ESRC responsive mode: secondary data analysis round two
Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) · United Kingdom
Funding to support research that exploits existing data resources for social and economic research created by ESRC or other agencies.
Summary
Deadline
Rolling
Complexity
Medium
Time to apply
20-60 hours
Updated
9 Jun 2026
Funding to support research that exploits existing data resources for social and economic research created by ESRC or other agencies.
Eligibility
Applicant types
Research
Business size
Research organisation
Industries
Social sciences and interdisciplinary research where social sciences represent more than 50% of the research focus.
Match funding
Not required
Requirements
Researchers based at UK research organisations eligible for ESRC funding. Applicants can be at any career stage with appropriate skills and experience. The project lead must be based at a UK organisation eligible for ESRC funding. Research using qualitative or quantitative data from existing UK or international data resources, including methodological development and innovative analysis of larg...
Eligible applicants
Researchers based at UK research organisations eligible for ESRC funding. Applicants can be at any career stage with appropriate skills and experience.
Funding and scope
Benefit amount
Up to £300,000 full economic cost (FEC)
Total fund available
Not specified
Funding intensity
ESRC funds 80% of the Full Economic Cost.
Payment type
Grant (typically 80% FEC in arrears)
Eligible scope
Research using qualitative or quantitative data from existing UK or international data resources, including methodological development and innovative analysis of large datasets.
Eligible expenses
- Staff costs, research costs, travel related to research activities, facilities and infrastructure costs, and other eligible project resources.
Ineligible costs
- Costs not eligible under UKRI FEC and ESRC funding opportunity terms.
Application and risks
Application platform
UKRI Funding Service
Competitiveness
Open (Rolling assessment)
Decision timeline
Decisions made at regular decision points as applications are received.
Assessment process
Applications undergo independent peer review followed by panel assessment and funding recommendation.
Application sections
- Summary, core team details, vision, approach, applicant capability (R4RI), ethics and responsible research considerations, resources and cost justification, data management and sharing, facilities, references and project partner details.
Application components
Not specified
Decision risks
Applications may be rejected if they propose primary data collection, fall outside ESRC remit or fail eligibility or peer review criteria.
Timeline and partners
Opening date
Not specified
Project duration
Up to 24 months
Project start
Not specified
Project end
Not specified
Co-funders
Not specified
Collaboration rules
- Applications can be submitted by teams with one project lead and additional project co-leads. Collaboration with non-academic partners is encouraged but not mandatory.
- International co-leads from non-UK research organisations can be included but cannot act as the project lead.
Consortium requirements
- Not mandatory
- collaborative teams are allowed.
Additional guidance
[{"label":"Research Category","value":"Social science research using existing data resources and methodological development."},{"label":"Subcontractors","value":"Not specified"},{"label":"Interview Stage","value":"Not specified"},{"label":"Key Requirements","value":"Projects must primarily use existing data resources and demonstrate strong social science relevance and research impact potential."},{"label":"Renewal Rules","value":"Uninvited resubmissions of previously submitted projects are not accepted."},{"label":"Important Notes","value":"A highlight notice encourages applications on Artificial Intelligence for social science, but these applications are assessed alongside all other submissions without ring-fenced funding."}]
Quick facts
- Status
- Open
- Deadline
- Rolling
- Funding amount
- Up to £300,000 full economic cost (FEC)
- Funding band
- Small (£50k-£500k)
- Funding type
- Grant
- Payment type
- Grant (typically 80% FEC in arrears)
- Audience
- Research Innovation
- Industry
- Social sciences and interdisciplinary research where social sciences represent more than 50% of the research focus.
- Last updated
- 9 Jun 2026
- Published
- 28 Sept 2023