UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) will only accept a resubmission where the applicant has been invited to resubmit.
This policy supports effective demand management and ensures that resubmissions are only accepted where there is clear merit in reconsidering an application.
A resubmission is any application, including an outline application, that has:
- previously been submitted to UKRI
- been through a formal assessment process
This policy applies even where a tiered approach to funding is used.
When this policy does not apply
This policy does not apply to:
- fellowships
- applications rejected during initial checks, including applications assessed as out of remit by a council and later submitted to a more appropriate opportunity
- applications withdrawn before any assessment
Types of submission
Invited resubmission
An invited resubmission is where UKRI asks an applicant to resubmit an application.
The application must be substantially the same, with only small or specific changes that directly address explicit UKRI feedback.
There is no time limit for submitting an invited resubmission unless UKRI specifies it.
An invitation to resubmit does not guarantee funding.
Uninvited resubmission
Uninvited resubmissions are not permitted and will be rejected.
An application is considered an uninvited resubmission if:
- a previously unsuccessful UKRI application is submitted again without an invitation
- the application is unchanged or has only minimal changes, so that the substance remains the same
The original application will already have undergone a quality assessment for the original funding opportunity. Uninvited resubmissions are not allowed regardless of how much time has passed
New submission
A new submission may be:
- an entirely new application
- an application that includes some elements previously considered by UKRI, but overall represents a substantially different programme of work
Changes to a previously unsuccessful application must be clearly demonstrated through:
- a substantially different research endeavour
- a new way of applying existing research, such as developing technologies based on prior work
Major differences may include:
- new or significantly revised aims and objectives
- a different methodology or approach
- changes to other areas of assessment, where relevant to the funding opportunity
How UKRI assesses whether an application is new
When preparing an application, you should consider whether:
- the overall aims and high‑level objectives are largely the same
- the scientific or technical approach is broadly unchanged
- the project team (project leads, co‑leads and researchers) is similar
- the resources requested are mostly the same
If most of these apply, UKRI may consider the application to be a resubmission rather than a new submission.
Last updated: 16 July 2026