- How do I find out if I am eligible to receive ESRC funding and where do I find more detailed information on funding regulations?
- How do I apply for funding for my research?
- How do I apply for funding for a seminar series?
- How do I find out about new research opportunities?
- How do I apply for international projects?
- How do I put together a good research application?
- How do I submit an electronic application?
- How do I make a complaint?
1. How do I find out if I am eligible to receive ESRC funding and where do I find more detailed information on funding regulations?
Eligibility for our funding schemes and details of the applications procedures are explained in our online booklet Research Funding.
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2. How do I apply for funding for my research?
Before completing application forms, applicants must consider the timing and planning of the research to allow sufficient time for recruitment, arrangement of fieldwork, setting up of surveys and access to data, and the completion of dissemination activities included within the project.
Decisions in principle from ESRC, if not set to a pre-notified timetable, may take between 11 and 26 weeks, dependent upon the size of the application.
Award letters for successful applications should be issued within 2-4 weeks of the decision on an application. However some decisions are conditional, and experience suggests that some 4-8 weeks (and exceptionally longer) are required.
Beyond this other requirements (for example for recruitment) may take 6-14 weeks. Between 25 and 52 weeks may therefore be necessary between the date of an application and a realistic date when any project might start.
Your institution's research grants and contracts office should provide guidance on the presentation of applications. Well-justified costings will speed the time taken to issue any award.
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3. How do I apply for funding for a seminar series?
Seminar series funding can be applied for by entering the ESRC Seminars Competition.
Seminar Groups are multi-institutional groups of academic researchers, postgraduate students and non-academic users who meet regularly to exchange information and ideas with the aim of advancing research within their fields. Where appropriate, Seminar Group members should be drawn from industry, government departments and other relevant organisations as well as from academic institutions. We would particularly encourage Seminar Groups explicitly designed to bring together leading researchers from across disciplines to identify new research agendas or capacity building priorities. We would encourage applications from existing Seminar Groups with demonstrable dynamism where the ESRC remains the most appropriate funding source, as well as new groups.
Funding is available for UK HEIs and Independent Research Institutes (approved by the ESRC) to undertake these research seminars. The ESRC expects to make approximately 50 awards of up to £15,000 each for a maximum period of two years.
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4. How do I find out about new research opportunities?
For new research programmes, centres, groups and priority networks, calls for applications are made in the national press, generally in the Guardian and Times Higher Education Supplement and advertised on this website under Funding Opportunities. In these circumstances fixed closing dates for the submission of applications apply.
However, our Research Grants Scheme operates on an open dates basis, so you can send in your application at any time of year.
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5. How do I apply for international projects?
The ESRC strongly believes that research in the social sciences flourishes in an open and internationalist environment. ESRC is committed to the task of raising awareness of British social science on the international stage.
We will consider, within our normal funding schemes, support for research covering any part of the world.
We have a particular responsibility to maximise international resources and opportunities for the UK social science community. Developments within the European Union, and in particular the Framework Programmes, are a priority, and we are committed to increasing the role of social scientists in European research projects. We also collaborate in several other international activities in Europe and elsewhere around the world.
Overall responsibility for international policy lies with Glyn Davies, Director of Policy & Resources. The International Officer is Ruth Lee, who is responsible for day to day matters on international issues.
General enquiries: international@esrc.ac.uk
Telephone: +44 (0)1793 413 055
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6. How do I put together a good research application?
We have Guidance Notes on preparing a good application for submission to the ESRC, which you might find useful.
Whave also prepared some multimedia presentations which will provide you with further insight into the ESRC application process, and suggestions on how to prepare a successful application.
Note: To view these presentations, you will need a Flash-enabled browser. A reasonably fast Internet connection (broadband or equivalent) is also recommended.
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7. How do I submit an electronic application?
Please refer to the Electronic forms page.
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8. How do I make a complaint?
The ESRC's complaints procedure gives full details of where and how to make any complaints. All complaints are treated seriously and in the strictest confidence.
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