AHRC responsive mode: UKRI NSF-SBE lead agency
Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) · International
Funding opportunity enabling collaborative research projects between UK researchers and researchers funded by the US National Science Foundation’s Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences Directorate (NSF-SBE). The scheme operates under a lead agency agreement that allows joint proposals to be submitted through a single review process.
Summary
Deadline
Rolling
Complexity
Medium
Time to apply
20-60 hours
Updated
9 Jun 2026
Funding opportunity enabling collaborative research projects between UK researchers and researchers funded by the US National Science Foundation’s Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences Directorate (NSF-SBE). The scheme operates under a lead agency agreement that allows joint proposals to be submitted through a single review process.
Eligibility
Applicant types
Not specified
Business size
SME
Industries
Arts, humanities and social science research areas within AHRC remit and relevant NSF-SBE programmes.
Match funding
Needs verification
Requirements
UK researchers based at organisations eligible for AHRC funding who collaborate with US researchers eligible for NSF-SBE funding. The UK applicant must be based at an organisation eligible to receive AHRC funding. Collaborative projects addressing research questions that fall within the remit of AHRC and the NSF-SBE Directorate and demonstrate strong integration between UK and US research teams.
Eligible applicants
UK researchers based at organisations eligible for AHRC funding who collaborate with US researchers eligible for NSF-SBE funding.
Funding and scope
Benefit amount
£300,000 - £1,500,000 (full economic cost)
Total fund available
Not specified
Funding intensity
AHRC funds 80% of the full economic cost for the UK component of the project.
Payment type
Grant (typically 80% FEC in arrears)
Eligible scope
Collaborative projects addressing research questions that fall within the remit of AHRC and the NSF-SBE Directorate and demonstrate strong integration between UK and US research teams.
Eligible expenses
- Standard AHRC eligible project costs for the UK component including staff, travel, research activities and associated project costs.
Ineligible costs
- Costs not eligible under AHRC responsive mode funding opportunity and UKRI FEC terms.
Application and risks
Application platform
Proposals are submitted through the NSF submission system when NSF acts as the lead agency.
Competitiveness
Closed / Not accepting applications
Decision timeline
Determined by the review process of the lead agency programme.
Assessment process
Proposals are assessed through a single peer review process managed by the lead agency, with funding decisions made jointly by AHRC and NSF.
Application sections
- Application components follow the NSF proposal structure with additional information required for the UK component of the project.
Application components
Not specified
Decision risks
Applications may be rejected if they do not meet eligibility rules, fall outside the remit of the participating agencies or fail to follow submission guidance.
Timeline and partners
Opening date
5 Feb 2025
Project duration
Determined by the relevant NSF-SBE programme through which the proposal is submitted
Project start
Not specified
Project end
Not specified
Co-funders
- US National Science Foundation – Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (NSF-SBE)
Collaboration rules
- Projects must involve collaboration between UK researchers and US researchers. Applications are submitted through a lead agency model where the proposal is reviewed by either AHRC or NSF depending on the chosen route.
- Collaboration with researchers based in the United States is required.
Consortium requirements
- Not specified
Additional guidance
[{"label":"Research Category","value":"International collaborative research in arts, humanities and social sciences."},{"label":"Subcontractors","value":"Not specified"},{"label":"Interview Stage","value":"Not specified"},{"label":"Key Requirements","value":"Proposals must demonstrate strong integration between UK and US research teams and address research questions within the remit of both AHRC and NSF-SBE."},{"label":"Renewal Rules","value":"Not specified"},{"label":"Important Notes","value":"Applicants must ensure that the project fits within the scope of both the AHRC remit and the relevant NSF-SBE programme and follow the guidance for submitting collaborative proposals under the lead agency agreement."}]
Quick facts
- Status
- Paused
- Deadline
- Rolling
- Funding amount
- £300,000 - £1,500,000 (full economic cost)
- Funding band
- Not specified
- Funding type
- Grant
- Payment type
- Grant (typically 80% FEC in arrears)
- Audience
- Mixed
- Industry
- Arts, humanities and social science research areas within AHRC remit and relevant NSF-SBE programmes.
- Last updated
- 9 Jun 2026
- Published
- 5 Feb 2025