# National Material Science Beamline Research Facility

**Funder:** EPSRC
**Budget:** Up to £7 million
**Duration:** 5 years
**Consortium:** Optional — the specification is written around applicant teams rather than a single Principal Investigator, with team contributions emphasised
**Application:** Single stage assessment with expert panel review and interview
**Eligible countries:** GB
**Official call:** https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/provide-a-national-material-science-beamline-research-facility/
**Last updated:** 18 Oct 2026

## Eligibility & scope

EPSRC national research facility (NRF) scheme funding for providing a national material science beamline research facility; applicants must detail governance, user access, equipment and management arrangements. Includes an interview assessment stage and mandatory justification of resources document.

## Summary

EPSRC's National Research Facility scheme offers up to £7 million over five years to establish a national material science beamline research facility in the UK. It is aimed at applicant teams rather than a single investigator, who must set out governance, user access, equipment and management plans for the facility. The call is assessed in a single stage, including expert panel review and an interview.

## Who should apply

- Applicant teams rather than lone Principal Investigators
- UK-based research institutions able to host a national facility
- Groups with material science beamline expertise and infrastructure plans
- Teams able to define governance, user access and equipment management arrangements

## Key dates

- Single-stage assessment with expert panel review and interview
- Five-year facility funding period

## Tips for applicants

- Prepare the mandatory justification of resources document early, it is a required, separately assessed component.
- Set out governance and user access arrangements in concrete terms; the panel evaluates facility management as closely as the science.
- Treat the interview stage as decisive and rehearse explaining team roles, since the call is structured around team contributions rather than a single PI.

## Frequently asked questions

### How much funding does the EPSRC National Material Science Beamline Research Facility grant provide?

Up to £7 million over five years.

### Who can apply for this EPSRC national facility grant?

Applicant teams based in the UK; the scheme is structured around team contributions rather than a single Principal Investigator.

### Is a consortium required for this EPSRC grant?

A consortium is optional, the specification allows for applicant teams rather than requiring a single PI, but does not mandate a minimum number of partners.

### What is the application process for this grant?

It is a single-stage assessment involving expert panel review and an interview, plus a mandatory justification of resources document.

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Source: [The Great Grantsby](https://grantsby.eu/grants/epsrc-national-material-science-beamline-research-facili-2026) — EU grant monitoring for academic researchers. Always verify details on the funder's website before applying.

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