The Economic and Social Science Research Council have announced that the fourth round of their First Grant competition will open on 20th October:

ESRC First Grants Competition 2008/09

The competition will run in a different way from previous years in an effort to manage demand. This time it will be a two-stage process. At the first stage, researchers will be asked to submit an outline proposal by 11th December 2008. Applicants will be notified by 27th February 2009 if they have been successful and will then be invited to submit to a second round (deadline to be notified).

To be eligible, you must be within six years of completing your PhD (excluding formal career breaks for family, health or other personal reasons). In addition, you must not have been a Principal Investigator on an Research Council-funded award in the past.

Awards in this scheme are granted for research projects of up to three years at £400,000 FEC – ESRC will only pay 80% of the total FEC, as per standard Research Council arrangements.

Please contact the Research Office if you would like further information and support.