In this section

Managed External Calls

When an external funder restricts the number of applications that may be submitted per institution, an internal process is coordinated and put in place by the Funding Strategy team in the Research Office. Each process is defined by the particular restrictions of the call and is communicated to Imperial staff via an email cascaded through relevant Faculties and added to the list below.

Institutional letters of support may also be required for an external bid. Where the call requires this to be from the President, Provost, or Vice-Provost (Research), the Funding Strategy team in the Research Office will coordinate its provision. Find out more on the Institutional letters of support webpage.

Open calls

NERC/ESRC Doctoral Focal Award in environmental evidence synthesis

NERC and ESRC have launched a call for Doctoral Focal Awards in environmental evidence synthesis (previously CDTs) to support PhD studentships in advanced evidence synthesis methodologies. The funders intend to award up to 2 DFAs, each in receipt of 30 studentships across three annual intakes. The first studentship cohort will commence in October 2027. More details, including the eligibility criteria, funding details and the NERC/ESRC application process, can be found on the UKRI website.

Bids led by Imperial

Institutions may only be the administrative lead on one application and therefore an internal selection process has been established to identify the single Imperial-nominated bid. Those interested in applying to the internal selection process must submit an Outline using the NERC-ESRC DFA Outline template to researchoffice.fundingstrategy@imperial.ac.uk by 12:00 noon on Tuesday 5 May 2026. Due to the short timeframe, late submissions will not be accepted. Outlines will be reviewed by an internal Selection Panel against the NERC/ESRC assessment criteria (see under ‘How we will assess your application’). Decisions are expected to be announced on Friday 15 May, ahead of the NERC/ESRC Notification of Intent deadline on Wednesday 27 May 2026.

Bids with Imperial as partner

There is no restriction on the number of bids in which Imperial may participate as a co-lead or project partner. However, the internal Selection Panel is keen to maintain oversight of all bids involving Imperial. Anyone participating as a partner on bids led by other institutions are therefore asked to submit the following information to researchoffice.fundingstrategy@imperial.ac.uk by 12:00 noon on Tuesday 5 May 2026 (no template required):

Imperial lead academic
Lead department
Project title
Summary of the proposed work (up to 300 words)

Please circulate throughout your networks as you see fit and feel free to direct any queries to researchoffice.fundingstrategy@imperial.ac.uk.

Recurring calls

AXA Chair and Fellowship

For further detail contact researchoffice.fundingstrategy@imperial.ac.uk

There is one opportunity a year to put someone forward for an AXA Chair or Fellowship position (note Fellowship calls are for specific research areas). Imperial is only permitted to submit one candidate per call, and the process is managed centrally. More information about these opportunities can be found on the AXA website.

AXA Chair

2026 call CLOSED. Internal deadline midday 26 March 2026

The Chair scheme is primarily to attract an individual to Imperial. Departments together with the proposed applicant should complete an AXA Internal Expression of Interest form and send this, with a 3 page CV of the proposed applicant, to researchoffice.fundingstrategy@imperial.ac.uk by midday 26 March. Within the form, Departments should detail the strategic benefit to Imperial of pursuing an application. Applications must come from the Department, not the applicant.

The Vice-Provost (Research and Enterprise) will review submissions based on the declared strategic benefit and fit to the scheme. The department of the chosen applicant will be informed of the next steps to continue the process.

AXA Postdoctoral Fellowship

2026 call expected Autumn 2026.

Interested candidates' Departments should initially approach researchoffice.fundingstrategy@imperial.ac.uk stating the individual that they wish to put forward/attract, how they meet the AXA chosen research area, why AXA is the best route to support them, and the strategic benefit to Imperial of pursuing an application.

If the Vice-Provost (Research and Enterprise) is convinced AXA is an appropriate fit for the candidate, and Imperial has not met its application limit, the department will be informed of the next steps to continue the process.

EPSRC Strategic Equipment Outlines

For further detail please contact researchoffice.fundingstrategy@imperial.ac.uk.

EPSRC have relaunched their strategic equipment call as a responsive mode opportunity for which Imperial is permitted to submit up to 6 applications in the period to 18 June 2026.

Funding is for either:

purchase and set-up of infrastructure
resources to support existing infrastructure

The full economic cost (FEC) of your infrastructure must be at least £400,000.

The resources to support existing equipment applications must have a maximum duration of two years.

Interested parties should complete the EPSRC Strategic Equipment Outlines Application Proforma (.docx).

The completed form should be submitted to researchoffice.fundingstrategy@imperial.ac.uk, outlines will be considered at Imperial’s Research Advisory Group (RAG).

Outlines will be considered three times across 2025/2026 as per the following timetable.

Round	Deadline for Internal Submission	RAG date for Assessment
1	1 September 2025	TBC
2	1 December 2025	TBC
3	1 April 2026	20 April

Applications should be submitted to EPSRC no more than four weeks after approval to submit by RAG.

Additional information can be found on the EPSRC Strategic Equipment process webpage

Upcoming calls

Below are the calls that have been pre-announced and are expected to need management. A process for these calls will be announced as soon as possible.