# Urgency Grants

**Funder:** NERC
**Budget:** Up to £100,000 FEC (NERC funds 80%, 100% for Norwegian co-leads)
**Duration:** Up to 1 year
**Consortium:** No - individual project lead, international co-leads limited to Norway-based collaborators
**Application:** 2-stage: outline application (within 4 weeks of event) → invited full application (within 10 working days of invitation)
**Frequency:** Continuous
**Eligible countries:** GB
**Official call:** https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/nerc-urgency-funding-open/
**Last updated:** 18 Oct 2026

## Eligibility & scope

Supports UK-based researchers to respond rapidly to transient, unexpected environmental events (e.g. earthquakes, droughts, floods) requiring urgent data collection. Project partners fund their own involvement; overseas organisations not funded except specific costs for Norwegian co-leads. Only lead research organisation can submit via UKRI Funding Service.

## Summary

NERC Urgency Grants provide up to £100,000 (80% FEC) for UK-eligible researchers who need to collect data fast after an unexpected environmental event like an earthquake, flood, or drought, where standard funding timelines would miss the window. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, but the outline application must land within four weeks of the event, followed by a fast-turnaround full application. Norway-based researchers can join as project co-leads, with NERC covering 100% of their eligible costs.

## Who should apply

- Researchers at NERC-eligible UK institutions responding to a specific, recent environmental event
- Teams needing to capture perishable data (e.g. post-earthquake, post-flood measurements) before it is lost
- Projects with international collaborators, including optional Norway-based project co-leads
- Applicants who can turn around a full proposal within 10 working days of invitation

## Key dates

- Rolling deadline; outline application must be submitted within 4 weeks of the triggering event
- Two-stage process: 1-page outline, then invited full application within 10 working days, via UKRI Funding Service
- Up to 1-year project duration

## Tips for applicants

- Track the four-week clock from the event start date, not from when you decide to apply, late outlines are not eligible.
- Keep the one-page outline focused on why the data window is closing and what would be irrecoverably lost without urgent action.
- If including a Norway-based co-lead, flag their costs separately since NERC covers 100% FEC for them versus 80% for standard partners.

## Frequently asked questions

### How much does a NERC Urgency Grant provide?

Up to £100,000 full economic cost, with NERC funding 80% FEC (100% for eligible Norway-based project co-lead costs).

### What is the deadline for a NERC Urgency Grant?

There is no fixed deadline; applications are accepted continuously, but the outline application must be submitted within four weeks of the triggering environmental event.

### How long does a NERC Urgency Grant last?

Projects can run for up to one year.

### Who can lead a NERC Urgency Grant application?

Only organisations meeting standard NERC eligibility can lead, though Norway-based researchers can join as project co-leads with limited NERC support for their costs.

### How does the NERC Urgency Grant application process work?

It is a two-stage process: a one-page outline application submitted within four weeks of the event, followed by an invited full application due within 10 working days, both via the UKRI Funding Service.

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

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