Project Grants

Project Grants

A significant percentage of funding provided by the Research Councils and by the major UK Charities is aimed at funding research projects in the responsive mode; that is grants for projects conceived by the applicant(s). For many academics this is the type of grant which will be of most use because it allows you to develop your own project .  Some funders, however, also offer project grants which must focus on a specific theme or idea.  These are referred to as managed grants.

RESPONSIVE GRANTS

Funders offer grants varying in size from a few thousand pounds (often referred to as Small Grants) to several million and funding can be for durations of a few months to five years or more. Generally speaking funding is likely to be available for a research project of any size and duration (within reason).

What follows is a brief overview of responsive research grants (large and small) offered by the Research Councils and major UK Charities; information on EU grants will be added shortly:

Art & Humanities Research Council

British Academy

Biotechnology & Biological Science Research Council

Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council

  • Detail to be added

Economic & Social Research Council

Leverhulme

  • Research Project Grants - Value: normally up to £250,000 but up to £500,000 is possible; Duration: normally 24-36 months but up to 60 months is possible; Deadline(s): outline application in the first instance which has an open deadline, successful outline applicants will be invited to make a full application

Natural Environment Research Council 

  • Standard Research Grants - Value: minimum of £25,000 (directly incurred costs); Duration: flexible; Deadline(s): 1 Jul, 1 Dec 
  • Small Research Grants - Value: maximum of £65,000 (FEC); Duration: flexible; Deadline(s): 1 Sep

Nuffield Foundation

  • Open Door Grants - funds projects outside the Foundation's special areas of interest but which must have a bearing on its wider charitable remit; Value: normally £5,000-£150,000; Duration: flexible; Deadline(s): 3 deadlines for outline applications (Nov, Mar, Jul), successful outline applicants will be invited to make a full application

MANAGED GRANTS

Details to follow