known and less studied taxonomic groups
  • encourage co-creation of applications with traditional knowledge holders from local indigenous peoples, quilombolas, and riparian communities
  • promote activities involving education, popularisation and scientific diffusion to different kinds of audience in all sectors of society, and involving specialists, groups and institutions engaged in formal and non-formal education (for example schools, extension units, museums, science centres, zoos, botanic gardens, aquariums, conservation unit visitor centres and non-governmental organisations)

Award: Up to £1 million for the UKRI component of collaborative projects with Brazilian partners. We will fund 80% of the full economic cost for UK organisation costs. We encourage applications of different sizes. The duration of this award is up to three years. Projects must start by 1 November 2024.
Deadline: 30 April 2024
Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Elizabeth Penner

 

ADR UK research fellowships

Summary: ADR UK (Administrative Data Research UK) invites applications for Research Fellowships to conduct research and analysis demonstrating the policy impact potential of ADR England flagship datasets. These datasets are held within the Office for National Statistics (ONS) Secure Research Service or other ADR UK trusted research environments

We are looking for fellowship proposals that meet the following four objectives:

  • useful research: proposals that will act as ‘pathfinders’ for conducting research and deriving insights from the dataset, and which showcase the potential for policy impact and public benefit
  • useful data: proposals that will develop the data as a useful research resource for future users
  • useful engagement: proposals that will foster opportunities between academia, government, the voluntary and community sector, and the public to allow fresh thinking to flourish and maintain public acceptance of the use of data for research purposes
  • community building: proposals that will greatly boost the applicant’s development as a research leader in their field and include activities promoting the development of a wider community around a particular dataset or theme

Award: Up to £200,000 funded at 80% fEC. Fellowship can last up to 18 months in duration and must begin by 15 October 2024.
Deadline: 30 April 2024
Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

UKRI NSF-SBE Lead Agency, round 2

Summary: We're looking for individual researchers with proposals for well-defined collaborative research projects. However, you may include elements of individual research if you can show how this will add value.

Collaborations can involve:

  • a single institution or a combination of institutions
  • researchers working in different research areas
  • disciplines within the arts and humanities, or between an arts and humanities discipline and another subject area. In such collaborations the arts and humanities element of the project should lead in shaping the research questions, methods and so on
  • researchers working in other sectors
  • researchers based abroad

The proposed collaboration should be appropriate for the specific needs of the research project.

We expect the project lead and any project co-leads to devote an average of at least four hours per week to the project.

Award: Between £300,000 and £1.5 million fEC for the UK hosted element of the project. AHRC will fund 80% fEC. The maximum duration of this award is five years.
Deadline: 27 June 2024
Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Elizabeth Penner

 

Collaborate with researchers in Luxembourg, round 2

Summary: This funding opportunity funds work with researchers in Luxembourg. Collaborative work is governed by an agreement between UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and Fonds National de la Recherche (FNR).

You can submit collaborative research proposals in any area of arts and humanities within the remit of both Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and FNR.

Award: Between £300,000 and £1.5 million fEC for the UK hosted element of the project. AHRC will fund 80% fEC. The maximum duration of this award is five years.
Deadline: 27 June 2024
Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Elizabeth Penner

 

Working with Brazilian Researchers, round 2

Summary: You can apply to work with overseas researchers in the State of São Paulo, Brazil.

Collaborative work is governed by an agreement between UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and State of São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP).

Submit a collaborative research proposal in any area of the arts and humanities within the remit of Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and FAPESP.

Award: Between £300,000 and £1.5 million fEC for the UK hosted element of the project. AHRC will fund 80% fEC. The maximum duration of this award is five years.
Deadline: 27 June 2024
Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Elizabeth Penner

 

Horizon Europe Update: UK Eligibility Update

Horizon Europe Work Programme 2023 (and previous years)
Successful UK applicants to calls under the Horizon Europe Work Programme 2023 (and previous years) will be funded under the UKRI Guarantee Funding. This Guarantee Funding has recently been extended to cover successful applications made by UK-based businesses and researchers to calls under the Horizon Europe 2021, 2022 or 2023 work programmes. 
 
Horizon Europe 2024 Work Programme Calls
Successful UK applicants will be funded by the EU, under the Horizon Europe Programme.
Updates on Association: Please visit the Research Operation Office’s EU pages. 

 

Horizon Europe Main Work Programme

This PDF offers further details on calls relevant to SAHSS.  This list is not exhaustive so please refer the Horizon Europe Portal for full details. UKRO also have some very useful Factsheets that outline the thematic clusters that make up the three pillars of research support offered.
 
Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Elizabeth Penner
  
Highlighted notices:
Radicalisation and gender
HORIZON-CL3-2024-FCT-01-04
Deadline: 20 November 2024

Combating hate speech online and offline
HORIZON-CL3-2024-FCT-01-05
Deadline: 20 November 2024

Digital solutions to foster participative design, planning and management of buildings, neighbourhoods and urban districts (Built4People Partnership)
HORIZON-CL5-2024-D4-02-05
Deadline: 21 January 2025

 

Proof of Concept Grant

Summary: The ERC Proof of Concept Grants aim at facilitating exploration of the commercial and social innovation potential of ERC funded research, by funding further work (i.e. activities which were not scheduled to be funded by the original ERC frontier research grant) to verify the innovation potential of ideas arising from ERC funded projects. Proof of Concept Grants are therefore on offer only to Principal Investigators whose proposals draw substantially on their ERC funded research.
Award: up to € 150,000 for a period of 18 months.
Deadline: 17 September 2024 (tentative deadline)
Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Elizabeth Penner

 

ERC Advanced Grant

Summary: The ERC Advanced Grant is for established research leaders with a recognised track record of research achievements in the last 10 years. PIs should be exceptional leaders in terms of originality and significance of their research contributions.
Award: € 2.5 million for a period of 5 years. An additional € 1 million can be requested to cover start-up costs, the purchase of major equipment and/or access to large facilities.
Deadline: 29 August 2024, tentative deadline
Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Elizabeth Penner

 

ERC Starting Grant

Summary: ERC grants support projects carried out by an individual researcher who can employ researchers of any nationality as team members. It is also possible to have one or more team members located in a non-European country. Researchers of any nationality with 2-7 years of experience since completion of PhD, a scientific track record showing great promise and an excellent research proposal can apply.
Award: € 1.5 million for a period of 5 years (pro-rata for project of shorter duration). An additional € 1 million can be requested to cover start-up costs, the purchase of major equipment and/or access to large facilities.
Deadline: TBA November 2024, tentative deadline
Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Elizabeth Penner

 

British Academy ODA Challenge-Oriented Research Grants 2024

Summary: The British Academy is inviting proposals on specific global challenges from researchers based in the UK, Brazil, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, Philippines, South Africa, Turkey, Thailand, Vietnam and/or Least Developed Countries.

The aim of this call is to support ODA-eligible international research collaborations between humanities and social sciences researchers in the UK and researchers in Brazil, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, Philippines, South Africa, Turkey, Thailand, Vietnam and/or Least Developed Countries on the following themes:

The Academy wishes to support diverse policy-relevant thinking related to these challenges. The Academy does not have any pre-determined ideas regarding the exact type of project, outputs, and dissemination of the research other than that it must be policy-relevant.

Applications must demonstrate a dedicated focus on Brazil, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, Philippines, South Africa, Turkey, Thailand, Vietnam and/or Least Developed Countries.

Award: Up to £200,000 for 18 months in duration with Full Economic Costing (FEC) at 80%.
Deadline: 10 April 2024
Facilitation Contact: Dr Elizabeth Penner

 

Wellcome Trust Career Development Awards

Summary: This scheme provides funding for mid-career researchers from any discipline who have the potential to be international research leaders. They will develop their research capabilities, drive innovative programmes of work and deliver significant shifts in understanding that could improve human life, health and wellbeing.
Award: Provides a salary for the grantholder (if required) and research expenses. Please request for level and duration of funding that's justifiable for your proposed research.
Deadline: 11 April 2024
Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Wellcome Trust Discovery Awards

Summary: This scheme provides funding for established researchers and teams from any discipline who want to pursue bold and creative research ideas to deliver significant shifts in understanding that could improve human life, health and wellbeing. The award usually lasts for 8 years, but may be less for some disciplines, such as humanities and social science.
Award: Limit not specified. It is expected that the PI requests an amount that is appropriate to the project.
Deadline: 16 April 2024
Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

British Council International Collaboration Grant

Summary: Our International Collaboration Grants encourage new bilateral and multilateral partnerships, providing funding to enable organisations to make and develop creative artwork with their international peers, and help individual artists find innovative ways of collaborating.  

Applications must demonstrate genuine international collaboration and deliver explicit benefit to participating UK artists and organisations and their international partners. Projects can address any theme and we ask applicants to share their approach to diversity, inclusion and environmental sustainability in the delivery of their project. 

Each project should include at least one UK-based organisation and one organisation based in the countries listed below as part of the partnership.

Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Bangladesh, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Brazil, Mainland China, Colombia, Cuba, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kosovo, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Montenegro, Mexico, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Occupied Palestinian Territories, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Serbia, Senegal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Syria, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen and Zimbabwe.

Award: Between £25,000 and £75,000.
Deadline: 30 April 2024
Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Elizabeth Penner

 

Leverhulme Visiting Professorship

Summary: For UK institutions to invite an eminent senior professor from overseas, to bring genuinely novel expertise and enhance the skills and knowledge of academic staff and students in an underrepresented area in the UK. Priority will be given to new or recent collaborations and visits with a variety of activities beyond research.
Award: Applications are invited for a minimum of £10,000 and a maximum of £150,000.
Deadline: 02 May 2024
Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Leverhulme Major Research Fellowship

Summary: For well-established, distinguished researchers in the humanities and social sciences to complete a piece of original research

Fellowships are particularly aimed at those who are or have been prevented by routine duties from completing a programme of original research.

Award: Replacement salary costs for duration of fellowship.
Deadline: 10 May 2024
Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

British Academy Small Grants

Summary: All applications should demonstrate that Academy funds are sought for a clearly defined, discrete piece of research, which will have an identifiable outcome on completion of the Academy-funded component of the research.
Award: Up to £10,000 for projects between 1 and 24 months in duration.
Deadline: 05 June 2024
Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Leverhulme Trust Research Centres

Summary: For UK universities to set up a Leverhulme Research Centre for outstanding original research aspiring to achieve a step-change in scholarship

The Trust aims to encourage new approaches that may establish or reshape a field of study and so transform our understanding of a significant contemporary topic.

Given the Trust’s commitment to multiple existing research centres at Cambridge, the Trust is excluding Cambridge as a lead institution in the upcoming round of competition. *Cambridge may still partner in applications led by other universities.

Award: Up to £10,000,000 for 10 years.
Deadline: 07 June 2024
Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik

 

Large Grant Contribution Fund

Summary: Research grant applications for funding over £1 million for AHSS subject areas can request financial contributions from this fund. Funding may be requested for activities that are complementary to the external funding and contributions from Departments / Schools / Non-school institutions. Activities that add value in the following areas are particularly encouraged: widening participation and inclusion; improving partnerships locally / nationally / internationally; capacity and capability building; working with less advantaged partners. Leveraging funding for existing grant awards is not in the remit of this fund. All applications must include one or more external partners and only applications led by Cambridge PIs are eligible.
Award: Up to 10% of the award value. PI buyout and equipment are not eligible costs for request.
Deadline: Minimum 4 weeks before funder deadline.
Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Anna Cieslik and Rpc@admin.cam.ac.uk

 

REF Impact Funding

Summary: Internal funding is available from the Research Strategy Office to support the development of the University’s REF impact submission. It is expected that successful applications will fund impact activities that may feed into potential impact case studies only where no other monies are available. Applications will be reviewed by the Impact and Knowledge Exchange Team. 

Submissions may include (but are not restricted to):

  • Support for gathering feedback from public engagement activities
  • Economic health monitoring
  • Surveying/engaging with research users to evaluate impact
  • Independent evaluation of impacts
  • Resource to collate citations in policy documents

Award: Up to £10,000.
Deadline: Rolling basis
Research Facilitation Contact: Please contact your relevant member of the Impact and Knowledge Exchange Team.

 

All-Council Rapid Response Impact Acceleration Account Call

Summary: The All-Council Rapid Response Impact Acceleration Account Call is now open to support a wide range of impact activities when researchers are confronted by time-sensitive opportunities or need to test new ideas quickly. This call supports interdisciplinary projects, open to PIs and ECRs with PIs as co-applicants.

Proposed projects must support ‘on the ground’ impact and knowledge exchange activities, which enable researchers at all levels to engage with the public, private and third sectors, and provides a sustainable support structure within the University to promote wider and more effective engagement with external non-academic organisations.Project can be up to three months in duration.

Award: Up to £15,000 per application.
Deadline: Rolling basis
Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Lucy Sheerman

 

AHRC IAA Knowledge Exchange Fellowship Scheme

Summary: The AHRC IAA Knowledge Exchange Fellowship Scheme promotes strategic partnerships with non-HEI organisations across the arts and humanities at the University of Cambridge. The fund supports partnership building with specific organisations such as (but not limited to) museums, theatres, social enterprises, NGOs, and government departments. Funds are available for a range of activities including teaching replacement costs, costs for incoming fellowships from the partner organisation, postdoctoral or administrative support, travel and subsistence expenses, and workshops. The scheme aims to allow researchers to create new partnerships with external entities more generally, collaboratively shape research agendas, contribute to future research funding applications (including match-funding for studentships in the DTPs), and further facilitate impact generating activities.

Award: Up to £20,000 cover 100% of directly incurred costs.
Deadline: Rolling basis
Research Facilitation Contact: Dr Lucy Sheerman

 

Cambridge Humanities Research Grants

Summary: The Cambridge Humanities Research Grants scheme (CHRG) supports research in the arts, humanities and social sciences across the University. The scheme welcomes applications from any independent researcher holding a current contract of employment at the point of application.

The Scheme is designed to enable researchers to conduct small-scale research activities, of the highest quality, that will enable them to bid successfully for larger-scale funding from external sponsors, and/or to generate publications, and/or to contribute materially in other ways towards the research objectives of their home institution.

Applications may be made at any time in the year, for the next available gathered field, with outcomes known approximately six weeks later. 

Award: varies depending on scheme between £1,500 and £20,000
Deadline: 25 March 2024
Contact: AHSS Research Strategy at: AHSSresearchstrategy@admin.cam.ac.uk

 

Returning Carers' Scheme

Summary: The latest round of the University’s Returning Carers’ Scheme is now open for applications until 4 April 2024. The fund provides grants of up to £10,000 to support employees who have taken a career break or a period of leave for caring responsibilities. Full details, including the eligibility criteria, examples of what the grant can be used for and how to apply can be found on the HR website.

Award: Up to £10,000
Deadline: 04 April 2024
Contact: returningcarers@admin.cam.ac.uk

 

RD Enhanced Funding

Summary: The applications for this term’s RD Enhanced Funding are now open. This fund is intended to enable Schools, Faculties and Departments to deliver Researcher Development events and programmes for their PhD students and postdocs. 
 
The application round for this Term is now open and can be found here: Enhanced Funding Application.  Applications will be accepted until midnight on Monday 8 April.

You can read more about the RD Enhanced Funding scheme, guidance, and application process on our website.
 Please note:

  • A copy of the application questions can be viewed on our website 
  • The deadline for receipt of applications is midnight on the 8 April
  • Successful applicants will have 12 months to spend awarded funds. 
  • Individual researchers are not eligible to apply for Enhanced Funding 
  • A short evaluation will be requested from all successful applicants (more information and evaluation form you can find on the website).

Award: varies
Deadline: 08 April 2024
Contact: researcher.development@admin.cam.ac.uk

 

Registrations for European Research and Innovation Week 2024

registration open
event dates: 18 to 21 March 2024, Brussels

Registrations are now open for the EC’s annual flagship Research and Innovation event which will take place between 18th – 21st March 2024 in Belgium. This event brings together policymakers, researchers and entrepreneurs for debates, workshops and networking opportunities. For further details including the programme and registration, please go to the European Commission website.

 

Towards a National Collection: Designing and Co-Designing Experiences for Digital Collections

06 March 2024, 2:00-3:30pm
Online

This Towards a National Collection (TaNC) webinar provides a platform for researchers from our Unpath’d Waters and Our Heritage, Our Stories Discovery Projects to share unique insights into co-designing virtual reality environments, transcribing co-design, working with community generated digital content (CGDC) and more.

  • Jonathan Combey, Royal Museums Greenwich: To err is human: Transcription accuracy in co-design
  • Ashleigh Hawkins, The National Archives: The UK General Data Protection Regulation and the re-use of community generated digital content (CGDC): Capturing the people of today in the cultural heritage data of tomorrow
  • Scott Carballo, Glasgow School of Art: Unpath’d Waters: The co-design of the Unpath Navigator

 

Ideas Incubator Final Event

08 March 2024, 15:45 - 18:30
Hauser Forum, 3 Charles Babbage Road, Cambridge CB3 0GT

To conclude our second edition of the CRoSS Ideas Incubator, we invite you to “Pitch In!” as part of a welcoming and constructive audience for our outstanding teams.
 
Our Ideas Incubator programme focuses on research-based social innovations from the University of Cambridge. It has been invigorating to support 13 exciting teams from across the social sciences as they ramp up their ambitions, design and refine their plans, develop entrepreneurial skills and make meaningful connections to the Cambridge ecosystem.
 
Will you join us to give these teams a boost as they enter Cambridge’s wider innovation community?
 
We are asking our audience to join us in the spirit of “Pitching In” – whether through your feedback, introductions, support, mentoring, funding or encouragement. Help us to transform these ideas into high-impact products, services and ventures.
 
Any questions?
If you have any questions about this event, please contact ahss@enterprise.cam.ac.uk.
 
Register

 

 

Towards a National Collection: Language & Access. Machine Learning for Digital Collections

13 March 2024, 2:00 - 3:30pm
Online

This Towards a National Collection (TaNC) webinar will explore how machine learning technologies may enhance discoverability of digital collection content and contribute to a better understanding of biased language, bringing together researchers from two of our Discovery Projects, Our Heritage, Our Stories and Transforming Collections.

  • Tehmina Goskar, Decolonising Arts Institute, UAL: Learning the biased languages of benevolence, equity and the machine
  • Youcef Benkhedda, University of Manchester: Unlocking community-generated digital content: enhancing discoverability with advanced NLP and knowledge graphs

The webinar will begin with Tehmina Goskar, discussing her collaboration with the Creative Computing Institute to experiment with machine learning to better understand biased languages of benevolence and equity in organisational texts of public art collections, and how this might inform long-standing and systemic concerns about bias and discrimination. Youcef Benkhedda will talk about cutting-edge natural language processing (NLP) techniques and how they may be used to enhance the discoverability of community-generated digital content (CGDC) in digital collections. There will then be an open Q&A session.

 

Towards a National Collection Project Webinar: Heritage Data Practices & Decentralisation

19 March 2024, 2:00 - 3:30pm
Online

This Towards a National Collection (TaNC) webinar will focus on navigating responsible data practices and decentralization in digital cultural heritage, bringing together researchers from two of our Discovery Projects, The Congruence Engine and The Sloane Lab.

  • Foteini Valeonti, University College London: Decentralising Digital Humanities
  • Anna-Maria Sichani, University of London: From collections-as-data to responsible data: data-driven approaches and ethics in digital cultural heritage

The webinar will begin with Foteini Valeonti, discussing a synthesis of web3-related technologies for digital humanities infrastructures, exploring opportunities of decentralisation and open access data storage, as well as associated risks and challenges. Anna-Maria Sichani will talk about data-related infrastructure requirements in cultural heritage institutions, exploring data-specific issues, from legacy and inconsistent datasets’ descriptions, resistance to standardisation to hidden bias and positionality in various data-related processes.

 

Ideas to reality - Spring 2024 Programme

26 March – 13 June 2024
If you are an academic, researcher or PhD student based within the University of Cambridge, and would like to learn more about how to commercialise the outcome of your research or how to use your existing skills and resources to make an impact, this is the place to start!
 
The programme focuses on the different routes to commercialisation open to you, including using your expertise as a consultant, collaborating with external companies, and creating a new company or social enterprise.

Related links: 
Research Professional: a powerful search tool to help you find exactly the funding opportunities and news articles that interest

Contacts

Anna Cieslik (UK Funding)

Elizabeth Penner (EU/International Funding)

Andrea Salter (Research Strategy Manager and AHSS REF Lead)

Allison Ksiazkiewicz (General Inquires)

 

AHSS Research and Impact Facilitation Bulletin

Each monthly issue provides updates on the latest funding opportunities and training events.

SUBSCRIBE HERE

 

Upcoming Events & Training

 

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