Applying to Horizon Europe funding opportunities

12 November 2023

Horizon Europe and the UK

As of 7 September 2023, the UK has reached a deal to associate with Horizon Europe beginning with the 2024 work programme. With a budget of €95.5 billion, Horizon Europe allows researchers to apply for a range of funding schemes including, but not limited to, the various European Research Council (ERC) grants and the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions. Horizon Europe is built around three pillars, namely ‘Excellent Science,' 'Global Challenges & European Industrial Competitiveness,' and ‘Innovative Europe.'

ERC Grants

As one part of the ‘Excellent Science’ pillar, the ERC offers what Horizon Europe defines as ‘competitive funding to support investigator-driven frontier research across all fields, on the basis of scientific excellence.’ 
We would like to emphasise the benefits and opportunities that an ERC grant has for researchers at all stages of their career, and strongly encourage those interested to consider applying to one of the following in months and years to come: 

  • ERC Starting Grant: open to those with two to seven years of experience since the completion of the PhD. Up to 5 years and up to €1.5 million.
  • ERC Consolidator Grant: open to those with seven to 12 years of experience since the completion of the PhD. Up to 5 years and up to €2 million.
  • ERC Advanced Grant: open to those with an ‘excellent scientific track record of recognised achievements in the last 10 years. Up to 5 years and up to €2.5 million.
  • ERC Synergy Grant: open to teams of two to four researchers (one can also be based outside of Europe). Up to 6 years and a maximum €10 million.

Hear from Award Holders in the Social Sciences Division

ERC award holders from the social sciences have also shared their thoughts on what their ERC grants have allowed them to pursue, and what it means for them and their research. 

'ERC grants launch careers and allow you to pursue that big idea you’ve been harbouring for years. But more than that, an ERC grant gives you the freedom and resources to pursue amazing opportunities that pop up out of nowhere. People come to you and say, hey, can we do this? Your ERC grant means you don’t hesitate. You just say yes.' On behalf of Greger Larson (School of Archaeology)

'Over recent years, ERC funding has enabled our research team to develop child abuse prevention materials which reached over 210 million people during the global pandemic. It enabled us to build an evidence base that has been used by multiple African governments to implement effective interventions supporting adolescent mothers to continue their schooling and raise healthy children. It enabled us to develop and test digital methods for delivering impactful social interventions during COVID-19 and beyond, to some of the most vulnerable and under-served populations within low- and middle-income countries. We are delighted to again be part of Horizon - for this work that has been achieved and all the work that lies ahead.' On behalf of Lucie Cluver and the team (Department of Social Policy and Intervention)

'ERC funding has enabled me to engage in intensive, large-scale data collection using a wide range of methods that I hope will move the field forward in exciting new directions. It has also allowed me to support the field more broadly through organising interdisciplinary workshops that bring together scholars from across the humanities and the social sciences.' On behalf of Aaron Reeves (Department of Social Policy and Intervention)

Online workshop - 20 November, 12pm - 1.30pm

The Division would like to encourage those who are interested in these schemes or would like to learn more about Horizon Europe and what this could mean for their research, to attend an online workshop hosted by the Research Services Grants team on 20 November, from 12.00pm to 1.30pm.

The workshop will introduce Horizon Europe and explain the ways in which researchers can engage. It will cover collaborative project participation (both as a coordinator and a partner organisation), the ERC and Marie Curie opportunities. It will also take a brief look at the Funding & Tenders EC portal, explain how to find funding opportunities and provide details on how to source advice and further information. Professional research support staff are also welcome to join the workshop.

No pre-registration is required. You can join via Teams directly here. Please ensure the workshop date and details are in your calendar if you plan to attend.

The Social Sciences are also preparing a similar workshop targeted specifically at social scientists that will introduce Horizon Europe and the various schemes relevant to our researchers. Details to come closer to Hilary Term. 

Helpful links to additional resources

Horizon Europe University webpages: https://globalresearch.admin.ox.ac.uk/horizon-europe

Horizon Europe: https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/funding/funding-opportunities/funding-programmes-and-open-calls/horizon-europe_en

Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Slide Deck: https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/system/files/2022-06/ec_rtd_he-investing-to-shape-our-future_0.pdf

Help for applicants: https://www.ukri.org/apply-for-funding/horizon-europe/