ESRC responsive mode: new investigator grants round two
Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) · United Kingdom
Funding scheme designed to support early career researchers in becoming independent researchers by giving them the opportunity to lead research projects and manage research teams.
Summary
Deadline
Rolling
Complexity
Medium
Time to apply
20-60 hours
Updated
9 Jun 2026
Funding scheme designed to support early career researchers in becoming independent researchers by giving them the opportunity to lead research projects and manage research teams.
Eligibility
Applicant types
Research
Business size
Research organisation
Industries
Social sciences and interdisciplinary research where social science represents more than 50% of the project focus.
Match funding
Not required
Requirements
Early career researchers who are transitioning toward becoming independent researchers and who are based at an eligible UK research organisation. The project lead must be based at an organisation eligible for ESRC funding for the duration of the project. Standard research projects, methodological development, large-scale surveys, and infrastructure projects such as datasets, linguistic corpora ...
Eligible applicants
Early career researchers who are transitioning toward becoming independent researchers and who are based at an eligible UK research organisation.
Funding and scope
Benefit amount
£100,000 to £350,000 (full economic cost)
Total fund available
Not specified
Funding intensity
80% of Full Economic Cost (FEC).
Payment type
Grant (typically 80% FEC in arrears)
Eligible scope
Standard research projects, methodological development, large-scale surveys, and infrastructure projects such as datasets, linguistic corpora or classification of social science information.
Eligible expenses
- Staff salaries, research costs, travel and subsistence, equipment and infrastructure necessary for the project, and other justified project resources.
Ineligible costs
- Costs not eligible under UKRI FEC and ESRC funding opportunity terms.
Application and risks
Application platform
UKRI Funding Service
Competitiveness
Open (Rolling assessment)
Decision timeline
Applications are assessed on a rolling basis with regular decision points.
Assessment process
Applications undergo independent peer review followed by panel assessment where proposals are ranked and funding recommendations are made.
Application sections
- Summary, core team details, vision, research approach, applicant capability (R4RI), ethics and responsible research, data management and sharing, facilities, resources and cost justification, research environment support, mentor statement and project partner contributions.
Application components
Not specified
Decision risks
Applications may be rejected if the project lead is not an early career researcher, if the proposal falls outside ESRC remit, or if eligibility requirements are not met.
Timeline and partners
Opening date
Not specified
Project duration
Up to 5 years (60 months)
Project start
Not specified
Project end
Not specified
Co-funders
Not specified
Collaboration rules
- Project co-leads are permitted, including those from interdisciplinary fields or organisations providing essential expertise.
- International collaborators may participate as project co-leads, but the project lead must be based at a UK research organisation.
Consortium requirements
- Not mandatory
- however collaborative teams are allowed where appropriate.
Additional guidance
[{"label":"Research Category","value":"Social science research, interdisciplinary research and methodological development."},{"label":"Subcontractors","value":"Not specified"},{"label":"Interview Stage","value":"Not specified"},{"label":"Key Requirements","value":"The project must demonstrate high-quality social science research and support the career development of the early career researcher leading the project."},{"label":"Renewal Rules","value":"Uninvited resubmissions of previously submitted projects are not accepted."},{"label":"Important Notes","value":"Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and must demonstrate a strong plan for research leadership development and mentoring support for the applicant."}]
Quick facts
- Status
- Open
- Deadline
- Rolling
- Funding amount
- £100,000 to £350,000 (full economic cost)
- Funding band
- Small (£50k-£500k)
- Funding type
- Grant
- Payment type
- Grant (typically 80% FEC in arrears)
- Audience
- Research Innovation
- Industry
- Social sciences and interdisciplinary research where social science represents more than 50% of the project focus.
- Last updated
- 9 Jun 2026
- Published
- 28 Sept 2023