Apply for funding under the STFC Funding Support for Core Summer Schools scheme for events taking place in 2026.
You must be from an STFC-accredited UK university or research organisation eligible for STFC funding.
Your summer school must:
We welcome applications from STFC-accredited UK universities and research organisations.
STFC is committed to ensuring that its policies and practices reflect the diverse needs and experiences of its employees and stakeholders. You must ensure that all arrangements comply with UK Research and Innovation’s (UKRI) key principles on EDI.
You must also ensure that the arrangements for the school:
In addition to ensuring gender balance and the inclusion of individuals from under-represented groups, you must ensure that all tutors and lecturers have the appropriate experience to deliver their sessions effectively.
If early career researchers are involved in delivering content or supervising students, they should receive training or a formal briefing to prepare them for their responsibilities, particularly when placed in positions of authority.
Find out more about equality, diversity and inclusion at UKRI.
STFC will support the following schools in this funding opportunity:
You must submit a high-quality application that meets the requirements of the funding opportunity if you apply. We will not accept or support applications from other summer schools.
Summer schools must align with the STFC core science programme, which includes:
Even though we are currently only supporting the core summer schools, it is important that you clearly demonstrate how your programme aligns with STFC’s core science remit.
The programme should address key STFC scientific questions and contribute meaningfully to the development of expertise in these areas. To ensure wide accessibility and impact, the content should be broad enough to appeal to a diverse cohort of students across the STFC community, while maintaining scientific depth and relevance.
You should include detailed justification and address the school aims to deliver in terms of content, and how it links to STFC science programme.
See STFC guidance for summer schools in 2026:
For advice on public engagement content, email stfcpublicengagement@stfc.ukri.org
Summer schools must be aimed primarily at STFC-funded PhD students. Every student should have an opportunity to attend a STFC-supported summer school.
All schools should include sessions on:
Introductory courses should include a session on careers advice, covering both academic and non-academic careers.
We expect you to invite Ernest Rutherford Fellows and UKRI Future Leaders Fellowships Fellows to participate as lecturers or tutors.
You should aim to keep the cost per student below £150 per day. However, we may consider reasonable overheads that result in costs exceeding this threshold, provided that clear and specific justifications are provided.
Note the following financial restrictions within the summer school template:
You may include costs for reasonable adjustments. Where an application includes such costs, we will ensure you are eligible, and these should be accepted without comment. Further information on disability and accessibility support for UKRI applicants during the application and assessment process can be found on the Disability and accessibility support for UKRI applicants and grant holders.
If you exceed the costs outlined in the summer school template, you must cover any additional expenses. These excess costs cannot be claimed from the funding body.
You must email your application for the 2026 core summer school funding opportunity to studentships@stfc.ukri.org using the official format and templates provided.
These can be found at:
Do not change the layout of the summer school costs template.
When applying to host a core summer school, we strongly encourage you to contact the previous organisers of that school. This helps ensure continuity, share best practices, and support the ongoing development and improvement of the course.
Final reports and student feedback from previous years are available and can be requested from the STFC Studentships team at studentships@stfc.ukri.org
These resources can be valuable during the planning process to inform content, structure and delivery.
STFC must receive your application by 14 October 2025 at 5:00pm UK time.
You will not be able to apply after this time.
You need to ensure 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 we will not return applications for amendment. If your application does not follow the guidance, it may be rejected.
STFC, as part of UKRI, will need to collect some personal information to manage 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.
STFC, as part of UKRI, will publish the outcomes of this funding opportunity on STFC short course and summer schools.
All applications must provide the following information:
We expect course organisers to seek commercial sponsorship wherever possible while retaining the scientific ownership of the school and you will need provide evidence of this.
You must submit a detailed risk management plan outlining any potential risks to the delivery of the programme, along with corresponding mitigation strategies. The plan should also include contingency arrangements for delivering the programme remotely in the event that a residential school cannot take place.
If you plan excursions or off-site activities as part of the summer school programme, you should provide a separate risk assessment and management plan to address the specific risks associated with those activities
All applications will be assessed by the Education, Training, and Careers Committee (ETCC) against the following criteria:
We will let you know whether your application has been successful, unsuccessful, or requires improvement to be funded after the meeting in late November 2025 or early December 2025.
You may need to re-submit you application if it needs amendments.
If successful, you need to provide a report to STFC on the completion of the course. The report should include student feedback, and gender balance between students.
The report will be shared with the ETCC in March 2027. This may also be shared with future hosts.
Email: studentships@stfc.ukri.org
We aim to respond within two working days.
