AHRC UKRI NSF-SBE lead agency (applicant-led mode)

A competitive collaborative research grant opportunity co‑governed by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and the US National Science Foundation Social, Behavioural and Economic Sciences Directorate (NSF‑SBE). It supports UK‑hosted collaborative projects with US and other international partners, with the UK element’s full economic cost (FEC) required to be between £300,000 and £1.5 million. AHRC will fund 80% of the FEC and awards may run for up to four years.

Research grant funding covering 80% of the UK-hosted element’s FEC (within the £300,000–£1.5 million range) and up to four years of project support; enables funding of international project co-leads under AHRC policy.

The project lead must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for AHRC funding and applications must include a project lead and at least one co-lead. Applicants should hold a doctorate or demonstrate equivalent research experience; postdoctoral researchers and those in non‑academic research roles (for example archivists, curators, librarians, technicians and practitioners) are eligible. International researchers may participate as project co‑leads (international) or partners, and US partners must provide a letter of support if the mandatory Expression of Interest is approved.

A mandatory Expression of Interest (EOI) process applies; US partners must obtain a letter of support from their institution confirming eligibility under NSF‑SBE criteria. Applicants follow UKRI’s application guidance and submission routes.