Northern Ireland Election Study 2026 to 2031
Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) · United Kingdom, with a focus on Northern Ireland
Funding to appoint a team and host institution to lead the Northern Ireland Election Study (NIES) between 2026 and 2036, including data collection for the anticipated 2027 Northern Ireland Assembly election and 2029 UK General Election in Northern Ireland.
Summary
Deadline
14 May 2026
Updated
16 Oct 2026
Funding to appoint a team and host institution to lead the Northern Ireland Election Study (NIES) between 2026 and 2036, including data collection for the anticipated 2027 Northern Ireland Assembly election and 2029 UK General Election in Northern Ireland.
Eligibility
Applicant types
See eligibility requirements
Industries
Social sciences, political science, elections research, data infrastructure and related research fields
Match funding
No additional institutional matched funding is required beyond the standard 20% FEC contribution. Direct and in-kind contributions from third-party project partners are encouraged.
Eligible applicants
Organisations with standard ESRC eligibility, including eligible UK research organisations. Organisations based overseas are also eligible under this opportunity. The project must be led by a UK research organisation eligible for ESRC funding.
Funding and scope
Benefit amount
Up to £1,500,000
Total fund available
Up to £1,500,000
Funding intensity
ESRC funds 80% of the full economic cost (FEC). Exceptions, including subcontracted social surveys, can be funded at 100% FEC
Payment type
Not specified
Eligible scope
Collection and delivery of high-quality, politically independent data on Northern Irish politics, elections, voting behaviour and political attitudes, including research infrastructure supporting comparative UK and international election research
Eligible expenses
- Staff costs; data collection, distribution and promotion; engagement and collaboration activities; travel and subsistence; and other costs required to deliver or improve the study as data infrastructure
Ineligible costs
- Standard research projects, including research using the NIES data; writing up previous research; and preparation of books and publications
Application and risks
Application platform
UKRI Funding Service
Competitiveness
Not scored
Decision timeline
Applications assessed through expert review and panel assessment, with funding decisions made by ESRC based on the published assessment areas and funding objectives
Assessment process
Applications assessed through expert review and panel assessment, with funding decisions made by ESRC based on the published assessment areas and funding objectives
Application sections
Not specified
Application components
- Project summary, vision, approach, applicant and team capability, resources and cost justification, stakeholder engagement, collaboration, organisation support, data management and sharing, and supporting project partner information
Required documents
Not specified
Appendices
Not specified
Assessment criteria
- Vision, approach, applicant and team capability to deliver, ethics and responsible research and innovation (RRI), resources and cost justification, stakeholder engagement, collaboration, organisational support, data management and sharing, and trusted research and innovation where applicable
Timeline and partners
Opening date
3 Mar 2026
Project duration
Maximum of 60 months, covering the initial funding period from August 2026 to 2031
Project start
Not specified
Project end
Not specified
Additional guidance
Document research last revised 2026-08-24.
Next Opening Date
Not announced. No future opening date has been published by ESRC/UKRI for this opportunity.
Long-Term Study Period
The successful applicant and host institution are expected to lead NIES from 2026 to 2036. Further funding for the period beyond 2031 is subject to performance, funding availability and sufficient continuity in the delivery team and host institution.
International Participation
International researchers can participate as project co-lead (international) (PcL (I)). Other international collaborators can participate as project partners.
Key Organisational Requirements
The successful team and host institution must lead NIES, deliver high-quality and politically independent data, engage relevant stakeholders, collaborate with other UK election studies, promote use and impact of the data, and deposit data with the UK Data Service in accordance with ESRC requirements
Objectives
To produce high-quality election data for research, policy and practice; provide timely access to the data; promote its use and public benefit; and collaborate with other UK election studies to facilitate meaningful comparisons of elections and electorate behaviour
Data Requirements
The study must collect data for the anticipated 2027 Northern Ireland Assembly election and 2029 UK General Election in Northern Ireland. Data must be deposited with the UK Data Service, with publication no later than one year after the relevant election and preferably within nine months.
Stakeholder Requirements
The project must engage academics, policymakers, political parties, media, polling organisations, lobby groups, charities, educators and other relevant stakeholders to inform study development and maximise the use and impact of the data.
Environmental & EDI Requirements
UKRI/ESRC is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. Flexible working, support for caring responsibilities, career breaks and alternative working patterns are supported, with disability and accessibility support available for applicants and grant holders.
Procurement Requirements
Subcontracted social surveys must follow competitive purchasing principles. Surveys expected to exceed £10,000 must be subject to external competition, while surveys expected to exceed £25,000 must follow the research organisation's full tendering procedures. Applicants should seek quotations from at least three potential fieldwork providers where possible.
Important Notes
The opportunity is closed. The initial funding covers August 2026 to 2031, while the wider NIES vision extends to 2036. Further funding beyond 2031 is subject to performance, funding availability and continuity. Academic research using NIES data is outside the scope of this infrastructure funding.
Application deadline in source document
14 May 2026, 4:00 PM UK time
Official source
Quick facts
- Status
- Closed
- Deadline
- 14 May 2026
- Funding amount
- Up to £1,500,000
- Funding band
- Not specified
- Funding type
- Grant
- Payment type
- Not specified
- Audience
- See eligibility requirements
- Industry
- Social sciences, political science, elections research, data infrastructure and related research fields
- Last updated
- 16 Oct 2026
- Published
- Not specified