Astronomy observation and theor

Application Platform: UKRI Funding Service

Application Sections: Summary; core team; vision and approach; applicant and team capability to deliver; ethics and responsible research and innovation; resources and cost justification; classification of application; risk management; other funding support; project partners; data management and sharing; trusted research and innovation; international collaboration.

Assessment Process: Eligibility checks followed by expert peer review. Applicants may provide a response to reviewer comments before final assessment by the Astronomy Grants Panel.

Co-Funders: Not specified

Collaboration Rules: Applications may be submitted by a single research organisation or by a consortium of multiple research organisations.

Competitiveness: Not specified

Consortium Requirements: Not specified

Decision Risks: Applications may be rejected if they do not meet eligibility requirements or do not follow the application guidance.

Decision Timeline: Not specified

Eligible Expenses: Project specific costs including staff time within defined limits, travel and subsistence, directly incurred and directly allocated costs, equipment and high performance computing costs where justified.

Eligible Scope: Research supporting modelling, simulation, observation, experiment, laboratory astrophysics and technology or instrumentation development relevant to astronomy and astrophysics beyond the solar system.

Funding Intensity: 80% of Full Economic Cost (FEC).

Important Notes: Applicants may submit up to two applications across the small award round but only one as project lead.

Ineligible Projects: Multi-project small award applications; studentships; projects exceeding the technology readiness level limits where technology development exceeds TRL 4 within the award period.

International Collaboration Requirement: International collaborators or partners may participate where relevant and justified.

Interview Stage: Not specified

Key Requirements: Projects must be a single research project with defined staffing limits and must start on 1 October 2027.

Lead Organisation Requirement: The project lead must meet UKRI eligibility criteria and submit the application through their research organisation.

Match Funding Requirement: No institutional matched funding required beyond the standard 20% FEC contribution.

Project Duration: Maximum of three years

Project End Date: Up to three years from the start date

Project Start Date: 2027-10-01 00:00:00

Publication Date: 2025-12-05 00:00:00

Renewal Rules: Not specified

Research Category: Astronomy observation or astronomy theory research.

Research Organisation Funding: Research organisations receive 80% of the Full Economic Cost.

Subcontractors: Not specified

Total Fund Available: Not specified