EPSRC
FoCAL Award: EPSRC and MHCLG Fire Engineering Skills Hub
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No deadline is on file for this call. Check EPSRC's own call page for the current round's status before you plan around it.
The FoCAL Award funds UK higher education institutions to set up a Fire Engineering Skills Hub combining doctoral studentships, level 7 postgraduate programmes and CPD training, with up to £5.9 million available across up to two hubs. It requires a multi-organisational consortium, with a lead institution hosting up to 18 doctoral students across two cohorts, and projects must start between April and October 2027. This is a one-off call jointly delivered by MHCLG and EPSRC to build fire engineering skills capacity in the UK.
Details
| Funder | EPSRC |
| Budget | Up to £5.9M total |
| Duration | Up to 60 months (doctoral training); level 7/CPD programme funding must be spent by end March 2029 |
| Consortium | Required — multi-organisational consortium; lead must host doctoral students, other organisations may co-lead or host, project partners also encouraged |
| Frequency | One-off |
| Eligible countries | GB |
Eligibility & scope
Funding opportunity from MHCLG delivered via EPSRC for higher education institutions to establish a Fire Engineering Skills Hub, combining doctoral studentships, level 7 postgraduate programmes and CPD training. Applicants must be UK higher education institutions; projects must start between 1 April 2027 and 1 October 2027; up to two skills hubs funded, up to 18 doctoral students across two cohorts.
Who Should Apply
- •UK higher education institutions able to lead or co-lead a multi-organisational consortium
- •Lead institutions capable of hosting doctoral students directly
- •Consortia combining doctoral training, level 7 postgraduate programmes and CPD delivery
- •Institutions with established or emerging fire engineering research and teaching capacity
- •Project partners from industry or practice willing to support skills training
Key Dates
- •Projects must start between 1 April 2027 and 1 October 2027
- •Doctoral training funded for up to 60 months; level 7/CPD programme funding must be spent by end March 2029
- •One-off call, no recurring rounds
Tips for Applicants
- ✓Since up to two hubs will be funded, position your consortium's fire engineering specialism clearly against likely competing bids from other UK universities.
- ✓The lead institution must host doctoral students, so structure co-lead and partner roles early, this is not a simple single-institution application.
- ✓Build a realistic spend plan against the end-March 2029 deadline for level 7/CPD funding, since this is tighter than the 60-month doctoral training window.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much funding does the FoCAL Award provide?
Up to £5.9 million in total, funding up to two Fire Engineering Skills Hubs.
Who can apply for the FoCAL Award?
UK higher education institutions, applying as part of a required multi-organisational consortium where the lead institution hosts doctoral students.
How many doctoral students does the FoCAL Award fund?
Up to 18 doctoral students across two cohorts, split between the funded skills hubs.
When must FoCAL-funded projects start and end?
Projects must start between 1 April 2027 and 1 October 2027; doctoral training can run up to 60 months, while level 7 and CPD programme funding must be spent by end March 2029.
Is the FoCAL Award a recurring call?
No, this is a one-off funding opportunity from MHCLG delivered via EPSRC.
Summary generated by AI based on published grant information. Always verify details on the funder's website.
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