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
You can only apply for this funding opportunity if we have invited you to do so. The start application link will be provided via email.
- 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.
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 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
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
Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) must receive your application by 6 November 2025 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.
AHRC, as part of UKRI, will need to share the application and any personal information that it contains with the Leverhulme Trust so that they can participate in the assessment process. See more information on how the Leverhulme Trust uses personal information.
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
AHRC, as part of UKRI, will publish the outcomes of this funding opportunity.
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
- aims and objectives
- potential applications and benefits
Core team
List the key members of your team and assign them roles from the following:
- project lead (PL)
- project co-lead (UK) (PcL)
- grant manager
Only list one individual as project lead.
Find out more about UKRI’s core team roles in funding applications.
Application questions
Vision
Word limit: 500
What will this training investment achieve? How will this support UK capability and capacity needs and why is it important that UKRI support this activity?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Please outline:
- a clear vision, and objectives that will make a positive contribution to the scope of this investment opportunity and deliver high quality doctoral education with tracking measures
- the positive outcomes and impact for society and the economy that the investment is aiming to deliver. Describe the strategies to deliver these, grounded in a model that results in highly skilled doctoral graduates, employable across a range of sectors and careers
- how your vision aligns and will positively contribute to relevant wider strategies and priorities, including national capability and capacity needs. If relevant, describe how it will provide additionality to your existing doctoral provision
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.
Approach
Word limit: 750
How will the doctoral training programme, that you deliver through this grant, support your vision, and align with UKRI’s ambitions for its doctoral investments?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Outline how your choice of training programme will:
- deliver your vision and any specific requirements set out in the opportunity documentation
- embed delivery of UKRI’s statement of expectations for its students so that the programme provides a holistic approach that delivers high quality doctoral research. Also, how it integrates in-depth subject knowledge, research and methodological skills, and wider skills development opportunities
- embed delivery of UKRI’s statement of expectations for its students so that the programme supports students to build their understanding of what conducting high quality research involves
- embed delivery of UKRI’s statement of expectations for its students so that the programme prepares globally competitive researchers, able to use their skills to thrive in a range of sectors and careers. And also, operate across interdisciplinary, collaborative and challenge-led environments
- effectively determine and actively manage the flexibility afforded to tailor individual student training and development
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.
Positive culture and environment
Word limit: 500
How will you create and maintain an inclusive and supportive culture and environment for all those involved?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Outline the objectives and overall approach of your doctoral training programme with regard to:
- creating and maintaining a positive, inclusive, and supportive environment for all students and staff involved, addressing a variety of needs and supporting good wellbeing
- championing and embedding EDI for students and staff, across all aspects of the training grant, including supervision, training design and approaches, and flexible student support
Capability to deliver
Word limit: 500
Who will lead and drive delivery of this application’s vision?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Summarise the skills and experiences of the leadership team to show they have:
- appropriate research and pastoral capacity, skills and experience to deliver the proposed vision and operate the training programme
- successfully supported the training and development of others, particularly doctoral training at similar levels to the proposal
- contributed to a positive research culture and the wider community
Partnerships and governance
Word limit: 500
How will the training grant be governed, and partnerships or relationships be supported and managed, to maximise benefit and minimise risk?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Describe:
- the overall role of different partners
- how all partners will contribute positively and constructively to both the programme and the experiences of students and be supported to do so
Within the Partnerships and governance section, we also expect you to:
- briefly describe the governance and management structure (including risk), outlining how this is appropriate for the size and complexity of the doctoral programme
- confirm that the management and governance structure and processes of the doctoral training programme will manage the legal duties of the programme and providers. And support UKRI’s expectations to create value for society in an ethical and responsible way through relevant frameworks
Use of resources
Word limit: 500
How will you use the resources allocated for Research Training Support Grant (RTSG), for Cohort Development Funding (CDF)and for Collaborative Activity (CA)?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Please outline:
- clear process for identifying students’ research needs and clear process for deciding how the resources will be allocated
- clear process for determining need for the cohort development funding and allocating and managing this resource
- clear process for allocating and managing the collaborative activity funding
RTSG will be provided at a rate of £600 per student per year (£21,600 in total for the three cohorts). This is not ringfenced for each student and the award holder can manage the funding as a total ‘pot’ and distribute it according to need. It is intended to support costs directly related to the students’ research.
Cohort Development Funding will be provided at a rate of £1,200 per student per year (£43,200 in total for the three cohorts). This is not ringfenced for each student and shouldn’t be allocated to individual students. The grant holder should use it in conjunction with resources from the Leverhulme Trust Research Centre funding to support activity that either provides training or development opportunities for cohorts of students.
Collaborative Activity funding will be provided at a rate of £600 per student per year. (£21,600 in total for the three cohorts). This funding is intended to support collaborative activity with a non-HEI partner at an individual student level. This might be in the form of a ‘CDA-type’ award or could be used to facilitate a student’s less formal collaboration with a non-HEI organisation. Research centres are encouraged to use their existing funding to complement this AHRC provision.
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.
The Funding Service will provide document upload details when you apply.
Recruitment and EDI
Word limit: 500
How will you ensure that the approach to EDI and recruitment is in line with the UKRI good practice principles in recruitment and training at a doctoral level?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
How will you ensure that you have put in place processes that look to address issues of underrepresentation and widening participation within the doctoral community?
What is your approach to identifying the areas within the Leverhulme Trust Research Centre’s research focus and how you will recruit studentships, including any rationales for focusing on particular disciplinary or thematic areas?
The assessors are looking for:
- a clear approach to recruitment that recognises issues of underrepresentation and widening participation
- a clear approach to the disciplinary or thematic focus of the recruitment
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.
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 partners 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
- have a page limit of two sides A4 per partner
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.
