Doctoral focal award plus: innovating in data-driven research
This grant funds a major UK initiative to train social scientists in advanced data-driven research, combining doctoral studentships with researcher development and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Funder: UK Research and Innovation
Due Dates: October 14, 2026 (Full application submission deadline)
Funding Amounts: Up to £5.85 million total; minimum 10 studentships/year for 3 years plus capacity-building for researchers at all career stages.
Summary: Supports a single, large-scale doctoral and researcher training initiative to advance innovative data-driven research skills in UK social sciences.
Key Information: Only one application as project lead per organisation; multi-institutional consortia allowed; additional co-funding required for some studentships.
Description
This funding opportunity will support a single "doctoral focal award plus" to develop a new cadre of social scientists in the UK with advanced, innovative data-driven research skills. The award integrates doctoral training with a suite of capacity-building activities for researchers at all career stages, aiming to equip them to address complex societal and economic challenges using large and complex datasets. The programme will pilot new, flexible postgraduate training approaches, diversify doctoral pathways, foster interdisciplinary and cross-sector collaboration (including with non-academic partners), and embed equality, diversity, and inclusion throughout.
The investment is intended to create sustainable training resources, share best practices, and ensure the ongoing development of the UK’s social science research talent pipeline. The successful consortium will be expected to work with the ESRC Research Capability Hub to ensure long-term impact and sustainability of developed resources.
