Anthropology Research Bulletin
Welcome
Here you will find details of current funding opportunities and support that may be of interest to members of SAME and other Anthropologists at Oxford University.
Before applying to any of the research funding opportunities mentioned here please contact research@anthro.ox.ac.uk
We will advise on eligibility, school process, timeframes and more
Please give us as much notice as possible if you need application support - we may have limited capacity to take on new grant applications closer to scheme deadlines.
If you have any items you would like added to this page please contact research@anthro.ox.ac.uk
Highlights
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Attention all academics, researchers, and graduate research students at Oxford who publish in journals:
New open access requirements for the Research Excellence Framework (REF) have come into force for any articles published from 1 January 2026. The REF is a national assessment of research quality. It informs how public funding for research is allocated to universities in the UK.
The REF requires journal articles and conference papers (with an ISSN) be made open access, either by the publisher or the author. (Books and other forms of publication do not need to meet these requirements.)
Remember: you do not necessarily need to pay in order to make your articles open access! Authors can do so by 'self-deposit' as detailed below.
The simplest way to make sure your articles meet the new REF requirements is to follow the steps below:
Funding Opportunities
Upcoming Research Events and Training
John Fell Fund
This fund aims to foster creativity and a proactive approach to research opportunities in all subject areas, particularly interdisciplinary fields. Costing support requests for Main Awards need to be made to research@anthro.ox.ac.uk before 28th August 2026. Costing support requests for Small Awards need to be made to research@anthro.ox.ac.uk before 11th September 2026. The upcoming deadline for this call is 21st October 2026.
Hazem Ben-Gacem Tunisian Collaboration and Research Grants
This award, of up to £5,000 each, is open to DPhils and academics working in the fields of humanities or social sciences at the University of Oxford, with the aim of supporting field research in Tunisia and collaborative projects with Tunisian scholars. All application materials should be sent by email to tunisia-oxford@sant.ox.ac.uk. Rolling deadline.
Funding opportunities for Policy Engagement
The University of Oxford offers dedicated funding for policy engagement, supporting policy-relevant projects, project components, partnerships, and events. Colleagues can also access information on external funding opportunities for policy-facing work.
Please contact research@anthro.ox.ac.uk if you are interested in applying to any of these calls.
To discuss any of these options further, contact the Policy Engagement Team at researchandpublicpolicy@admin.ox.ac.uk.
From Insight to Innovation: New Catalyst Fund for Social Sciences
Oxford's ESRC Impact Acceleration Account is launching a £100k Catalyst Fund to help social scientists move from ideas to innovation. Open to Oxford and Oxford Brookes researchers, it offers £2,000–£15,000 for ideation, partnerships, prototyping, and market research. Applications are open from 15th June 2026. The upcoming submission deadline is 24th September 2026. Please contact research@anthro.ox.ac.uk by 3rd August 2026 if you are interested in applying
None at the moment.
Note 1: UKRI is currently reviewing its funding portfolio to transition to a new investment framework. Links for more information: More information about UKRI review of investment approach, pause in funding calls and an open letter from Ian Chapman (UKRI)
Note 2: ESRC responsive mode calls are expected to be phased out from autumn 2026. New pilot schemes will be introduced starting autumn 2026 that are expected to take the place of teh responsive mode calls. More information is available here: Types of Funding - ESRC
Administrative Data Research (ADR) Doctoral Projects: Invitation for Proposals
ADR UK is inviting applications from Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Doctoral Training Partnerships (DTPs) to host a cohort of PhD studentships using ADR UK linked administrative data. This funding opportunity is for PhD Supervisors. The successful studentships will be announced in January 2027, and following recruitment, the PhD students will start in October 2027. The DTP deadline for applications is 16:00 on 15 September 2026.
ESRC New Investigator Award - 2026
Update 10th July 2026: Please note the updated timeline for the EOI stage of this call.
Gathered Field dates have been released for the ESRC New Investigator Award. Due to changes The EOI deadline for this call for applicants wishing to apply through the School of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography will be 10:00 am on 3rd August 2026.
ESRC React Awards (pilot)
React awards enable time-critical research to support policymakers and practitioners delivering frontline public services in the UK. Researchers must work with public sector partners to respond to emerging and urgent evidence needs and deliver impactful outputs within six months. Awards between £50-100k are expected to be made, and the scheme deadline is 8 October 2026. This is a rolling call, and may close before the deadline should demand exceed availability of funds. Please contact research@anthro.ox.ac.uk as soon as possible if you are interested in applying.
UKRI Translation: AHRC Proof of Concept
UKRI Translation: AHRC Proof of Concept supports arts and humanities activity that translate previously funded AHRC/UKRI projects into real world economic, societal, cultural or policy impact. This opportunity was previously known as AHRC responsive mode: follow-on funding for impact and engagement. Open call – no closing date.
ESRC responsive mode: research grants round two
This opportunity funds researcher-driven basic, applied, and strategic research from any disciplines and on any topics in ESRC's remit. This includes standard research projects, methodological development, large-scale surveys or other infrastructures. The full economic cost of your project can range from £350,000 to £1 million. The duration of the award is up to five years. Open call – expected to close by end of September 2026.
ESRC responsive mode: secondary data analysis round two
Individuals and research teams can apply for funding to support high-impact, policy-and-practitioner-relevant research through deeper exploitation of existing data resources from any disciplines and on any topics in ESRC's remit. The full economic cost (FEC) of your project can be up to £300,000. Open call – expected to close by end of September 2026.
ESRC responsive mode: UKRI-SBE lead agency opportunity round two
The UKRI-SBE lead agency funding opportunity allows UK and US-based researchers to submit a collaborative proposal that will go through a single review process. Grants are funded through existing funding programmes at the relevant lead agency. Open call – no closing date.
Daphne Jackson Fellowship
These fellowships are for those looking to return to a research career after a break. You must be eligible for UKRI funding. Open call - no closing date.
AHRC responsive mode: Curiosity Award
Flexible awards to fund fundamental research that leads to new research agendas, networking activity and idea generation, which enables the development of further research opportunities and new research agendas. Please contact research@anthro.ox.ac.uk if you plan to apply. Open call - no closing date.
AHRC responsive mode: catalyst awards
AHRC awards to support researchers without prior experience of leading a significant research project to accelerate their trajectory as independent researchers, to unlock their potential and build leadership and convenor experience. Please contact research@anthro.ox.ac.uk if you plan to apply. Open call - no closing date
British Academy Early Career Researcher Network
The University of Oxford is now a consortium partner of the British Academy Early Career Researcher Network (BA ECRN) – South East branch. The BA ECRN is a network to help, support, develop and empower early career colleagues undertaking Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts (SHAPE) research in the UK. Any colleague with up to 10 years of research experience in SHAPE disciplines since obtaining their PhD (or equivalent) and who is based in the South East region can sign up to the network.
Membership provides access to:
- Transdisciplinary and inter-institutional networking that could lead to new research collaborations
- Seed funding for research projects (up to £5K)
- Up to £300 for development outside of BA ECRN activity or conferences
- Travel funds to attend BA ECRN events
British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowships 2026
The British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowships is a three year award made to an annual cohort of outstanding early-career researchers in the humanities or social sciences. The scheme is set to open in July 2026. The EOI stage deadline for SAME is 15th July 2026.
Innovation Fellowships 2026-27 – Route B: Policy-led
The scheme supports established early-career and mid-career researchers in the SHAPE disciplines to work in partnership with non-academic organisations on innovative solutions to UK-relevant challenges. Applications are invited for funding for policy-led Innovation Fellowships (Route B), through which applicants must apply to work with British Academy partners. The deadline for application is 5th August 2026. Please contact research@anthro.ox.ac.uk by 14th July 2026.
A webinar introducing the 2026–27 call, the application process, and providing an opportunity to ask questions will take place at 12pm on Friday 17 July 2026. Register for the webinar.
International Interdisciplinary Research Projects 2027
The programme aims to support projects which engage with questions concerning the relationship between expertise, public understanding and policy delivery internationally, and highlight the importance of collaboration between communities of practice, disciplines, capacities and borders. Please contact research@anthro.ox.ac.uk by 13th July 2026 if you are considering applying to this scheme. The School will be managing demand once we are able to confirm interest for the scheme.
Pre-announcement: Nuffield Foundation - Main Grants (Research, Development and Analysis Fund)
Funding for research projects that address one or more of our five interconnected priorities and aim to improve lives in the UK, with outline stage applications due in October 2026. Please note that the School will run demand management for this call, and details will be released in the upcoming weeks.
Pre-announcement: Nuffield Foundation - Racial Diversity UK Fund
Research funding to understand the barriers and pathways to a racially just and inclusive society with outline stage applications due in October 2026. Please note that the School will run demand management for this call, and details will be released in the upcoming weeks.
Links to rolling calls:
- Wenner-Gren Foundation
- Royal Anthropological Institute
- Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation
- The Leakey Foundation
Please contact research@anthro.ox.ac.uk if you are interested in any upcoming schemes. Please note that departmental and institutional deadlines will apply.
None at the moment. Due to our ongoing support commitments for currently open schemes, we are unable to support the current round of the Wellcome Career Development and Wellcome Discovery Awards. However, we expect to be able to provide support for the upcoming rounds. Both calls will be subject to demand management and more information will be released closer to deadlines.
Funding opportunities are listed on the EU Funding and Tenders portal. Please contact research@anthro.ox.ac.uk if you are interested in applying to any open calls.
ERC Advanced Grants 2026
Please note that the School has held its internal competition and selected applicants to be supported for this round of the Grant.
Horizon Europe
Please note that the date for requesting support for applications due to be submitted in September has now passed.
Links to Social Sciences Divisional Term cards
Social Sciences Division - TT26 Term Card
Research Impact and Engagement term card: Training and Resources
Subscribe to the SSD Digest via their SharePoint. .
Before applying to any of the research funding opportunities mentioned here please contact research@anthro.ox.ac.uk
We will advise on eligibility, school process, timeframes and more
Events for researchers at SAME
None at the moment.
Upcoming Training Opportunities, Resources and Surveys for all Staff and Students
Being Human Festival 2026
Applications are open for Being Human Festival 2026, which will take place from 5-14 November under the theme Crossroads. Humanities researchers and staff at universities and research organisations are invited to take part by organising a public engagement event, activity, or project as part of the national festival.
For further information, including application queries, contact beinghuman@sas.ac.uk.
Leadership in Action
SSD is funding four places on MPLS's Leadership in Action participative leadership course, open to research staff and early career academics (excluding DPhil students). This 3-day, face-to-face programme, held in central Oxford from 22-24 September, enables researchers to identify, explore and develop their leadership style through activities, networking and leadership theory. The discipline-agnostic course offers opportunities to connect with researchers across subjects. By the end, attendees will be able to identify leadership styles, enhance research culture, and lead in different situations. It also supports use of the University's 10 Days Professional Development Time for research staff. For queries, contact training@mpls.ox.ac.uk. Applicants must submit a 150-word leadership statement due to limited places. Application deadline: 13 July 2026.
Grant Writing Bootcamp for ECRs
This intensive in-person session is organised by SSD, and is designed for Early Career and Mid-Career Researchers who would like to develop practical, hands-on experience in grant writing. It will be held on 21st July 2026. Registration can be completed on the page linked above.
Ongoing Professional Development and Support
The Academic Writing Community is a drop in writing group for SSD DPhils and Early Career Researchers which meets weekly during term time.
SHOx: Oxford’s new platform for shortform scholarly publishing
The Bodleian Libraries is delighted to launch SHOx (Short-form Hosting at Oxford), a new hosting service supporting Oxford's community of scholars in publishing short-form research titles such as journals, working paper collections, and conference proceedings. Developed in partnership with the Public Knowledge Project (PKP), SHOx offers an intuitive, open-source publishing workflow through Open Journal Systems (OJS), ensuring full control over editorial processes and peer review. As a diamond open access platform, SHOx enables free publishing and reading for all, enhancing visibility, accessibility, and impact of Oxford research. Staff and student-led titles are invited to join this growing community for scholarly publishing at Oxford.
Other Opportunities and Support
The dedicated Careers Service provision for research staff at the University will end on 31 July, as the funding that supports this service is not being renewed. From 1 August, research staff will no longer be able to book one-to-one careers advice appointments, attend dedicated Careers events, receive dedicated careers newsletters, access CareerConnect, or request Careers Service talks and workshops delivered exclusively for research staff. Postgraduate students are not affected by this change.
Research staff are encouraged to make use of other University and external resources to support their career development.
Please contact hello@careers.ox.ac.uk with any queries.
The courses are hosted in Canvas and are self-paced. They contain a wealth of general and Oxford-specific guidance and have been co-developed with Oxford researchers. There are currently five courses available, and the final two courses will become available during Michaelmas term:
- Research Integrity, Ethics and Governance at Oxford (a separate, introductory course to the mandatory research integrity course)
- Open Research Practices
- Research Design (coming soon)
- Collaboration
- Data
- Authorship, Publication and Peer Review
- Engagement and Impact (coming soon)
A certificate of completion will be issued for each course upon passing a short quiz and submitting a feedback survey. If you have any questions about the courses or about research practice in general, you can contact the Research Practice team: research.practice@admin.ox.ac.uk
SAME Research Support Team
We are here to discuss potential research applications, or for discussions around next steps in your research career. We offer:
- Research Strategy discussions
- Planning for new or substantial research funding
- Postdoctoral/Early-career researcher advice
- Guidance on funding opportunities
- Eligibility checks for internal and external schemes
- Advice on SAME or SSD approval processes
- Information on Oxford application processes and demand management
- Reviews for application drafts
- Guidance on application portals
- Support with interview preparation
- Support with research budget planning
- Provision of X5 budget drafts
- Advice on Research Services approval processes
- Support with award acceptance