Centre for Longitudinal Studies: 2027 to 2031 (Invite Only)
Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). (UK Research and Innovation) · United Kingdom
Funding to support the Centre for Longitudinal Studies (CLS) in managing the ESRC life-course cohort portfolio, ensuring the continued provision, enhancement and accessibility of UK longitudinal data for research, policy and practice. This is an invite-only funding opportunity. (UK Research and Innovation)
Summary
Deadline
31 Mar 2026
Updated
16 Oct 2026
Funding to support the Centre for Longitudinal Studies (CLS) in managing the ESRC life-course cohort portfolio, ensuring the continued provision, enhancement and accessibility of UK longitudinal data for research, policy and practice. This is an invite-only funding opportunity. (UK Research and Innovation)
Eligibility
Applicant types
See eligibility requirements
Industries
See eligibility requirements
Match funding
Not specified
Funding and scope
Benefit amount
ESRC has allocated £23.3 million for non-exception costs and £5.7 million for exception costs. At least £7 million of the non-exception costs must be allocated to time-bound activities. Changes to the balance between exception and non-exception costs require ESRC approval. (UK Research and Innovation)
Total fund available
£29,000,000 Full Economic Cost (FEC), excluding indexation. (UK Research and Innovation)
Funding intensity
ESRC has allocated £23.3 million for non-exception costs and £5.7 million for exception costs. At least £7 million of the non-exception costs must be allocated to time-bound activities. Changes to the balance between exception and non-exception costs require ESRC approval. (UK Research and Innovation)
Payment type
Not specified
Eligible expenses
- Staff, estates and indirect costs, data collection, fieldwork, infrastructure, facilities, travel, public engagement, data management, dissemination and other eligible costs under ESRC funding rules. (UK Research and Innovation)
Ineligible costs
- Duplication of existing infrastructure or activities outside the approved scope. (UK Research and Innovation)
Application and risks
Application platform
UKRI Funding Service (not Je-S). (UK Research and Innovation)
Competitiveness
Not scored
Decision timeline
Interview expected in June 2026. ESRC aims to complete the assessment process within three months of the application deadline. (UK Research and Innovation)
Assessment process
Independent expert review, applicant response to reviewer comments, panel assessment and interview. Final funding decision made by ESRC. (UK Research and Innovation)
Application sections
Not specified
Application components
- Vision; Applicant and Team Capability to Deliver; Approach; Resources and Cost Justification; Infrastructure Leadership; Data Collection; Data Enhancement; Engagement; Governance; Ethics; Responsible Research and Innovation; Project Partners; Organisation Support. (UK Research and Innovation)
Required documents
- Funding Service application, Resources and Cost Justification, Organisation Support statement, Project Partner letters (where applicable), and any additional documents requested in the Funding Service. (UK Research and Innovation)
Appendices
Not specified
Assessment criteria
- Vision; Applicant Capability to Deliver; Approach; Data Collection; Data Enhancement; Impact; Leadership; Governance; Ethics; Resources and Cost Justification; Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI); Sustainability; Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I). (UK Research and Innovation)
Decision risks
Applications may be rejected if they fail eligibility, do not meet ESRC policy or funding requirements, or fail to comply with application guidance. (UK Research and Innovation)
Timeline and partners
Opening date
3 Feb 2026
Project duration
4 years and 3 months. (UK Research and Innovation)
Project start
1 Jan 2027
Project end
31 Mar 2031
Additional guidance
Document research last revised 2026-07-30.
Grant Name
Centre for Longitudinal Studies: 2027 to 2031 (Invite Only)
Eligibility Criteria
Invite only. Applicants must have been invited by ESRC. The host organisation must meet standard UKRI organisational eligibility requirements. (UK Research and Innovation)
International Eligibility
Project Leads must be based at UK eligible research organisations. International Project Co-Leads are permitted in accordance with ESRC Project Co-Lead (International) policy. (UK Research and Innovation)
Eligible Activities
Management and delivery of ESRC's life-course cohort portfolio, including the National Child Development Study (NCDS), 1970 British Cohort Study (BCS70), Millennium Cohort Study (MCS), harmonisation across cohorts, implementation of Cohorts Review recommendations, Next Steps transition activities, AI-enabled enhancements, data collection, data curation, stakeholder engagement and organisational transformation. (UK Research and Innovation)
Matched Funding Requirement
No institutional matched funding is required beyond the standard 20% FEC contribution. Third-party cash or in-kind contributions are encouraged. (UK Research and Innovation)
Application Format
Full proposal submitted through the UKRI Funding Service. Detailed cost breakdowns, justification of resources and mandatory application questions are required. (UK Research and Innovation)
Generative AI Policy
Applicants may use generative AI in preparing applications in accordance with UKRI policy. Reviewers and panel members must not use generative AI when assessing applications. (UK Research and Innovation)
Key Requirements
Deliver the agreed cohort portfolio, maintain longitudinal data quality, implement recommendations from the ESRC Cohorts Review, ensure long-term sustainability of CLS, integrate AI where appropriate, maintain strong governance and maximise public benefit. (UK Research and Innovation)
Governance Requirements
Appropriate management structure, programme governance, quarterly reporting, annual reporting, end-of-award reporting and advisory arrangements as required by ESRC. (UK Research and Innovation)
Important Notes
Applications cannot be amended after submission. Projects must follow ESRC data policy, UKRI research integrity requirements and Trusted Research and Innovation principles. ESRC may recover unspent funds in accordance with grant terms and conditions. (UK Research and Innovation)
Contact Email
datainfrastructure@esrc.ukri.org (UK Research and Innovation)
Official Grant Page
https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/centre-for-longitudinal-studies-2027-to-2031-invite-only/ (UK Research and Innovation)
Application deadline in source document
31 March 2026, 4:00pm UK time. (UK Research and Innovation)
Official source
Quick facts
- Status
- Closed
- Deadline
- 31 Mar 2026
- Funding amount
- ESRC has allocated £23.3 million for non-exception costs and £5.7 million for exception costs. At least £7 million of the non-exception costs must be allocated to time-bound activities. Changes to the balance between exception and non-exception costs require ESRC approval. (UK Research and Innovation)
- Funding band
- Not specified
- Funding type
- Grant
- Payment type
- Not specified
- Audience
- See eligibility requirements
- Industry
- See eligibility requirements
- Last updated
- 16 Oct 2026
- Published
- 23 Feb 2026