# Pushing the Frontiers

**Funder:** NERC
**Budget:** Up to £950,000 FEC (funded at 80%, international co-lead costs at 100%)
**Duration:** 3-4 years
**Consortium:** Optional — multidisciplinary research and collaborations with other UK organisations encouraged; project partners fund their own involvement
**Application:** Single stage, continuous submission via UKRI Funding Service
**Frequency:** Continuous
**Official call:** https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/pushing-the-frontiers-of-environmental-research/
**Last updated:** 18 Oct 2026

## Eligibility & scope

Open to research groups and individuals addressing significant environmental science questions within NERC's remit; welcomes multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research. International co-leads limited to Norway-based collaborators under UKRI-Research Council of Norway agreement; NSF, FAPESP, FNR Lead Agency routes available. Does not fund PhD studentship costs or data archival/curation.

## Summary

Pushing the Frontiers is NERC's continuous-submission scheme for environmental science research, funding up to £950,000 FEC over three to four years for projects addressing significant questions within NERC's remit. It is open to individual researchers and groups at UK institutions, with optional multidisciplinary collaboration and international co-leadership available through agreements with Norway, the US (NSF), Brazil (FAPESP) or Luxembourg (FNR). There is no fixed deadline, applications are accepted and assessed on a rolling basis.

## Who should apply

- Researchers at UK institutions working on environmental science questions within NERC's remit
- Individuals or research groups, with multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary projects encouraged
- Teams seeking international co-leadership with Norway, US, Brazil or Luxembourg partners
- Projects not reliant on funding for PhD studentships or data archival/curation
- Applicants ready to submit via continuous rolling review rather than a fixed-round competition

## Key dates

- Rolling deadline, continuous submission via the UKRI Funding Service, no fixed call date
- Single-stage application process
- Project duration of 3-4 years

## Tips for applicants

- Because submissions are continuous, build in time for internal institutional sign-off rather than racing a fixed deadline.
- If adding an international co-lead, confirm which bilateral route applies (Norway, NSF, FAPESP or FNR) early, as eligibility and process differ by partner.
- Budget carefully around the exclusions, PhD studentship costs and data archival/curation are not fundable under this scheme.

## Frequently asked questions

### How much does NERC Pushing the Frontiers fund?

Up to £950,000 at Full Economic Cost, funded at 80% (international co-lead costs funded at 100%).

### Is there a deadline for Pushing the Frontiers?

No, it uses a rolling deadline with continuous submission through the UKRI Funding Service.

### Can I include international partners in a Pushing the Frontiers application?

Yes, international co-leads are supported through agreements limited to Norway-based collaborators, plus lead agency routes with NSF, FAPESP and FNR.

### Does Pushing the Frontiers fund PhD studentships?

No, it does not cover PhD studentship costs or data archival/curation.

### How long can a Pushing the Frontiers project run?

Projects run for three to four years.

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

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