This funding round has closed.

Large Grant full applications: November 2026 (invite only)

Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)

Applications closed

Funding: £1,120,000 – £3,450,000
Deadline: 5 November 2026
Location: England
Applications: Applications closed

Overview

This is an invite-only funding round from the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) for full Large Grant applications. It supports innovative, large-scale and complex projects that tackle big environmental science questions and could produce world-leading research.

You can only apply if NERC has invited you after a successful outline application. If you have not had an invitation, you cannot apply to this round.

The full economic cost (FEC) of your project can be between £1.12 million and £3.45 million. NERC will fund 80% of the FEC, with a few exceptions. Associated studentship stipends and fees are funded at 100%, as are eligible costs for a project co-lead (international) based in a Norwegian institution. Projects can last up to five years, and grants are expected to be able to start from September 2027. The total fund for the round is £25 million.

You must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for NERC funding. Research groups and individuals at any career stage can apply, subject to NERC eligibility criteria. NERC encourages multidisciplinary work and collaboration with other UK organisations. Projects can be in any area of environmental science within NERC's remit, and can be pure, applied, technology-led or policy-driven.

Full applications must reach NERC by 5 November 2026 at 4:00pm UK time. You cannot change an application once it has been submitted. One practical point: the project lead completes the application on the UKRI Funding Service, then sends it to the research office, which submits it to UKRI. Allow time for those checks and for any internal institutional deadline.

Official source: https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/large-grant-full-applications-november-2026-invite-only/. Last checked by GrantMatch on 15 October 2026.

Requirements to check

Who can apply:

academic

Key requirements:

Invite only, following a successful outline application
Lead organisation must be a UK research organisation eligible for NERC funding
Award range is the full economic cost of the project; NERC funds 80% with some exceptions
Projects can last up to five years
No more than two applications per person, and only one as project lead
Project partners fund their own involvement

You can only apply if NERC has invited you following a successful outline application. You must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for NERC funding and in a role that meets the individual eligibility requirements. Research groups and individuals at any career stage can apply. You may be involved in no more than two applications, and only one of these can be as project lead. Project partners fund their own involvement.

This summary may not include every exclusion. Check the full eligibility rules, including who and what the funder will not support.

Who is this for?

UK-based researchers and research teams who have already been invited to submit a full application after a successful NERC outline application, with a large-scale environmental science project.

Sectors

Environment & Conservation Professional & Scientific Services

Regions

England

No published award history for Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). Some funders do not publish their grants data.

Full details from Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)

You can only apply for this funding opportunity if we have invited you to do so following a successful outline application.Apply for funding to support innovative, large-scale and complex projects that tackle big science questions and have the potential to produce world-leading research.

How to apply

Select 'Start application' on the UKRI Funding Finder page and confirm you are the project lead. Sign in or create a Funding Service account, then answer the questions in the text boxes. Send the completed application to your research office, which will submit it to UKRI. You cannot apply through Je-S.

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