Funding & benefits
contracts will be extended beyond the end date of the project
all necessary support for the project and the applicants will be provided, including mentorship and career development for early career researchers
businesses
charity and third sector organisations
career breaks
support for people with caring responsibilities
flexible working
alternative working patterns
Eligible programmes & fields
Use the verified study fields above for subject-fit screening and confirm the exact eligible degree on the provider’s official programme page before applying.
About this opportunity
MRC: research grant: applicant-led is an official-source-verified opportunity offered by UK Research and Innovation — Funding Finder in United Kingdom. Eligible academic level: Research Grants. Recorded funding: Funding & benefits. Application deadline: Applications closed. Review the verified eligibility, benefits and official application route below before applying. The package covers a research allowance. Applications open on 7 April 2026 and close on 30 April 2026. The most recent round has closed; check the official page for the next one. Applications are made directly with UK Research and Innovation — Funding Finder through its official application page.
The opportunity currently maps to study areas including All study areas. Use the programme and eligibility sections below to decide whether the opportunity matches your academic background before opening the official application portal.
Key dates
Eligibility requirements
- This opportunity is open to organisations with standard eligibility. Check if your organisation is eligible.
- To be eligible to apply for this funding opportunity you must show that you will direct the project and be actively engaged in the work.
- For applicants who do not have a contract of employment for the duration of the proposed project, by submitting an application, the research organisation is confirming if it is successful:
- contracts will be extended beyond the end date of the project
- all necessary support for the project and the applicants will be provided, including mentorship and career development for early career researchers
- You can only be project lead on one application at a time across MRC’s applicant-led responsive funding opportunities (research, partnership and new investigator). If you submit another application while one is being assessed, the new application will be rejected. You should wait until you receive a decision on your current application before submitting another.
- We will not accept uninvited resubmission of applications that were submitted after 1 April 2026 to MRC, the rest of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) or any other funder. An uninvited resubmission is an application that was previously unsuccessful and has been submitted again without being invited by MRC. This includes applications that are unchanged, minimally revised, or substantially the same as the original submission. Uninvited resubmissions will be rejected.
- You are not eligible to apply for this funding opportunity as a project lead if you are based at an international research organisation. This does not include project leads from MRC Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) or MRC/UVRI (Uganda Virus Research Institute) and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit.
- If you are employed by these organisations you cannot apply as project lead or project co-lead, but can participate as project partners on an application led by an eligible UK organisation:
- businesses
- charity and third sector organisations
- Charities and third sector organisations that are approved UKRI Independent Research Organisations are eligible to apply as project lead or project co-lead.
- As MRC is a lead funder for this funding opportunity, international researchers can apply as ‘project co-lead (international)’.
- Project co-leads (international) make a major intellectual contribution to the design or conduct of the project. Their contribution and added value to the research should be clearly explained and justified in the application, see Applicant and team capability to deliver.
- You should include all other international collaborators (or UK partners not based at approved organisations) as project partners.
- We are committed to achieving equality of opportunity for all funding applicants. We encourage applications from a diverse range of researchers.
Who is not eligible to apply
Should you apply?
It is aimed at people working in All study areas.
Check these against your profile
- Study area: All study areas.
- Study destination: United Kingdom.
Review carefully if
- Who is not eligible to apply
This is a factual checklist of verified programme requirements, not a personalised eligibility decision. The awarding institution makes the final eligibility decision.
Application process
- Select ‘Start application’ near the beginning of this Funding finder page:
- Sign in or create a Funding Service account.
- You can save your answers and come back to complete them or work offline and return to copy and paste your answers.
- If we need you to upload a document, follow the upload instructions in the Funding Service.
- Send the completed application to your research office for checking.
Application checklist
- Use the official application route linked on this page rather than a third-party submission form.
- Submit before the verified application timing shown in the Key dates section.
This checklist organises the verified requirements already shown on this page; it does not replace the provider’s official instructions.
Frequently asked questions
Is MRC: research grant: applicant-led still open?
No. The most recent round has closed (deadline 30 April 2026). This award has run before; check the official page for the next round.
Where do I apply?
Directly with UK Research and Innovation — Funding Finder, through the official application page linked from this record.
How was this information verified?
Every fact on this page was read from UK Research and Innovation — Funding Finder's official pages, which ScholarshipFrontier rechecks automatically; the sources and the last check date are listed at the bottom of the page.
Official sources & verification
ScholarshipFrontier checks official scholarship, admissions and programme pages and keeps source evidence separate from the public summary.
Official sources last checked: 5 Oct 2026 · Verified yesterday
About UK Research and Innovation — Funding Finder
UK Research and Innovation — Funding Finder is based in United Kingdom and publishes this opportunity on its own official pages, which ScholarshipFrontier reads directly.
All verified opportunities from UK Research and Innovation — Funding Finder