NIHR
Research Programme for Social Care – Early Career Researcher
Project cannot start before 01 December 2027; application deadline not stated on page
Last updated:
No deadline is on file for this call. Check NIHR's own call page for the current round's status before you plan around it.
This NIHR call funds early career researchers to lead social care research projects of up to £300,000 over 24 months. It targets researchers within 5 years of their PhD, or those who have not yet held a chief investigator grant over £100k, based at a UK university, NHS body, or local authority. Applications are reviewed in a separate pool from NIHR's main research programme, so ECR proposals are not competing against larger, more established awards, though an experienced co-applicant must mentor the lead applicant.
Details
| Funder | NIHR |
| Budget | Up to £300,000 |
| Duration | 24 months |
| Consortium | Optional — up to 15 co-applicants; an experienced co-applicant must serve as a mentor to the ECR lead |
| Application | 2-stage: outline application → full application (SoECAT required at full stage only) |
| Career stage | Early-career opportunity |
| Eligible countries | GB |
Eligibility & scope
ECR eligibility: PhD within last 5 years and/or no prior CI grant exceeding £100k. Applicant must be at a UK university, NHS body, or local authority. Reviewed separately from main pool; not in direct competition with larger awards. An experienced co-applicant must serve as mentor.
Who Should Apply
- •Researchers within 5 years of PhD completion, or without a prior CI grant over £100k
- •Based at a UK university, NHS body, or local authority
- •Social care-focused research projects
- •Applicants able to secure an experienced mentor as co-applicant
- •Those seeking a funding pool separate from NIHR's larger, more competitive awards
Key Dates
- •Project start date cannot be before 1 December 2027 (application deadline not stated on page)
- •Two-stage process: outline application, then full application with SoECAT required only at full stage
- •24-month project duration
Tips for Applicants
- ✓Secure your mentor co-applicant early, this is a mandatory eligibility requirement, not an optional strengthener.
- ✓Since projects can't start before December 2027, use the lead time to build your co-applicant team and refine scope even before the outline stage opens.
- ✓Save detailed costings for the full application stage; the SoECAT is not required at outline stage, so keep that submission focused on the research case.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much funding does the NIHR Research Programme for Social Care Early Career Researcher award provide?
Up to £300,000 for a project lasting 24 months.
Who counts as an early career researcher for this NIHR call?
Applicants must have received their PhD within the last 5 years and/or have no prior chief investigator grant exceeding £100k.
Do I need a mentor or co-applicants to apply?
Co-applicants are optional (up to 15), but an experienced co-applicant must serve as a mentor to the ECR lead.
When can a funded project start?
Projects cannot start before 1 December 2027; the application deadline itself is not stated on the funder's page.
How many stages does the application process have?
Two stages: an outline application followed by a full application, with the Statement of Costs (SoECAT) required only at the full stage.
Summary generated by AI based on published grant information. Always verify details on the funder's website.
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