Social sciences grants

Trans-Atlantic Platform (TAP) call supporting collaborative transnational social sciences and humanities (SSH) research on societal preparedness for uncertain futures. Requires international, interdisciplinary research teams; submission via the elan portal or national partner agencies.

UKRI/EPSRC funding for speculative, high-risk research developing novel AI technologies, hardware, algorithms or systems that improve sustainability of future AI. Technology-led proposals only; majority non-technical (social science, policy, legal, ethics) applications excluded. Projects must start 1 February 2027; only UK-registered organisations may lead via the UKRI Funding Service.

HTA Programme commissioned call for health technology assessment of interventions for children and young people with non-progressive motor disorders affecting their speech. Applicants must be UK-based; research must address NHS or social care populations using PICO-structured questions with cost-effectiveness outcomes. Multidisciplinary teams including patient/public involvement and health economics expertise required.

UK-based organisations only (non-UK applicants ineligible). Projects must enhance existing ESRC social science data service infrastructures (no new services). Focus on improving data discovery, access to sensitive data, technology-enabled pipelines (incl. AI), and upskilling data service staff. Must include an upskilling work package. Business/third sector/government co-leads permitted but cannot lead projects.

For students, young academics and researchers based in Armenia (residents or studying there) under 35 to attend international conferences, seminars, short courses or research trips abroad. Preference given to humanities, social sciences, environmental sustainability and climate change topics; fixed award amount paid in euros.

Main funding round for project support within humanistic, social science, public health and epidemiological cancer research.

Project funding in the humanities, social sciences and medicine. Open to applicants holding a doctoral/post-doctoral degree at universities or non-profit research institutions. The project must have a clear connection to the German research system, personally, institutionally or thematically.

Joint DFG-SSHRC scheme funding one German-Canadian International Research Training Group in social sciences and humanities (excluding health-focused topics) for structured doctoral training with reciprocal research visits of 6-12 months. Lead PI in Canada must be affiliated with an SSHRC-eligible institution; proposal must meet SSHRC subject-matter eligibility guidelines.

Scheme for projects with a co-investigator employed in Denmark, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden or UK (UK limited to humanities and social sciences). Foreign co-investigator budget capped at 50% of total (30% for SSH projects with UK).

Collaborative arts and humanities research grants jointly funded by AHRC and US NSF-SBE, requiring a UK project lead and at least one project co-lead, including a mandatory US-based project co-lead (international) under NSF-SBE eligibility criteria. Mandatory EOI required before full application; project studentships not supported.

Collaborative arts and humanities research grants between UK researchers and Brazilian researchers based in the State of São Paulo, run jointly with FAPESP. Applicants must be actively engaged in postdoctoral research with a doctorate or equivalent experience; São Paulo-based partners need FAPESP eligibility confirmation and funding.

For emerging or established research groups in health-related humanities, social sciences or bioethics; lead applicant plus 1-6 co-applicants, each needing a permanent/long-term contract or guarantee thereof. Organisations may be based anywhere except mainland China; transfer of funds into mainland China is not permitted.

Applied research grants addressing 7 societal challenges (water cycle, forest management, housing/sustainable cities, AI, neurodegenerative diseases, healthcare system economics, migration). Lead PI must be Spanish national or resident, affiliated with a Spanish university or public/private non-profit research institution.

Funding for social science research at UK universities and independent research organisations; social sciences must represent more than 50% of research focus. Covers standard research projects, large-scale surveys, methodology or infrastructure development.

Joint AHRC–NSF/SBE lead agency scheme for collaborative arts and humanities research involving US-based co-leads eligible under NSF-SBE criteria; requires mandatory EOI approval before full application via UKRI Funding Service or NSF Fastlane/Grants.gov/Research.gov.

Urgent research projects from the Carlsberg Foundation, which funds basic research in the natural sciences, social sciences and humanities carried out by Danish researchers or foreign researchers connected to the Danish research environment. Urgent research support.

Supports humanistic, social science, public health and epidemiological cancer research, including patient perspectives, behavioural research, rehabilitation, palliative care, ethics and health system research. Open to cancer researchers at Danish institutions and Danish researchers working abroad intending to bring results back to Denmark.

For emerging or established research groups in health-related humanities, social sciences or bioethics, proposing a research development programme that builds a sustainable research agenda and career development. Host organisations can be anywhere except mainland China; funds cannot be transferred into mainland China.

For highly qualified academics living and working in a developing or transition country whose research is relevant to that country's development; applicants must have resided in an eligible country for at least 12 of the last 18 months and plan to return there. Stay in Germany must be at least 6 months; good knowledge of German or English required, with German language certificate needed for humanities/social sciences research requiring German or for physicians working with patients.

Funds humanities, social science and bioethics exchange programmes; covers staff salaries, equipment, overheads, travel, subsistence and overseas allowances including for low- and middle-income country researchers working abroad.

Publication from the Carlsberg Foundation, which funds basic research in the natural sciences, social sciences and humanities carried out by Danish researchers or foreign researchers connected to the Danish research environment. Grants for the publication of monographs based on research supported by

Funds bold, creative research in any discipline (STEM, experimental medicine, humanities, social science, clinical/public health) with potential to improve health. Administering organisation must be a not-for-profit in UK, Republic of Ireland, or a low/middle-income country (excluding India and mainland China); lead applicant needs a permanent or long-term contract. Location rules change for submissions from 29 October 2026: check the current funder requirements for the UK and eligible low- and middle-income countries in Africa, South Asia and South-East Asia.

For mid-career researchers ready to lead a substantial, innovative research programme in any discipline (STEM, humanities, social science, clinical/public health). Administering organisation must be a not-for-profit in the UK, Republic of Ireland, or a low/middle-income country (excluding India and mainland China); coapplicants not accepted.

Funding for social science research at approved UK universities and independent research organisations; social sciences must represent more than 50% of research focus. Covers standard research projects, large-scale surveys, methodology or infrastructure development.

Supports early-stage ambitious and novel fundamental research in arts and humanities, open to teams, networks, or solo researchers including non-academic roles (archivists, curators, librarians, technicians, practitioners). Does not fund PhD studentships; international co-leads permitted under UKRI project co-lead (international) policy.

Funds international exchange programmes in health-related humanities, social sciences or bioethics. Requires a lead applicant at an eligible UK host organisation plus programme leaders elsewhere (excluding mainland China); activities involving transfer of funds into mainland China are not permitted; host organisations must confirm commitment via statements and sign grant/sub-agreements.

Collaborative arts and humanities research grants between UK researchers and Brazilian researchers based at eligible institutions in the State of São Paulo, jointly funded by AHRC and FAPESP. Applicants must be actively engaged postdoctoral researchers affiliated with a recognised research organisation; project studentships are not supported.

Aimed at project teams from humanities, cultural studies and social sciences investigating how ideas transfer from academia into political and ideological contexts; funds cooperation projects and teaching substitutes/postdoc positions.

Funds UK social science data service practitioner communities of practice to exchange knowledge and improve data service delivery, as part of the ESRC Future Data Services programme; projects must start 1 October 2027 and end by 31 March 2031. Not for creating new infrastructure, datasets, or standard research projects.

Addresses persons from science together with actors outside academia for transdisciplinary research on democratic forms of government under change; led by humanities, cultural and social sciences with possible cooperation from natural, life, data and technical sciences; funds task forces.

Joint AHRC–FNR collaborative research grant for arts and humanities researchers partnering with Luxembourg-based researchers at FNR-eligible institutions (public research centres, University of Luxembourg, public bodies). UK FEC must be £300k–£1.5M, AHRC funds 80%; Luxembourg costs funded separately by FNR under its own rules. Projects must start at least 9 months after submission.

Open to arts and humanities researchers for collaborative research projects; applications require a project lead and at least one project co-lead. International project co-leads and project partners (UK or overseas, including EU) may be included. Projects must start at least nine months after submission.

Aimed at outstanding professors from the humanities and social sciences, providing funding for a substitute professorship to free up time for a major scholarly work.