# Applicant-Led Challenge Awards

**Funder:** ESRC
**Budget:** £2M–£10M (80% FEC funded by ESRC)
**Duration:** Up to 60 months
**Consortium:** Optional — welcomes interdisciplinary and cross-sector collaboration, international co-leads and project partners, but not mandatory for a single applicant
**Application:** Multi-stage assessment process
**Eligible countries:** GB
**Official call:** https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/esrc-applicant-led-challenge-awards/
**Last updated:** 9 Sept 2026

## Eligibility & scope

Supports large-scale, ambitious social science research, innovation or infrastructure programmes addressing major challenges; social sciences must represent over 50% of research focus. Open to UK-based project leads with international co-leads and business/third-sector/government co-leads permitted; applicants must use the new UKRI Funding Service, not Je-S.

## Summary

The ESRC Applicant-Led Challenge Awards fund large-scale social science research, innovation or infrastructure programmes tackling major societal challenges, with £2M to £10M available at 80% FEC over projects lasting up to 60 months. The call is open to UK-based project leads where social sciences form over half the research focus, and it welcomes but does not require international co-leads or partners from business, government or the third sector. Applicants must submit through the new UKRI Funding Service rather than Je-S.

## Who should apply

- UK-based project leads submitting as sole applicants or with international co-leads
- Researchers whose work is majority social science (over 50% of research focus)
- Teams proposing large-scale, ambitious research, innovation or infrastructure programmes
- Projects optionally involving business, third-sector or government co-leads or partners

## Key dates

- Full call details and deadline expected to be published when the opportunity opens, with further information anticipated late 2026
- Multi-stage assessment process
- Up to 60-month project duration

## Tips for applicants

- Ensure social sciences clearly represent over 50% of the research focus, as this is a hard eligibility threshold, not a preference.
- Use the new UKRI Funding Service portal rather than Je-S, and confirm access well ahead of any deadline once the call opens.
- If including international or cross-sector co-leads, make their role and contribution explicit given ESRC's emphasis on interdisciplinary and cross-sector collaboration for this call.

## Frequently asked questions

### How much funding does the ESRC Applicant-Led Challenge Awards provide?

Awards range from £2M to £10M, funded at 80% of full economic cost (FEC) by ESRC.

### How long can an ESRC Applicant-Led Challenge Awards project run?

Projects can run for up to 60 months (five years).

### Who is eligible to apply for the ESRC Applicant-Led Challenge Awards?

The project lead must be UK-based, with social sciences making up over 50% of the research focus; international co-leads and co-leads from business, third-sector or government organisations are permitted.

### Do I need a consortium to apply for this ESRC award?

No, a consortium is not mandatory, but the call welcomes interdisciplinary and cross-sector collaboration with international or non-academic co-leads.

### When does the ESRC Applicant-Led Challenge Awards open?

Full details and deadlines are expected to be published when the opportunity opens, with further information anticipated in late 2026.

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Source: [The Great Grantsby](https://grantsby.eu/grants/esrc-applicant-led-challenge-awards-2026) — EU grant monitoring for academic researchers. Always verify details on the funder's website before applying.

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