Finding Funding

Owned by Laura Smith
Last updated: 12 Feb, 2024
3 min read

Within the Department we have a broad range of research areas and apply to a wide variety of external funders. We recommend signing-up to YESI’s newsletter - which collates funding opportunities in environmental research - and checking the Environmental Funding Opportunities spreadsheet. This sheet includes internal funding, external directed calls, and a calendar of open/recurring calls.

We have a Potential Collaborations Database, where Environment & Geography staff can discuss potential research collaborations on larger calls.

Use Research Professional to find lesser-known opportunities in your research area.

External Funders:

Some of the well-known funders we apply to:

Useful Resources:

These webinar slides provide further detail on what funders are looking for, their schemes, tips for success, and success rates.

Written resources:

Internal Funding:

There are range of funds available within the University including White Rose funding, Impact Acceleration Accounts, pump priming, and Research Champion Funds. Funding is typically available in the £2000-£50,000 range.

Check the guidance to see whether the internal call requires costings to be created on Worktribe and/or needs Chair of DRC approval.

Postdoctoral Early Career Researchers:

Early Career Researchers (ECRs) at postdoctoral level - such as PDRAs and Research Associates - are limited in their research funding opportunities in the UK because most funders expect applicants to be at Lecturer lever or above. The main way to apply for research funding as a postdoctoral level ECR is via Fellowship schemes. York has excellent training and resources available for potential Fellows:

Some of the UKRI research councils - e.g. EPSRC, NERC - allow postdoctoral level ECRs to be 'Researcher Co-Investigators' on grants. Each funder has their own criteria around what is required for the ECR to have this status, but they generally expect significant input into the intellectual design of the project and involvement managing the grant, plus a significant proportion of the Researcher Co-Investigator's time to be spent working solely on the grant. Being a Researcher Co-Investigator is a good way to develop your skills as a research leader and demonstrate a move towards independent research.

There are some calls which allow postdoctoral level ECRs to be PI or CoI. In these cases the University's 'Policy on staff groups seeking to engage with research activities' needs to be followed. Any grade 6 PDRA/Research Associate that wishes to apply for non-Fellowship research grants will need approval from the Head of Department and PVC-R. This should be sought at least 2 weeks before the funder deadline. The usual internal approvals that we go through are needed in addition to this, and Research Support can guide you through these.

Teaching and Scholarship (T&S) Staff:

T&S staff wishing to be PI or CoI on a non-Fellowship research grant need to follow the University's 'Policy on staff groups seeking to engage with research activities' and get approval from the Head of Department and PVC-R at least 2 weeks before the funder deadline. As with postdoctoral ECRs, this is in addition to the usual internal approvals and Research Support can guide you through these.