Pushing the frontiers of environmental research
- Funding
- Up to £950,000
- Deadline
- Check with the funder
- Location
- England
- Applications
- Rolling applications
Overview
The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) funds adventurous, curiosity-driven environmental science projects, with a full economic cost (FEC) of up to £950,000 per project. Applicants must be at a UK research organisation eligible for NERC funding. Applications are open all year with no closing date, and the Funding Service shows a closing date for system reasons only. Opening date was 23 September 2026. Typical costs the funder asks you to justify include project staff, field work travel, equipment over £25,000 and facilities. Research groups and individuals at any career stage can apply. A project co-lead can be based in Norway. Lead agency agreements cover the US (NSF), Brazil (FAPESP) and Luxembourg (FNR). Apply on the UKRI Funding Service, not Je-S. Your research office checks and submits the application. The funder will not accept uninvited resubmissions of projects UKRI has already assessed, and it will not fund PhD studentships.
Requirements to check
Key requirements:
- NERC funds 80% of the full economic cost, up to a project FEC of £950,000
- Prior approval from NERC by email is needed to apply for more than £950,000
- Research must sit predominantly within NERC's research areas
- Ship time, marine equipment and Antarctic logistics support must be approved before you submit, or the application will be rejected
- Antarctic logistics questionnaires must be submitted at least three months before your planned application
- PhD studentship costs are not funded
- Uninvited resubmissions of projects already assessed by UKRI are not accepted
- Project partners fund their own involvement
- Equipment over £25,000 must be fully justified
Who it is for
- Researchers based at a UK research organisation eligible for NERC funding
- Research groups and individuals at any career stage
- Projects that sit mainly within NERC's remit and address a clearly defined environmental science question
- Teams with a project co-lead based in Norway, where NERC has a collaboration agreement
- Teams working with NSF (US), FAPESP (Brazil) or FNR (Luxembourg) under a Lead Agency Agreement
Who it is not for
- Uninvited resubmissions of projects already assessed by UKRI
- PhD studentship costs
- Funded project co-lead (international) roles outside Norway
- Applications that go in through Je-S
- Applications submitted directly by anyone other than the lead research organisation
- Projects needing NERC ship time, marine equipment or British Antarctic Survey support without prior approval
You must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for NERC funding, and your role must meet UKRI's individual eligibility requirements. Research groups and individuals at any career stage can apply. Your project must address a significant environmental science question and sit mainly within NERC's remit. A project co-lead can be based in Norway under the Money Follows Cooperation agreement, and collaboration with the US, Brazil and Luxembourg is possible through lead agency agreements. Other international collaborators join as project partners and fund their own involvement. Uninvited resubmissions of projects already assessed by UKRI are not accepted.
This summary may not include every exclusion. Check the full eligibility rules, including who and what the funder will not support.
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Start freeWho is this for?
Researchers at any career stage, individually or in groups, based at UK research organisations eligible for NERC funding and pursuing adventurous, curiosity-driven environmental science.
Regions
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)
Apply for funding to pursue an adventurous, ambitious curiosity-driven project in environmental research.You must be:
How to apply
Apply through the UKRI Funding Service, not Je-S, and make sure your organisation is registered. The project lead selects 'Start application' on the opportunity page, signs in or creates an account, and completes the questions. You then send the application to your research office, which checks it and submits it to UKRI. Only the lead research organisation can submit. Apply whenever your application is ready.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a deadline for the NERC Pushing the frontiers of environmental research fund?
No. The funder says there is no deadline and you should apply when your application is ready, although a closing date will appear on the Funding Service because of system requirements.
Can I apply to NERC Pushing the frontiers with a co-lead based abroad?
A funded project co-lead (international) can only be based in Norway, where NERC has a collaboration agreement. Lead Agency Agreements are in place with NSF in the US, FAPESP in Brazil and FNR in Luxembourg.
How do I apply for NERC Pushing the frontiers of environmental research?
Use the UKRI Funding Service, not Je-S. The project lead completes the application, sends it to the research office for checking, and the research office submits it to UKRI.
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Create free accountLast updated: 9 November 2026