Expression of interest
You must submit a mandatory expression of interest (EOI) prior to submitting a full application. Your EOI will not be part of the assessment process but we will use the information for planning purposes.
The survey to submit your EOI will open on 5 December 2025. You must submit your EOI by 8 January 2026.
Submit an expression of interest.
We will request:
- details of the project lead
- a list of the research organisations you anticipate being part of your doctoral landscape award
We reserve the right to reject an application if an EOI is not submitted prior to a full application.
Full application
We are running this funding opportunity on the new 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.
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
We must receive your application by 24 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
MRC, 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 students.students@mrc.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
MRC, as part of UKRI, will publish the outcomes of this funding opportunity at board and panel outcomes
If your application is successful, we will publish some personal information on the UKRI Gateway to Research.
Summary
Word limit: 250
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
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. They should be from the administrative lead organisation. The project lead is responsible for setting up and completing the application process on the Funding Service. If you include more than one project lead your application will fail at the checking stage.
You can list multiple project co-leads. Any organisation which will host students in addition to the project lead organisation should list a project co-lead on the application.
Find out more about UKRI’s core team roles in funding applications.
Application questions
Vision
Word limit: 550
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
- the number of studentships that you intend to support per year, including the number of collaborative studentships
You should refer to the ‘What we are looking for’ section in the funding opportunity when answering this question.
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: 1,500
How will your doctoral training programme, that you will 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
Explain how your choice of training programme will:
- deliver your vision and any specific requirements set out in the opportunity documentation, including why this approach is necessary to achieve your expected outcomes
- 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 will integrate 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
You should refer to the ‘What we are looking for’ section in the funding opportunity when answering this question.
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: 750
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
Explain how your doctoral training programme will:
- create and maintain a positive, inclusive, and supportive environment for all students and staff involved, addressing a variety of needs and supporting good wellbeing including relevant, specific support and training for supervisors where needed
- champion and embed equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) for students and staff, across all aspects of the training grant, including supervision, training design and approaches, and flexible student support
You should refer to the ‘What we are looking for’ section in the funding opportunity when answering this question.
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.
Capability to deliver
Word limit: 750
Who will lead and drive delivery of this application’s vision?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Demonstrate that those leading the delivery of this award have:
- secured the appropriate research and pastoral capacity to support the number of studentships that you expect to deliver through this award
- a well-evidenced track record of the experience and skills needed to deliver the proposed vision, training programme, and scale
- a well-evidenced track record of contributing to a positive research culture and the wider community
- a well-evidenced track record of supporting the training and development of others, particularly previous involvement in delivering doctoral training successfully
You should refer to the ‘What we are looking for’ section in the funding opportunity when answering this question.
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.
Partnerships and governance
Word limit: 750
How will the training grant be governed, and partnerships/relationships supported and managed, to maximise benefit and minimise risk?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Provide evidence that partners are committed to:
- working together, with effective two-way engagement
- positively and constructively contributing to the delivery of the doctoral training programme and the training experiences of the students with students clearly benefitting from these interactions
Provide evidence that there is an established, clear and effective governance and risk management structure for the training grant award that:
- is appropriate for the size and complexity of the doctoral programme and ensures continuity of the programme’s capabilities
- supports continual improvement, monitoring, and evaluation
- manages the legal duties of the programme and providers
- supports UKRI’s expectations to create value for society in an ethical and responsible way through relevant frameworks
You should refer to the ‘What we are looking for’ section in the funding opportunity when answering this question.
You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service.
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 person or organisation who will have an integral role in your 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.
A project partner is not anyone in your core team or anyone from your organisation or any of the other organisations represented by core team members.
Add the following project partner details:
- the organisation name (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 in-direct) 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.
Important information
If you are adding a project partner(s) to this section, you must ensure they provide you with a letter or email of support and you upload it to ‘Project partners: letters or emails of support’.
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
Word limit: 10
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
If you do not have any project partners, you will be able to indicate this in the Funding Service.
What supporting statements we are looking for
We are looking for you to provide letters or emails of support from all your identified project partner(s).
What supporting statements we are not looking for
We don’t want any other letters (or emails) of support, from people who are not your identified project partner(s), such as those simply expressing general support for your project. If these are included by you, they will be ignored by us and will not be used in the assessment process.
Important information
You should only provide letters or emails of support from people you have identified in the project partner section of your application, who will have an integral role in your proposed research.
What each project partner letter or email of support must include
Each project partner letter or email you provide should:
- include the name of the project partner organisation and contact information
- explain the project partner(s) commitment to the project
- explain the value, relevance, and possible benefits of the proposed work, to them
- describe any additional value they will bring to the project
- not exceed two sides of A4 per project partner
Project partner(s) letters and emails of support are not required to be on headed paper or include handwritten signatures (electronic signatures are acceptable).
The Funding Service will provide document upload details when you apply.
Project partner(s) responsible for recruiting research participants or providing human tissues or samples
If the project partner is responsible for the recruitment of people, as research participants or providing human tissue, their letter or email of support should include:
- agreement that the project partner will recruit the participants or provide tissue
- confirmation that what is being supplied is suitable for the proposed work
- confirmation that the quantity of tissue being supplied is suitable, but not excessive for achieving meaningful results (if applicable)
Agreement with your project partner(s)
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.
Flexible fund
Word count: 500
How will your use of flexible funding benefit the doctoral training programme and those it supports?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Explain:
- the aims of the flexible funding and the intended beneficiaries
- the approaches that will be used to achieve the aims and support access by the targeted beneficiaries
- how it will complement the wider doctoral programme
You should refer to the ‘Funding available’ section in the funding opportunity when answering this question.
