New ESRC funding opportunity: Doctoral focal award plus in data-driven research
Category: Funding opportunities
28 July 2026
The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) has opened a major funding opportunity to build the next generation of social scientists skilled in data-driven research.
ESRC is commissioning one doctoral focal award plus, worth up to £5.85 million. This award will develop a group of social scientists, from doctoral students through to established researchers, with the skills to use data-driven research approaches in innovative ways. The award will combine doctoral training with targeted training and capacity-building activities for mid-career and senior researchers.
This investment is designed to address a demonstrable skills gap in data-driven research, building capacity across career stages. It represents a valuable chance to strengthen the pipeline of researchers equipped with the technical, conceptual and methodological skills needed to use large and complex datasets, including administrative data, in innovative ways to address societal and economic challenges.
About the award
The award will fund a minimum of 10 studentships per year for three consecutive cohorts, starting in October 2027. ESRC will fund eight studentships per cohort, and additional funding equivalent to at least two students per cohort must be secured from other sources.
Around £3.1 million of the funding is expected to go towards studentship costs, with the remaining funding allocated to support training and capacity-building activities for researchers at other career stages.
The doctoral focal award plus will complement and add value to ESRC’s and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)’s existing portfolio of training and capacity building initiatives and data infrastructures, seeking new ways to use them to optimise their value and address emerging research priorities.
Who can apply?
This opportunity is open to organisations with standard UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) eligibility. You must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for ESRC funding, with the infrastructure in place to provide postgraduate training.
You can apply as a single institution or as a multi-institution consortium, and collaboration with non-academic partners, including public sector bodies, is encouraged. The award must be led by a strong interdisciplinary team.
Key dates
Applications close at 16:00 on 14 October 2026. ESRC expects to communicate funding decisions in February 2027.
Find out more
This is a great opportunity for organisations involved in administrative data research to help shape the future skills pipeline.
Full details on eligibility, how to apply, and the assessment criteria are available on the UKRI website:
