# AHRC Large Grants – Outline Stage **Funder:** AHRC **Budget:** £1.6M–£2.4M AHRC contribution (80% of £2M–£3M FEC) **Deadline:** 16 September 2026 (4:00pm UK time. Outline stage only; full stage invited separately. Projects start 1 November 2027.) **Duration:** 3–5 years **Consortium:** Required — team-convened approach with distributed leadership across project co-leads; single applicants not eligible **Application:** 2-stage: outline stage (deadline 16 Sep 2026) → invited full stage (costings and work plan required) **Eligible countries:** GB **Official call:** https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/ahrc-large-grants-outline-stage/ **Last verified:** 18 June 2026 ## Eligibility & scope Supports novel, ambitious, transformative arts and humanities research teams (3–5 years, £2M–£3M FEC; AHRC funds 80%). Must be team-convened with distributed co-lead leadership. Lead research organisation must have standard UKRI eligibility (UK-based). International co-leads eligible up to 30% FEC. No PhD studentships permitted. Proposals must fall within AHRC subject remit. ## Summary AHRC Large Grants fund ambitious, collaborative arts and humanities research projects of 3-5 years duration with a total cost of £2M-£3M, of which AHRC contributes 80% (£1.6M-£2.4M). Applications must come from a team-convened project with distributed co-lead leadership across multiple investigators; single-applicant proposals are not eligible. The lead research organisation must be UK-based, though international co-leads may comprise up to 30% of the total budget. ## Who should apply - UK-based research organisations leading a consortium of 3+ co-investigators - Teams with distributed leadership across named project co-leads - Arts and humanities researchers with novel, transformative research questions - Consortia where international partners comprise no more than 30% of total FEC - Established researchers and institutions with capacity to manage multi-institutional projects ## Key dates - Outline stage deadline: 16 September 2026, 4:00pm UK time - Two-stage process: outline (Sep 2026) followed by invited full proposal with detailed costings and work plan - Projects start 1 November 2027; duration 3-5 years ## Tips for applicants - Consortium structure is non-negotiable, the panel assesses distributed leadership explicitly; ensure all co-leads are named and have distinct research roles. - Outline stage is intentionally brief (90 days before full invited stage); use it to establish feasibility and team fit rather than exhaustive detail; reviewers expect brevity. - International partners strengthen the proposal but cost against your FEC ceiling; plan budget carefully if you involve partners outside the UK, as they cannot exceed 30% of the total. ## Frequently asked questions ### What is the budget for AHRC Large Grants? Total project cost is £2M-£3M, of which AHRC funds 80%, meaning an AHRC contribution of £1.6M-£2.4M. Applicants must secure the remaining 20% through co-funding or institutional contribution. ### Can a single researcher apply for AHRC Large Grants? No, applications must come from a team-convened project with distributed co-lead leadership. Single-applicant proposals are not eligible. ### What is the outline stage? The outline stage (deadline 16 September 2026) is the first step; only invited applicants proceed to the full stage, where detailed costings and a full work plan are required. ### Can international researchers be part of an AHRC Large Grants consortium? Yes, international co-leads are eligible, but they cannot exceed 30% of the total project FEC. The lead research organisation must be UK-based. ### Can I include PhD studentships in an AHRC Large Grants project? No, PhD studentships are not permitted in AHRC Large Grants. --- Source: [The Great Grantsby](https://grantsby.eu/grants/ahrc-large-grants-outline-stage-2026-09) — EU grant monitoring for academic researchers. Always verify details on the funder's website before applying. **See which EU calls match your profile.** [Preview your matches in 30 seconds, no signup](https://grantsby.eu/demo?ref=llm_grant_md).