British Election Study 2027 to

Application Components: Vision; Approach; Applicant and Team Capability (R4RI format); Ethics and RRI; Resources and Cost Justification; Engaging Stakeholders; Collaboration; Organisation Support; Data Management; Facilities; TR&I (if applicable); Project Partner details and letters (if applicable)

Application Platform: UKRI Funding Service

Assessment Areas: Vision; Approach; Applicant and Team Capability; Ethics and RRI; Resources and Cost Justification; Engaging Stakeholders; Collaboration; Organisation Support; Data Management; Trusted Research and Innovation (if applicable)

Assessment Process: Expert panel review; shortlisted applicants invited to interview; final decision by ESRC

Data Requirements: Nationally representative samples; high-quality data; maintain time-series continuity; deposit with UK Data Service; publish release schedule within one month of start of data collection; final data available no later than one year after election and preferably within nine months

Decision Timeline: Interviews expected mid to end July 2026 (virtual); final decision by ESRC following panel recommendation

Duration: Maximum 60 months

Eligible Expenses: Staff costs; data collection; distribution and promotion; engagement and collaboration activity; travel and subsistence

Eligible Sizes: Research organisations (no size restriction specified)

Funding Rate: ESRC funds 80% of FEC (exceptions including subcontracted social surveys funded at 100% FEC)

Funding Structure: 80% FEC (100% for subcontracted social surveys exceptions); no requirement for institutional matched funding beyond standard 20% FEC

Geographic Coverage: England, Wales and Scotland (BES does not collect data in Northern Ireland)

Governance Requirements: Independent advisory board required; chair appointed in consultation with ESRC; ESRC investment manager attends as observer; regular monitoring and reporting required

Important Notes: Data must be deposited with UK Data Service; accessibility and stakeholder utility prioritised; must comply with ESRC Research Funding Guide; generative AI tools permitted in preparation with caution; this is a strategic data infrastructure investment

Ineligible Expenses: Standard research projects; writing up previous research; preparation of books and publications; literature surveys; general conference attendance not related to proposed work; studentships

Key Requirements: Produce high-quality politically independent data; promote timely access; collaborate with other UK election studies; enable stakeholder access; consider use of AI; ensure governance and advisory board; comply with ESRC data policy

Match Funding: No matched funding required beyond standard 20% FEC; direct and in-kind third-party contributions encouraged

Monitoring Requirements: Updated timeline and risk register at start; six-monthly written updates; Researchfish reporting; twice-yearly meetings with ESRC

Primary Data Requirements: Post-election survey of probability-based sample for UK General Election; inter-election surveys; surveys aligned with local elections in England, Scotland and Wales

Project Start: From October 2026

Publication Date: 2026-02-27 00:00:00

Renewal Rules: Successful applicants may be invited to apply for funding covering the remainder of 2027 to 2037 period, subject to performance, funding availability and delivery consistency

Scope of Funding: Consultation with stakeholders; data collection, processing and publication; promoting use and impact of data; preparatory activities for period up to 2037

Subcontracted Survey Rules: Surveys over £10,000 must be subject to competitive purchasing; surveys over £25,000 must follow full tendering procedures; minimum three quotations required unless justified

Total Fund Available: £4,900,000