UK National Coordinator and Survey Data Collection for the European Social Survey, Round 13 and 14

Document research last revised 2026-08-24.

Next Opening Date

Not announced. No future opening date has been published for this opportunity.

International Participation

International researchers can apply as project co-lead (international) (PcL (I)). Other international collaborators, and UK partners not based at approved organisations, should be included as project partners.

Key Organisational Requirements

The successful applicant must act as UK National Coordinator for two ESS rounds, oversee or arrange survey agency services, ensure compliance with ESS specifications, coordinate survey implementation, deliver nationally representative data, manage data protection and ethical requirements, and prepare and deposit required data and documentation.

National Coordination Requirement

A minimum of £200,000 of the funding must be allocated to National Coordination. The National Coordinator can be an individual or a team and is expected to spend approximately eight months full-time equivalent on activities in each round.

Survey Delivery Requirement

The project must deliver two rounds of ESS data collection in the UK in accordance with the ESS specification. Round 13 and 14 data will use self-completion surveys through web and paper questionnaires from a random probability sample.

Survey Agency Requirement

Applicants can either appoint a survey agency through competitive tender for each round or, where the host organisation has sufficient in-house capacity, undertake both National Coordinator and survey agency roles.

Data Requirements

The project must produce high-quality data meeting ESS European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC) specifications and deliver the required datasets, technical documentation and supporting materials to the ESS Data Archive.

Sample Requirement

The survey must use a random probability sample representative of people aged 15 and over living in private dwellings. An effective sample size of at least 1,500 is required.

Response Rate Requirement

ESS ERIC has a target response rate of 45%. Applicants must explain their approach to maximising response rates and addressing targeted non-response.

Objectives

To identify the UK National Coordinator for ESS Rounds 13 and 14; deliver high-quality UK data; meet ESS ERIC specifications; provide timely access to data; support international collaboration; promote use of ESS data; and maximise its public, policy and research benefits.

Round 13 Data Collection

ESS Round 13 UK data collection is scheduled to start on 1 September 2027, with the final deadline for completion of data collection being 15 May 2028.

Data Protection & Ethics

The National Coordinator must act as a data processor in full compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation, ensure anonymity and confidentiality, and comply with applicable national and institutional ethical procedures.

Monitoring Requirements

Award holders must provide an updated timeline, deliverables list and risk register at the start of the grant, followed by six-monthly written updates covering activities, risk, finance, progress and, where applicable, impact. Researchfish reporting is also required.

Environmental & EDI Requirements

ESRC encourages applications from a diverse range of researchers and supports flexible working, career breaks, caring responsibilities, alternative working patterns and disability and accessibility support.

Important Notes

The opportunity is closed. It is an infrastructure investment rather than funding for standalone academic research using ESS data. The successful applicant will coordinate and deliver ESS Rounds 13 and 14 in the UK for a maximum of 48 months. Strict compliance with ESS ERIC specifications is required.

Application deadline in source document

21 May 2026, 4:00 PM UK time

Official source

Read the funding authority guidance