# New Investigator Award

**Funder:** EPSRC
**Budget:** Up to £400,000 per equipment item; 80% FEC funded, no overall grant value limit
**Duration:** 1-3 years typically, no fixed limit
**Consortium:** No - individual applicant; project co-leads generally not permitted except where essential specialist expertise is required
**Application:** Single stage, continuous submission with internal batching for panel assessment
**Frequency:** Continuous
**Eligible countries:** GB
**Official call:** https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/epsrc-new-investigator-award-nov-2023-responsive-mode/
**Last updated:** 18 Oct 2026

## Eligibility & scope

For individuals holding an academic lectureship (or equivalent) who have not previously led a research group; eligibility based on funding history not years post-PhD. Open to any EPSRC remit field (AI, engineering, physical sciences, quantum, etc.). Applications submitted via UKRI Funding Service, batched internally with no fixed closing dates.

## Summary

The EPSRC New Investigator Award funds early-career UK researchers making their first application as project lead, with support for projects typically lasting 1-3 years and funded at 80% FEC. Eligibility is limited to applicants with no prior single award exceeding £175,000 FEC and no more than 12 months of postdoctoral supervision experience. The scheme covers all EPSRC-remit fields and operates on a rolling basis with single-stage review.

## Who should apply

- Early-career researchers at their first EPSRC application as project lead
- UK-resident researchers based at a UK research organisation
- Applicants with no prior single EPSRC award exceeding £175,000 FEC
- Scientists and engineers with minimal postdoctoral supervision experience (≤12 months)
- Projects across all EPSRC-remit disciplines

## Key dates

- Rolling submission; apply whenever ready with no published closing dates for individual batches
- Single-stage review; applications batched internally and evaluated by responsive-mode panel
- Typical project duration 1-3 years

## Tips for applicants

- This is a stepping stone to larger EPSRC funding, frame your first lead award as a pilot or proof-of-concept to a bigger vision, not a final endpoint.
- The postdoc-supervision cap is strict; if you have trained more than 12 months of postdoctoral staff in total, you may be ineligible regardless of other criteria.
- Rolling submission means no deadline pressure, but don't delay: reviewers may flag your idea as already in-flight if similar applications land in the same batch.

## Frequently asked questions

### Who can apply for the EPSRC New Investigator Award?

Early-career UK-resident researchers at a UK research organisation applying as project lead for the first time, with no prior award exceeding £175,000 FEC and no more than 12 months of postdoctoral supervision.

### How long can an EPSRC New Investigator Award project last?

Typically 1-3 years.

### How much is an EPSRC New Investigator Award funded?

No stated upper limit; awards are funded at 80% of full economic cost (FEC).

### How do I apply for the EPSRC New Investigator Award?

Submit a single-stage application at any time (rolling submission); applications are batched internally and sent to a responsive-mode panel for review.

### Can I have a co-lead on an EPSRC New Investigator Award?

No; project co-leads are generally not permitted for this scheme.

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

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