Nuclear Physics Consolidated Grants 2026
Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) · United Kingdom
Grant funding for long-term nuclear physics research programmes within UK research groups. The scheme provides consolidated funding to enable departments or consortia to plan coherent research programmes across nuclear structure, nuclear astrophysics, hadronic physics and theory. (UK Research and Innovation)
Summary
Deadline
12 Mar 2026
Updated
16 Oct 2026
Grant funding for long-term nuclear physics research programmes within UK research groups. The scheme provides consolidated funding to enable departments or consortia to plan coherent research programmes across nuclear structure, nuclear astrophysics, hadronic physics and theory. (UK Research and Innovation)
Eligibility
Applicant types
See eligibility requirements
Industries
Nuclear physics research, including nuclear structure, nuclear astrophysics, hadronic physics and theory.
Match funding
No additional institutional matched funding is required beyond the remaining 20% FEC.
Eligible applicants
Members of the nuclear physics research community employed by UK research organisations eligible for UKRI funding. (UK Research and Innovation)
Funding and scope
Benefit amount
Not specified
Total fund available
Not specified. STFC stated that the budget was subject to the UK government's spending review and expected to be constrained compared with previous years. (UK Research and Innovation)
Funding intensity
STFC funds 80% of the Full Economic Cost (FEC).
Payment type
Not specified
Eligible scope
Research activities must fall within the STFC Nuclear Physics remit and align with STFC Science Challenges and the Nuclear Physics Advisory Panel Roadmap 2024. Funding is available for a coherent four-year research programme. (UK Research and Innovation)
Eligible expenses
- Staff costs, travel, maintenance and operations, consumables and equipment. (UK Research and Innovation)
Ineligible costs
Not specified
Application and risks
Application platform
UKRI Funding Service
Competitiveness
Highly competitive. Applications are ranked by scientific theme and prioritised against the available funding.
Decision timeline
Assessment activity runs through 2026, with outcomes expected in January 2027.
Assessment process
Applications are assessed by the Nuclear Physics Grants Panel. Applications receive preliminary grades, followed by a clarification stage, scientific theme assessment and ranking. The panel then prioritises applications within the available funding envelope. (UK Research and Innovation)
Application sections
- Vision and Approach, applicant and team capability, ethics and responsible research and innovation, resources and cost justification, financial requirements, data management and sharing, Trusted Research and Innovation and related application information.
Application components
Not specified
Decision risks
Applications may be rejected if they fall outside the nuclear physics remit, fail eligibility requirements or do not follow the application guidance.
Timeline and partners
Opening date
6 Nov 2025
Project duration
4 years
Project start
1 Oct 2027
Project end
30 Sept 2031
Co-funders
Not specified
Collaboration rules
- Collaborative proposals involving multiple institutions are permitted through consortium applications.
Consortium requirements
- Groups from different institutions working collaboratively in a well-defined research area may apply as a consortium. A single application must be submitted by the lead institution on behalf of all collaborating organisations. (UK Research and Innovation)
Additional guidance
Document research last revised 2026-08-10.
Next Expected Opening
Expected around 2030, as the Nuclear Physics Consolidated Grants programme runs on a four-year cycle. Exact opening date for the next round has not yet been announced. (UK Research and Innovation)
International Collaboration Requirement
Not specified
Research Category
Fundamental scientific research in nuclear physics
Research Organisation Funding
Funding is awarded to the lead organisation, which is responsible for distributing agreed funding to consortium partners where applicable.
Subcontractors
Not specified
Interview Stage
Not specified
Key Requirements
Proposals must fall within the STFC Nuclear Physics remit and demonstrate a coherent research programme aligned with STFC science priorities. Awards must start on 1 October 2027 and run for four years. (UK Research and Innovation)
Important Notes
Only one consolidated grant can be awarded to an eligible research organisation or consortium in this round. Consortium funding is paid to the lead institution, which is responsible for transferring agreed funds to partners. Doctoral studentships are not funded through this opportunity. (UK Research and Innovation)
Application deadline in source document
12 March 2026, 4:00 PM UK time
Official source
Quick facts
- Status
- Closed
- Deadline
- 12 Mar 2026
- Funding amount
- Not specified
- Funding band
- Not specified
- Funding type
- Grant
- Payment type
- Not specified
- Audience
- See eligibility requirements
- Industry
- Nuclear physics research, including nuclear structure, nuclear astrophysics, hadronic physics and theory.
- Last updated
- 16 Oct 2026
- Published
- 6 Nov 2025