Some funding mode names have changed. Responsive mode is now applicant-led mode.
AHRC’s applicant-led opportunities are :
In January 2025 the curiosity, catalyst and research grants opportunities reverted back to a fully ‘always-open’ format without funding rounds. Applications can be submitted at any time throughout the year.
As part of our wider applicant-led mode transition we paused the follow-on funding scheme in July 2024 until further notice, to enable us to conduct a review of the scheme. We will provide updates on the review on this web page.
The review of follow-on funding is the next step in our transformation of applicant-led mode, following the introduction of catalyst and curiosity, and the pilot of mission awards.
We are conducting a limited pilot to encourage applications which seek to build digital arts and humanities capacity. This is in response to a request from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) to UKRI to drive investment in DSIT and National Science and Technology Council critical technologies. Details can be found on the UKRI funding finder pages for round four of our curiosity and catalyst schemes.
In 2023, we transformed our applicant-led mode schemes with the ambition to diversify research and researchers that we support and to fund the best ideas wherever they are found. We hope to use this pilot to better understand the potential that different funding mechanisms may hold to help us pave the way in addressing critical gaps within our applicant-led mode portfolio, including capacity-building and sustainability in strategic priorities.
We will be taking a phased, iterative approach to ensure that we are reflecting and embedding learning at each step. As such, we welcome your feedback. Email enquiries@ahrc.ukri.org with ‘Curiosity/Catalyst Critical technologies’ in the subject line.
We launched two new opportunities and refreshed the research grants opportunity.
A flexible award to fund fundamental research, networking activity and idea generation, which enables the development of further research opportunities and new research agendas. These awards support teams, networks and solo researchers.
The scheme is intentionally flexible, indicative examples of the activities we fund include:
International co-investigators are supported.
Funding available is for projects with a total cost up to £100,000 and a duration of up to five years.
For further details see the UKRI funding finder: AHRC responsive mode: curiosity award.
The catalyst awards fund researchers without prior experience of leading a significant research project, accelerating their trajectory as independent researchers to unlock their potential and build leadership and convenor experience.
The awards provide applicants with an opportunity to support their own skill development and the skill development of research staff employed on the award.
Specific eligibility criteria apply to principal investigators, as outlined on the UKRI funding finder.
Funding available is for projects with a total cost between £100,000 and £300,000 and a duration of up to five years.
For further details see the UKRI funding finder: AHRC responsive mode: catalyst awards.
AHRC increased the upper funding limit from £1 million to £1.5 million (100% full economic cost) to support more ambitious projects and enhanced team development, as well as accommodate the increased costs of research.
Funding available is for projects between £300,000 and £1.5 million. The lower funding limit was increased from £50,000 to £300,000, as the new catalyst and curiosity opportunities offer support to projects below £300,000.
This opportunity remained unchanged in 2023.
The core aims and objectives of the targeted early career route was transferred to and incorporated within the new curiosity and catalyst awards opportunities, offering more flexibility for sole-scholar and collaborative research.
The aims and objectives of this scheme have been incorporated within the new curiosity and catalyst awards opportunities.
The aims and objectives of this opportunity have been incorporated within the new curiosity awards opportunity.
The launch of the curiosity and catalyst awards schemes was supported by a webinar for prospective applicants and professional research support staff that presented an overview of the schemes, followed by an opportunity to ask questions.
Watch webinar recording from 8 September 2023 (YouTube)
Note that this webinar is British Sign Language interpreted.
Watch webinar recording for Peer Review College members from 6 September 2023 (YouTube)
Similar webinars were also provided in July and September to members of the Association of Research Managers and Administrators (ARMA). See correspondence from ARMA for details.
General guidance on AHRC’s research funding is contained in the AHRC research funding guide. Detailed guidance about each of our applicant-led opportunities is available on the UKRI funding finder.
Email: enquiries@ahrc.ukri.org
Last updated: 25 June 2025
