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 project lead 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 project lead.
- 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 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.
Please be aware that research office and finance teams undertake checks on hosting arrangements and financial eligibility. The ultimate responsibility for ensuring compliance with all opportunity requirements lies with the applicant.
Where indicated, you can also demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant.
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 will 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
References should be included within the word count of the appropriate question section. You should use your discretion when including references and prioritise those most pertinent to the application.
Hyperlinks can be used in reference information. When including references, you should consider how your references will be viewed and used by the assessors, ensuring that:
- references are easily identifiable by the assessors
- references are formatted as appropriate to your research
- persistent identifiers are used where possible
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
AHRC must receive your application by 26 March 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
AHRC, 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 skills@ahrc.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.
Publication of outcomes
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 usually 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:
- context
- the challenge the project addresses
- aims and objectives
- potential applications and benefits
Core team
Assign yourself as project lead.
List the key members of your team and assign them roles from the following:
- project lead (PL)
- project co-lead (UK) (PcL)
Only list one individual as project lead.
For this opportunity the collaborating non-HEI partner from the CDP partner organisation must be added as project co-lead.
Find out more about UKRI’s core team roles in funding applications.
Application questions
Vision
Word limit: 550
What are you hoping to achieve with your proposal studentship?
What AHRC is looking for in your response
Explain your plans for the proposed studentship, addressing the following points:
- provide a summary statement of the PhD topic to be undertaken, including why it is timely and will advance current knowledge and understanding
- clearly define aims and objectives, along with measures to support the student’s progress
You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service.
References may be included within this section.
Approach
Word limit: 1,650
How are you going to work with the co-supervisor(s) and student to deliver the proposed studentship?
What AHRC is looking for in your response
Explain how you have designed your approach so that it:
- describes the role of the CDP award holding organisation in the project, including their input to both the project and support for the student
- provides the nature and frequency of contact with the CDP award holding organisation and any additional project partners
- is effective and appropriate to achieve the studentship’s objectives, including a clear plan for managing risks and ensuring feasibility
- outlines how the student’s training needs will be identified, met and monitored
- describes how your, and if applicable your team’s, research environment (in terms of the place and relevance to the project) will contribute to the success of the studentship
Project partners
Add details about any project partners’ contributions.
A project partner is a collaborating organisation who will have an integral role in the proposed studentship. 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.
Each application must include the CDP award holding organisation as a project partner. If applicable other partners can also be included.
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, UK Research and Innovation (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 partners section. These should be uploaded in English or Welsh only.
What AHRC is looking for in your response
There must be at least one project partner letter provided by the CDP award holding organisation. For consortia CDPs, the project partner letter must come from the non-HEI organisation hosting the student, not the CDP award holding organisation (unless they are the same)
Enter the words ‘attachment supplied’ in the text box. 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
- have a page limit of two sides A4 per partner
The Funding Service will provide document upload details when you apply.
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.
Supervision
Word limit: 1,000
How will the supervisory arrangements be structured to ensure effective support for the student throughout the studentship?
What AHRC is looking for in your response
Your response should provide:
- clear description of the supervisory arrangements, including the roles and responsibilities of each supervisor
- details of the frequency and format of supervisory meetings
- information about the supervisors’ research experience and expertise
- how the supervisory team will work collaboratively with the student to support the student’s development needs throughout the studentship
- examples of how supervisors have successfully supported students in the past
- any additional support mechanisms, such as mentorship programmes or peer support networks
- statistics or examples of submission rates for previous students, highlighting the success and reliability of the supervision provided
Recruitment, selection and EDI
Word limit: 800
How will you recruit, select, induct and support the student?
What AHRC is looking for in your response
Your response should provide:
- an outline of the recruitment and selection process, ensuring involvement of both HEI and non-HEI partners
- justification for named students identified at the application stage
- outreach efforts to attract a diverse pool of applicants
- steps taken to recognise and mitigate unconscious bias
- details of how equal opportunities policies will be implemented
- examples of previous successful recruitment and selection processes
- an outline of how an inclusive environment will be created that supports mental health and wellbeing, essential for all candidates and students
- information on how the induction process will support the student’s integration, initial engagement, and ongoing development
Intellectual property (IP) management and communication
Word limit: 500
What arrangements have been agreed upon to maintain confidentiality of information and to manage intellectual property rights between all partners?
What AHRC is looking for in your response
Provide an outline of:
- how you will ensure the student is made aware of any confidentiality issues
- who will be responsible for agreeing procedures to address these issues
- how you will manage the outputs of the project, including any intellectual assets and intellectual property
Ethics and responsible research and innovation (RRI)
Word limit: 500
What are the ethical or RRI implications and issues relating to the proposed studentship? If you do not think that the proposed work raises any ethical or RRI issues, explain why.
What AHRC is looking for in your response
Demonstrate that you have identified and evaluated:
- the relevant ethical and RRI considerations, including both the research or topic area itself and the design and delivery of the project
- the wider implications of the proposed work, and how you will maximise the positive societal, environmental, and economic benefits arising from the project, whilst minimising unintended negative impacts, such as research misuse or accidental harm
- how you will manage these considerations throughout the lifecycle of the project
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.
Discipline classification: primary
Word Limit: 5
Please provide the primary research area of your proposal.
What AHRC is looking for in your response
You must select from one of these research disciplines.
This information will be used for the purposes of processing your proposal and in the selection of appropriate assessors. The research disciplines are:
- archaeology
- area studies
- classics
- cultural and museum studies
- dance
- design
- development studies
- drama and theatre studies
- education
- history
- human geography
- information and communication technologies
- languages and literature
- law and legal studies
- library and information studies
- linguistics
- media
- music
- philosophy
- political science and international studies
- social anthropology
- theology, divinity and religion
- visual arts
Discipline classification: secondary
Word Limit: 50
Please describe, using keywords, the research area of your proposal. It is particularly important that you provide these where the research area(s) you have selected are only defined to two levels.
Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I)
Word limit: 100
Does your proposed work relate to UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)’s Trusted Research and Innovation principles?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Demonstrate how your proposed work relates to UKRI’s Trusted Research and Innovation principles including:
- list any dual-use (both military and non-military) applications to your research
- if this project is relevant to one or more of the 17 areas of the UK National Security and Investment (NSI) Act, please list the area(s)
- please read the academic export control guidance and confirm if an export control licence is required for this project and the status of any application(s)
- if your project involves any items or substances on the UK strategic export control list, please provide a list
We may ask you to provide additional TR&I information later, in line with UKRI TR&I principles and funding terms and conditions (RGC 2.6.2, 2.7.1 and 2.7.2).
