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Guidance

ESRC research funding guide

The Economic and Social Research Council’s (ESRC) research funding guide provides information on all aspects of research grant funding for applicants

From:
ESRC
Published:
Last updated:
- see all updates

Documents

ESRC research funding guide: for Je-S applications (PDF)

, 357 KB

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Details

The guide to use depends on which service you are using to apply for a funding opportunity.

If you are applying through the:

  • Joint Electronic Submissions (Je-S) system, use ‘ESRC research funding guide: for Je-S applications’
  • UKRI Funding Service, use the ‘ESRC research funding guide for the UKRI Funding Service’

These guides give details of the arrangements and procedures for ESRC research grants, together with a summary of proposal procedures.

They cover:

  • the type of funding opportunities ESRC offers
  • eligibility for funding
  • evaluation
  • how to apply
  • the costs that grants cover
  • how proposals are assessed
  • what happens with successful proposals

Updates

  • 16 February 2024
    Summary of changes: HTML version update to the project co-lead (international) eligibility section. Any academic researcher from an established international research organisation which has the capacity and capability to conduct the specified work will be eligible for the role of project co-lead (international).
  • 16 February 2024
    Summary of changes: HTML version update to the organisational eligibility section detailing expectations on staff development and provision for research careers which is at least equivalent to the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers. Organisations must also support the professional development of technicians employed on the grant in line with the Technician Commitment.
  • 16 February 2024
    Summary of changes: applications that receive sufficiently supportive reviewer comments will have the opportunity to provide a response to reviewers’ comments. This is primarily informed by the average expert reviewer score. The minimum threshold score for progressing to applicant response and panel is determined on an individual funding opportunity basis.
  • 7 December 2023
    Summary of changes: updated best practice for advisory or external stakeholder groups.
  • 7 December 2023
    Summary of changes: UKRI allow visa, immigration health surcharge and certificate of sponsorship costs to be charged to a grant for all directly incurred staff directly employed on the grant for 50% or more of their contracted time.
  • 7 December 2023
    Summary of changes: alcohol is not permitted and should not be sought as an eligible cost.
  • 7 December 2023
    Summary of changes: funds may only be transferred into studentship stipend or fees to supplement an existing studentship post on the grant. Transferring funds to create new studentship posts are not permitted without UKRI approval.
  • 7 December 2023
    Summary of changes: merit pay and bonus award schemes costs are not permitted.
  • 7 December 2023
    Summary of changes: health and social care levy costs are permitted as part of staff salary costs.
  • 7 December 2023
    Summary of changes: travel claims should be by standard class by train and economy class by air. Exceptions to this may be permitted where there is a justifiable health and wellbeing need, approved by the research organisation prior to purchase and evidence of this should be available.
  • 7 December 2023
    Summary of changes: timesheets must be completed for all directly incurred or exceptions staff who are contracted to work on two or more UKRI projects. Timesheets must be approved no later than two months after period end.
  • 17 October 2023
    Minor wording update to the ESRC research funding guide for the UKRI Funding Service, with correction to the project lead and project co-lead eligibility section. Third sector organisations are eligible as international project co-leads as long as they meet all the other eligibility criteria set out in the policy.
  • 2 October 2023
    PDF document replaced and the HTML version amended. Updates applied to the Je-S and Funding Service guides for clarity on applicant response to reviewer comments turnaround, circumstances where ESRC would reject applications, virement rules and SoECAT form requirements.
  • 26 June 2023
    Following updates made to ESRC research funding guide for the UKRI Funding Service: statements added confirming rejection of applications which do not comply with the rules of the opportunity; section added on flexible funding pots; disclaimers added confirming that business project co-leads cannot claim estates or indirect costs for ESRC opportunities.
  • 23 June 2023
    ESRC research funding guide: for Je-S applications document has been updated with: notification at the start of the document to indicate this guidance is for applicants using Je-S. Guidance for applicants using the UKRI Funding Service can be found on the website; guidance on Flexible Funding Pots added to the other directly incurred costs section.
  • 12 June 2023
    Latest version of the 'ESRC research funding guide: for Je-S applications document' added.
  • 9 June 2023
    Minor wording changes and updated links in the HTML document
  • 25 May 2023
    Added the HTML document 'ESRC research funding guide for the UKRI Funding Service'.
  • 21 April 2023
    Update to the extensions notification requirement and additional transfers guidance added.
  • 1 February 2023
    Latest version of document added.
  • 25 November 2022
    Latest version of document added.
  • 22 April 2022
    Latest version of document added
  • 15 August 2022
    Latest version of document added

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