Grant opportunity
ESRC Applicant-led Challenge Awards
£2 million–£10 million large-scale challenge awards; projects up to five years.
- Funder
- ESRC / UKRI
- Published 8 Sep 2026; opens early 2027
- Published 8 Sep 2026; opens early 2027
- Award
- £2 million–£10 million large-scale challenge awards; projects up to five years.
- Applicant
- United Kingdom
- Discipline
- Cross-disciplinary Research and Innovation
- Region
- United Kingdom
- Posted
- Sep 14, 2026
Call summary
Overview
ESRC Applicant-led Challenge Awards is a pre-announced research grant from ESRC / UKRI. £2 million–£10 million large-scale challenge awards; projects up to five years. It focuses on Social science; major societal challenges; large programmes and is relevant to United Kingdom.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants and locations: United Kingdom. Confirm any institutional, citizenship, career-stage and partnership requirements on the official call page.
What it supports
- Social science; major societal challenges; large programmes
- Pre-announced Research Grant
- United Kingdom
Funding and duration
- £2 million–£10 million large-scale challenge awards; projects up to five years.
Published 8 Sep 2026; opens early 2027
Published 8 Sep 2026; opens early 2027
How to apply
Open the official call page, confirm the current requirements and deadline time zone, prepare the requested documents and submit through the funder or organiser's stated route.
Call details
Source-based overview
ESRC Applicant-led Challenge Awards is a pre-announced research grant from ESRC / UKRI. £2 million–£10 million large-scale challenge awards; projects up to five years. It focuses on Social science; major societal challenges; large programmes and is relevant to United Kingdom. The recorded deadline or key date is Published 8 Sep 2026; opens early 2027. Applicants should review the official page for the complete eligibility rules, required documents, assessment criteria, funding conditions, deadline time zone and submission route.
Eligibility
Eligible applicants and locations: United Kingdom. Confirm any institutional, citizenship, career-stage and partnership requirements on the official call page.
Funding and benefits
£2 million–£10 million large-scale challenge awards; projects up to five years.
Themes and supported activities
Social science; major societal challenges; large programmes
Pre-announced Research Grant
United Kingdom
Deadline and timeline
Published 8 Sep 2026; opens early 2027: Published 8 Sep 2026; opens early 2027.
Applicants should confirm the exact deadline time, time zone, required documents, portal steps and any institutional approvals on the official call page before submitting.
How to apply
Open the official call page, confirm the current requirements and deadline time zone, prepare the requested documents and submit through the funder or organiser's stated route.
Before applying, check eligibility rules, budgets, attachments, page limits, partner requirements, cost-share conditions and whether the opportunity uses an expression of interest, full proposal, registration or nomination stage.