Outline stage
This is the first stage of applications for this opportunity and is intended to give consortia the opportunity to outline their ideas before completing a full application. If invited to submit a full application, it will be possible to change details which do not fundamentally alter the vision and approach, such as adding project partners and co-leads.
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.
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
The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) must receive your application by 21 April 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 this funding opportunity, your application cannot be changed, and submitted applications will not be amended. 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.
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. 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
If you are invited to the full stage and 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:
- research theme of the proposed training grant
- aims and objectives
- proposed doctoral training and development opportunities
- partnerships within and beyond academia
Core team
List the key members of your team and assign them roles from the following:
- project lead (PL)
- project co-lead (UK) (PcL)
- specialist
- grant manager
- professional enabling staff
- technician
Only list one individual as project lead. You can list multiple co-leads.
The core team section should be used to list individuals from the lead HEI and co-leads from partner institutions. The project partner section should be used to list non-HEI partners.
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.
Discipline classification: primary
Word limit: 5
Please provide the primary research area of your proposal.
What the assessors are 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 and where relevant the approach, time period or geographical area.
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
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: 300
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, maintaining, championing, and embedding a positive, inclusive, and supportive environment for all students and staff (including supervisors) involved
- addressing a variety of needs and supporting good wellbeing
- ensuring that you put in place processes that look to address issues of underrepresentation and widening participation within the doctoral community
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.
Capability to deliver
Word limit: 300
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, and 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: 300
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
At least one partner should be identified for the outline stage, but further partners can be added if invited to apply for the full stage.
Use of resources
Word limit: 500
How will you use the resources allocated for the Research Training Support Grant (RTSG) and Cohort Development Funding (CDF), and the increased stipend for Collaborative Doctoral Awards (CDAs)?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Please outline:
- an indicative number of studentships you could support (between 12 and 20 over four cohorts)
- whether you intend to provide Collaborative Doctoral Awards (AHRC can support two to three CDAs per award) and how this funding would be allocated
- an indication of how you will determine need for the cohort development funding and how you will allocate and manage this resource
- an indication of how you will allocate and manage individual support cost needs using RTSG
RTSG will be provided at a rate of £600 per student per year. This is not ringfenced for each student and the grant 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.
CDF will be provided at a rate of £1,200 per student per year. This is not ringfenced for each student and shouldn’t be allocated to individual students. The grant holder should use it to support activity that provides training and development opportunities for cohorts of students.
CDA funding will be provided at a rate of £600 per student per year. This funding is intended to support collaborative activity with a non-Higher Education Institution (HEI) partner at an individual student level.
You are not expected to provide costings at the outline stage but should demonstrate planning around how you will manage the funding for cohort training and individual training needs.
You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant.
References may be included within this section.
Project partners
Add details about any project partners’ contributions. For the outline stage, we expect at least one project partner to be identified, however, more can be added at the full stage.
A project partner is a collaborating non-HEI organisation who will have an integral role in the proposed consortium. 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.
