Pre-announcement: ESRC applicant-led: explore awards

Overview

This is a pre-announcement for ESRC explore awards, which back ambitious, curiosity-driven social science. ESRC wants creative, innovative and bold proposals that push disciplinary, methodological or conceptual boundaries. You choose the approach that best fits your aims. That could be a research project, a data resource, an infrastructure initiative or another mechanism. The full economic cost of your project can be between £300,000 and £2 million, and ESRC will fund 80% of it. Projects can last up to five years. You can apply as an individual researcher or as a small team of up to four core members, made up of one project lead and up to three co-leads. You can be at any stage of your career. You must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for ESRC funding. Applications open on 5 November 2026 at 9:00am UK time. There is no closing date. You will apply through the UKRI Funding Service, not Je-S. One practical point to keep in mind: this is a pre-announcement, so the information may change. More detail will appear on the page when the opportunity opens. Social sciences within ESRC's remit must make up more than 50% of your research focus and effort. ESRC will not accept uninvited resubmissions of projects previously sent to UKRI. Official source: https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/esrc-applicant-led-explore-awards/. Last checked by GrantMatch on 15 October 2026.