We provide a range of funding, covering smaller awards to support early career researchers and larger research awards enabling both individuals and larger teams to access funding through our applicant-led research grants and centres competitions.
We also provide funding for postgraduate training and fellowships. Our funding also supports UK data and infrastructure and methodological developments.
Find our latest funding opportunities.
Applicant-led research funding
We support applicant-led research which is researcher-driven and can cover any relevant ESRC topic or theme as long as it falls within ESRC’s remit. Within these funding opportunities we currently have a highlight for applications in the area of artificial intelligence for social science. These funding opportunities have an open application date, so researchers can apply at any time:
ESRC is making important changes to our applicant-led mode schemes to ensure the brightest ideas can be pursued. The refreshed approach will encourage agility, innovation and excellence across all stages of research, from early-stage exploration to major programmes.
The key changes are:
- more outcome-focused funding opportunities
- more strategic management and curation of our applicant-led portfolio
- greater support for novelty, disruption and responsible risk taking
- faster funding for the best ideas
We will be launching five opportunities in a phased approach. Two pilots have already launched, and detailed pre-announcements for other opportunities are expected in September 2026. Our research grants, new investigator grants and secondary data analysis opportunities will remain open to applications, with no submission deadlines, until the new Grow and Explore opportunities are opened.
The new opportunities are:
React
- launched spring 2026
- six-month pilot awards
- award range £50,000 to £100,000
React offers a fast route to fund projects that help address time-critical public-sector challenges. With rolling decisions and short-term support, it is designed to make a practical difference within six months.
Connect
- launched spring 2026
- six-month pilot awards
- award range £50,000 to £150,000
Connect provides funding to test new or high-risk ideas and build collaborations in emerging areas. It helps researchers from different disciplines come together early, explore what is possible, and lay the foundations for future groundbreaking research.
Grow
- launching autumn 2026
- 18-month to five-year awards
- award value £100,000 to £500,000
Grow helps researchers build the skills, experience and confidence to take the next step in their career or move into a new area. It supports early career development and bold career pivots that can open up fresh directions for social science.
Explore
- launching autumn 2026
- up to five-year awards
- award value £300,000 to £2 million
Explore backs individuals or small teams to advance knowledge with innovative and disruptive ideas. It gives researchers the freedom to use the approach that best achieves their aims, whether that means a research project, data initiative, or another route to push disciplinary, methodological or conceptual boundaries.
Challenge
- launching early 2027
- up to five-year awards
- award value £2 million to £10 million
Challenge enables collaborations that tackle complex economic, societal or scientific problems that need work at scale. It supports ambitious programmes of research, innovation and infrastructure that bring people, expertise and ideas together to advance knowledge and improve lives.
Postgraduate funding
We are the largest UK funding organisation for research and postgraduate training in the economic and social sciences, directed mostly through Doctoral Training Partnerships and Centres for Doctoral Training.
Last updated: 25 June 2026