We are running this funding opportunity on the new UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Funding Service so please ensure that your organisation is registered. You cannot apply on the Joint Electronic Submissions (Je-S) system.
The fellow is responsible for completing the application process on the Funding Service, but we expect all team members and project partners to contribute to the application.
Only the lead research organisation can submit an application to UKRI.
To apply
Select ‘Start application’ near the beginning of this Funding finder page.
- Confirm you are the fellow.
- Sign in or create a Funding Service account. To create an account, select your organisation, verify your email address, and set a password. If your organisation is not listed, email support@funding-service.ukri.org
Please allow at least 10 working days for your organisation to be added to the Funding Service. We strongly suggest that if you are asking UKRI to add your organisation to the Funding Service to enable you to apply to this funding opportunity, you also create an organisation Administration Account. This will be needed to allow the acceptance and management of any grant that might be offered to you.
- Answer questions directly in the text boxes. You can save your answers and come back to complete them or work offline and return to copy and paste your answers. If we need you to upload a document, follow the upload instructions in the Funding Service. All questions and assessment criteria are listed in the How to apply section on this Funding finder page.
- Allow enough time to check your application in ‘read-only’ view before sending to your research office.
- Send the completed application to your research office for checking. They will return it to you if it needs editing.
- Your research office will submit the completed and checked application to UKRI.
When including images, you must:
- provide a descriptive caption or legend for each image immediately underneath it in the text box (this must be outside the image and counts towards your word limit)
- insert each new image on a new line.
- use files smaller than 5MB and in JPEG, JPG, JPE, JFI, JIF, JFIF, PNG, GIF, BMP or WEBP format
Images should only be used to convey important visual information that cannot easily be put into words. The following are not permitted, and your application may be rejected if you include:
- sentences or paragraphs of text
- tables
- excessive quantities of images
A few words are permitted where the image would lack clarity without the contextual words, such as a diagram, where text labels are required for an axis or graph column.
For more guidance on the Funding Service, see:
References
Applications should be self-contained, and hyperlinks should only be used to provide links directly to reference information. To ensure the information’s integrity is maintained, where possible, persistent identifiers such as digital object identifiers should be used. Assessors are not required to access links to carry out assessment or recommend a funding decision. Applicants should use their discretion when including reference and prioritise those most pertinent to the application.
References should be included in the appropriate question section of the application and be easily identifiable by the assessors e.g. (Smith, Research Paper, 2019)
You must not include links to web resources to extend your application.
General use of hyperlinks
Applications should be self-contained. You should only use hyperlinks to link directly to reference information. You must not include links to web resources to extend your application. Assessors are not required to access links to conduct assessment or recommend a funding decision.
Generative artificial intelligence (AI)
Use of generative AI tools to prepare funding applications is permitted, however, caution should be applied.
For more information see our policy on the use of generative AI in application and assessment.
Deadline
ESRC must receive your application by 26 February 2026 at 4.00pm UK time.
You will not be able to apply after this time.
Make sure you are aware of and follow any internal institutional deadlines.
Following the submission of your application to the funding opportunity, your application cannot be changed, and applications will not be returned for amendment. If your application does not follow the guidance, it may be rejected.
Personal data
Processing personal data
Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), as part of UKRI, will need to collect some personal information to manage your Funding Service account and the registration of your funding applications.
We will handle personal data in line with UK data protection legislation and manage it securely. For more information, including how to exercise your rights, read our privacy notice.
Sensitive information
If you or a core team member need to tell us something you wish to remain confidential, email esrcenquires@esr.ukri.org
Include in the subject line: [the funding opportunity title; sensitive information; your Funding Service application number].
Typical examples of confidential information include:
- individual is unavailable until a certain date (for example due to parental leave)
- declaration of interest
- additional information about eligibility to apply that would not be appropriately shared in the ‘Applicant and team capability’ section
- conflict of interest for UKRI to consider in reviewer or panel participant selection
- the application is an invited resubmission
For information about how UKRI handles personal data, read UKRI’s privacy notice.
Institutional matched funding
There is no requirement for matched funding from the institutions hosting the project lead, project co-leads or other staff employed on the application, beyond the standard 20% FEC. Expert reviewers and panels assessing UKRI funding applications must not consider levels of institutional matched funding as a factor on which to base recommendations. Direct and in-kind contributions from third party project partners are encouraged.
This policy does not remove the need for support from host organisations who must provide the necessary research environment and infrastructure for award-specific activities funded by UKRI. For example, research facilities, training and development of staff.
Publication of outcomes
ESRC, as part of UKRI, will publish the outcomes of this funding opportunity at What ESRC has funded.
If your application is successful, we will publish some personal information on the UKRI Gateway to Research.
Summary
Word limit: 550
In plain English, provide a summary we can use to identify the most suitable experts to assess your application.
We may make this summary publicly available on external-facing websites, therefore do not include any confidential or sensitive information. Make it suitable for a variety of readers, for example:
- opinion-formers
- policymakers
- the public
- the wider research community
Guidance for writing a summary
Clearly describe your proposed work in terms of:
Core team
List the key members of your team and assign them roles from the following:
- fellow
- specialist
- grant manager
- professional enabling staff
- research and innovation associate
- technician
Only list one individual as fellow.
UKRI has introduced a new addition to the ‘Specialist’ role type. Public contributors such as people with lived experience can now be added to an application.
Find out more about UKRI’s core team roles in funding applications.
Vision
Word limit: 1,100
What are you hoping to achieve with your proposed work?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Explain how your proposed work:
- is of excellent quality and importance within or beyond the field(s) or area(s)
- has the potential to advance current understanding, or generate new knowledge, thinking or discovery within or beyond the field or area of its focus
- is timely, given current trends, context, and needs
- impacts world-leading research, society, the economy or the environment
References may be included within this section.
You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service.
In the Vision section we also expect you to:
- clearly state the policy or societal challenge you are addressing (including specific reference to the advertised research priorities, government Area of Research Interests (ARIs) or project partner letters of support)
- identify the potential direct or indirect benefits and who the beneficiaries might be
- identify how the research is being undertaken for public good
- explain how the proposed work uses ADR England flagship data (exclusively or in combination with other data) in an innovative way to address the challenge identified
Please use the ADR UK Research Fellowship General Specification (PDF, 214 KB) referring especially to the ‘Useful Research’ objective to inform your answers.
Detailed methodology, stakeholder engagement plans, and data access processes should be covered in the Approach section.
Approach
Word limit: 2,750
How are you going to deliver your proposed work?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Explain how you have designed your work so that it:
- is effective and appropriate to achieve your objectives
- is feasible, and comprehensively identifies any risks to delivery and how you will manage them
- uses a clearly written and transparent methodology (if applicable)
- summarises the previous work and describes how you will build on and progress this work (if applicable)
- will maximise translation of outputs into outcomes and impacts
- engages with a specific public group or groups, relevant to your project’s objectives, working with partner and intermediary organisations where appropriate
References may be included in this section.
You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service.
Within the Approach section we also expect you to:
- provide a detailed and comprehensive project plan, including milestones and timelines in the form of charts or diagrams
- clearly describe both the framework and specific analysis methods proposed and explain the reasons for their choice. You should particularly mention any innovation in this or how different methodologies or methods may be combined
- explain what steps you will take to provide opportunities for users to benefit from your research, and to ensure that your research has maximum economic and societal impact in alignment with the ‘Useful Engagement’ objective
- identify which ADR England flagship dataset you intend to use as well as any supplementary administrative data or other data (if applicable)
- list your specific research questions and hypotheses and provide detail on how they will be addressed using the dataset. For example, variables that will be used and geographic level
- provide a brief impact plan which identifies the types of activities, schedule, key interest holders, including publics (people with lived experience, public sector representatives or both), and anticipated outcomes and planned publications
- describe how you will also enhance the value of the linked datasets for the benefits for others, including future researchers and data owners in alignment with the ‘Useful Data’ objective
- describe your contribution to the creation and development of a wider, self-sustaining communities of practice in alignment with the ‘Community Building’ objective
Please use the Research Fellowship General Specification (PDF, 214KB) to inform your answers.
Applicant capability to deliver
Word limit: 1,650
Why are you the right individual to successfully deliver the proposed work?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Evidence of how you have:
- the relevant experience (appropriate to career stage) to make best use of the benefits presented by this funding opportunity to develop your career
- the right balance of skills and aptitude to deliver the proposed work
- contributed to developing a positive research environment and wider community
- the appropriate team working or leadership skills (appropriate to career stage)
You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service.
The word limit for this section is 1,650 words, 1,150 words to be used for R4RI modules (including references) and, if necessary, a further 500 words for Additions.
Use the Résumé for Research and Innovation (R4RI) format to showcase the range of relevant skills you have and how this will help to deliver the proposed work. You can include specific achievements and choose past contributions that best evidence your ability to deliver this work.
Complete this section using the following R4RI module headings. You should use each heading once, see the UKRI guidance on R4RI. You should consider how to balance your answer, and emphasise where appropriate the key skills you bring:
- contributions to the generation of new ideas, tools, methodologies, or knowledge
- the development of others and maintenance of effective working relationships
- contributions to the wider research and innovation community
- contributions to broader research or innovation, users and audiences, and towards wider societal benefit
Additions
Provide any further details relevant to your application. This section is optional and can be up to 500 words. You should not use it to describe additional skills, experiences, or outputs, but you can use it to describe any factors that provide context for the rest of your R4RI (for example, details of career breaks if you wish to disclose them).
You should complete this section as a narrative. Do not format it like a CV.
The roles in funding applications policy has descriptions of the different project roles.
Career development
Word limit: 1,000
Why is this fellowship the right way to develop your career and how will you use it to benefit others?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Ensure that you have identified:
- career development goals appropriate to the fellowship funding opportunity
- how the fellowship will provide a feasible and appropriate trajectory for your personal development and to achieve your stated career development goals (as appropriate to your career stage and field)
- how you will instigate positive change in the wider research and innovation community, for example through Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI), advocacy or advisory roles, stakeholder engagement, participation in expert review, influencing policy, public engagement, or outreach
Within the career development section we also expect you to describe:
- how you will ensure continued research and professional development in those you will be managing on the project, to have a positive research and innovation experience, with opportunities or support to progress their own careers (useful links Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers and Technician Commitment)
- how the proposed work will provide a feasible and appropriate trajectory for you to acquire additional skills, like research, leadership, communication and management
- what institutional mentoring arrangements are proposed, how they will support you and how they are appropriate to your needs
Please use the ADR UK Research Fellowship General Specification (PDF, 214KB) to inform your answers.
Host organisation support
Word limit: 1,000
How will the host organisation support your fellowship?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Provide a support statement including:
- evidence detailing how the host will support you, as appropriate for your career development and the vision and approach of the fellowship
- who you have engaged with in your host organisation (name and role)
- how your research environment will contribute to the success of the work, in terms of suitability of the host organisation and strategic relevance to the project
- how the host organisation will ensure your time commitment to the fellowship is protected
- what development and training opportunities will be provided and how they form a cohesive career development package tailored to your aims and aspirations
- what financial or practical support, such as access to the appropriate services, facilities, infrastructure, or equipment, is being provided and how this strengthens your application
Within the host organisation support section we also expect you to describe:
- if present, what methods are in place to ensure governance exists to underpin data use and infrastructure to enable secure data access
Resources and cost justification
Word limit: 1,000
What will you need to deliver your proposed work and how much will it cost?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Justify the application’s more costly resources, in particular:
- project staff
- significant travel for field work or collaboration (but not regular travel between collaborating organisations or to conferences)
- any equipment that will cost more than £25,000
- any consumables beyond typical requirements, or that are required in exceptional quantities
- all facilities and infrastructure costs
- training costs
- all resources that have been costed as ‘Exceptions’
You can request costs associated with reasonable adjustments where they increase as a direct result of working on the project. For further information see Disability and accessibility support for UKRI applicants and grant holders.
We recommend that you further:
- identify any co-funding to strengthen your application (optional)
- identify what resources or infrastructure are available to support the dissemination of research conclusions (for example, infrastructure for peer-review publication submissions, and platforms to support open-research methodologies)
- confirm if new or additional access to any specialist infrastructure is required for secure data access (for example, SafePod, SafePoint, Assured Organisational Connectivity) and if costs are associated
- include costings for an ADR UK flagship dataset mentor, and use ‘directly incurred other’ when assigning costings on the Funding Service system. The allocated budget for ADR UK flagship dataset mentors is set at £3125.00 (100% full economic cost (FEC)) of which ADR UK will fund 80%. Final costs can be agreed with the chosen mentor if the application is successful (optional)
Assessors are not looking for detailed costs or a line-by-line breakdown of all project resources. Overall, they want you to demonstrate how the resources you anticipate needing for your proposed work, with justification of value for money:
- are comprehensive, appropriate, and justified
- represent optimal use of resources to achieve the intended outcomes
- maximise the potential outcomes and impacts
- demonstrated value for the funding deliverables
For detailed guidance on eligible costs please see the ESRC Research Funding Guide.
Ethics and responsible research and innovation (RRI)
Word limit: 500
What are the ethical or RRI implications and issues relating to the proposed work?
If you do not think that the proposed work raises any ethical or RRI issues, explain why.
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Demonstrate that you have identified and evaluated:
- the relevant ethical or responsible research and innovation considerations
- how you will manage these considerations
You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service.
If you are collecting or using data you should identify:
- any legal and ethical considerations of collecting, releasing and storing the data (including consent, confidentiality, anonymisation, security and other ethical considerations and, in particular, strategies to not preclude further re-use of data)
- formal information standards that your proposed work will comply with
You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service.
Please refer to the UKRI position statement on funding ethical research and Responsible innovation for more information around our expectations on ethical and responsible research and innovation.
Feasibility data requirements
Word limit: 1,000
What data characteristics do you believe you will need to answer your research objectives?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
You must demonstrate that your proposed use of data is feasible. This means showing that:
- the data you intend to use is available and accessible
- your proposal aligns with the structure, coverage, and limitations of the dataset(s)
- any linkage or integration of data is viable within the secure research environment
Your response will help assessors and data owners understand whether your research objectives can realistically be supported by the data.
Include as much detail as possible across the seven following areas.
Dataset(s)
Name the ADR England flagship dataset(s) you wish to access.
Data tables
Please identify specific tables or data structures you intend to use, if known. If not, describe the kinds of records or events you need (for example, pupil-level data, hospital admissions, court applications).
Variables
Please list key variables you plan to use. If exact names are unknown, describe the concepts (for example, socioeconomic status, diagnosis codes, intervention types, geography).
Concepts and definitions
Please define any key concepts or terms you plan to use (e.g., “anti-social behaviour”) and explain how you will operationalise them in your analysis.
Population and timeframe
Please define the population of interest (for example children born between 2000 and 2010), the geographical coverage, and the time period of data required.
Linkage requirements
If your project involves linking datasets (including publicly available data). Please specify:
- which datasets you intend to link
- the linkage method (e.g., pseudonymised identifiers)
- whether linkage is pre-existing or needs to be created
- who will conduct the linkage (e.g., researcher within SRS, ONS teams)
Please note, some datasets (e.g., ECHILD) cannot be linked to other datasets and applicants are required to check dataset-specific guidance before proposing linkages.
External and public data
If you plan to bring in publicly available data, specify what you intend to use. This helps us identify any restrictions early.
Feasibility considerations
Please note any assumptions or uncertainties about data availability, quality, or completeness. This helps the data owner assess feasibility and advise on refinements.
You are not expected to have full knowledge of the dataset structure at this stage. You can use the ADR England Flagship dataset pages along with the metadata (found on the ADR UK Data Catalogue) to inform your answers.
Conceptual descriptions are acceptable and will be used to guide the feasibility check. You may refine your request later based on metadata and feedback from the data owner.
Requirements for an ADR UK flagship dataset mentor
Word limit: 50
ADR UK operates a costed flagship dataset mentoring programme to support funded researchers during a fellowship.
Please identify if an ADR UK flagship dataset mentor is required, and that the costed amount of £3125.00 (FEC, which ESRC will fund 80%) is included in your grant application to secure a place on this mentoring programme.
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Please enter the appropriate response from the options below.
- yes. I would require an ADR UK flagship dataset mentor and have costed the full amount into my application
- no. I do not require an ADR UK flagship dataset mentor
Primary discipline classification
Word limit: 5
Enter the primary discipline for this project.
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Select one primary area of research from the list of social disciplines below and enter into the text field. This information is used to determine eligibility for ESRC funding and to assist in the selection of appropriate reviewers.
- area studies
- demography
- development studies
- economics
- education
- environmental planning
- history
- human geography
- law & legal studies
- linguistics
- management & business studies
- political science & international studies
- psychology
- science and technology studies
- social anthropology
- social policy
- social work
- sociology
- tools, technologies & methods
Project partners
Add details about any project partners’ contributions. If there are no project partners, you can indicate this on the Funding Service.
A project partner is a collaborating organisation who will have an integral role in the proposed research. This may include direct contributions for example cash, donated equipment and resources, or staff seconded to the project, or indirect and in-kind contributions for example use of project partner’s equipment, datasets, or facilities. Project partners may be in industry, academia, third sector or government organisations in the UK or overseas, including partners based in the EU.
Add the following project partner details:
- the organisation name and address (searchable via a drop-down list or enter the organisation’s details manually, as applicable)
- the project partner contact name and email address
- the type of contribution (direct or indirect) and its monetary value
If a detail is entered incorrectly and you have saved the entry, remove the specific project partner record and re-add it with the correct information.
For audit purposes, UKRI requires formal collaboration agreements to be put in place if an award is made.
Project partners letters or emails of support
Upload a single PDF containing the letters or emails of support from each partner you named in the Project Partner section. These should be uploaded in English or Welsh only.
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Enter the words ‘attachment supplied’ in the text box, or if you do not have any project partners enter ‘N/A’. Each letter or email you provide should:
- confirm the partner’s commitment to the project
- clearly explain the value, relevance, and possible benefits of the work to them
- describe any additional value that they bring to the project
- be no more than one A4 page in length
The Funding Service will provide document upload details when you apply. If you do not have any project partners, you will be able to indicate this in the Funding Service.
Ensure you have prior agreement from project partners so that, if you are offered funding, they will support your project as indicated in the project partners’ section.
For audit purposes, UKRI requires formal collaboration agreements to be put in place if an award is made.
Do not provide letters of support from host and project co-leads’ research organisations.
Data management and sharing
Word limit: 500
How will you manage and share data collected or acquired through the proposed work?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Provide a data management plan that clearly details how you will comply with UKRI’s published data sharing policy, which includes detailed guidance notes.
Demonstrate that you have designed your proposed work so that you can appropriately manage and share data in accordance with ESRC’s Research Data Policy and ESRC Framework for Research Ethics (if applicable).
Within the ‘Data management and sharing’ section we also expect you to:
- plan for the research through the life cycle of the award until data is accepted for archiving by the UK Data Service (UKDS) or a responsible data repository
- demonstrate compliance with ESRC’s Research Data Policy and ESRC Framework for Research Ethics. This should include confirmation that existing datasets have been reviewed and why currently available datasets are inadequate for the proposed research
- cover any legal and ethical considerations of collecting, releasing or storing the data, including consent, confidentiality, anonymisation, security and other ethical issues
- include any challenges to data sharing (for example, copyright or data confidentiality), with possible solutions discussed to optimise data sharing
If this does not apply to your proposed work, you will be able to indicate this in the Funding Service.
Facilities
Word limit: 250
Does your proposed research require the support and use of a facility?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
If you will need to use a facility, follow your proposed facility’s normal access request procedures. Ensure you have prior agreement so that if you are offered funding, they will support the use of their facility on your project.
Demonstrate access to an appropriate safe setting and identify any additional requirements:
- state which facility listed in the UKRI facility information list your project requires (for example SAIL, ONS Secure Research Service)
- if the project utilises an Assured Organisational Connectivity (AOC) through the Office for National Statistics (ONS) Secure Research Service, please detail whether office or home working or a combination will be used and if the method of access is ready to use or needs to be implemented
- if the project will require use of SafePod or SafePoints, please specify the location
For each requested facility you will need to provide the:
- name of facility, copied and pasted from the facility information list (DOCX, 42KB)
- proposed usage or costs, or costs per unit where indicated on the facility information list
- confirmation you have their agreement where required
Facilities should only be named if they are on the facility information list above. If you will not need to use a facility, you will be able to indicate this in the Funding Service.
