ESRC Responsive Mode: New Investigator Grants

ESRC Responsive Mode New Investigator Grants

Supports first-time United Kingdom principal researchers with development-focused social science grants for independent project leadership.

ESRC Responsive Mode New Investigator Grants are an always-open funding scheme for early-career social scientists making the transition to independent research leadership. Applications are submitted at any time via the UKRI Funding Service with no fixed deadline; the current active round is Round Two, open since 29 September 2023. Awards range from £100,000 to £350,000 at full economic cost (FEC) — following an April 2024 update, applicants may request up to £350,000 at 100% FEC, though ESRC still funds only 80% of that amount. Projects may run for up to five years. The host research organisation submits on behalf of the applicant; direct individual submission is not permitted.

Eligibility is strictly defined by career stage and funding history. Applicants are ineligible if they hold or have held a professorship at any institution, or if they have previously served as project lead on an ESRC or UKRI research grant. Postdoctoral fellowships held previously do not disqualify applicants. Only researchers based at UK research organisations eligible for ESRC funding may serve as project lead. Social sciences must represent more than 50% of the research focus and effort. Fundable activities include standard research projects, surveys, infrastructure, and methodological developments.

The scheme directly replaces the earlier ESRC New Investigator Grant administered through Je-S, which closed in May 2023. ESRC's stated rationale for the always-open model is to remove submission peaks and allow early-career researchers to apply when their proposal is scientifically ready rather than when a calendar deadline permits. Reviewers assess proposed research quality, the applicant's track record relative to career stage, and the host institution's support for researcher development. ESRC has signalled that responsive-mode schemes will be refreshed towards late 2026 and into 2027, so applicants should confirm the scheme remains open before submission.