The Research Networking Scheme is intended to support forums for the discussion and exchange of ideas on a specified thematic area, issue or problem. The intention is to facilitate interactions between researchers and stakeholders through, for example, a short-term series of workshops, seminars, networking activities or other events. The aim of these activities is to stimulate new debate across boundaries, for example, disciplinary, conceptual, theoretical, methodological, and/or international. Proposals should explore new areas, be multi-institutional and can include creative or innovative approaches or entrepreneurship. Proposals must justify the approach taken and clearly explain the novelty or added value for bringing the network participants together.
Proposals for full economic costs up to £30,000 for a period of up to two years may be submitted. The exact mechanism for networking and the duration is up to the applicants to decide but must be fully justified in the proposal. An additional threshold of up to £15,000 full economic cost may be sought to cover the costs of any international participants or activities in addition to the £30,000 fEC scheme limit. Proposals will need to be submitted by an eligible Research Organisation but must involve collaboration with at least one other organisation, as well as having significant relevance to beneficiaries in the UK.
Highlight Notice
Highlight notices are intended to stimulate proposals under specified themes or initiatives in order to rapidly advance thinking in these areas. Highlight notices are being offered as opportunites within existing AHRC research schemes and are therefore assessed under the same criteria and assessment process.
A highlight notice is currently in place under the Research Networking scheme for the four themes that emerged from the Future Directions consultation:
and to the new AHRC-led cross-Council Programme on:
This scheme operates without formal deadlines.
You are able to submit proposals at any time of year and the AHRC aims to inform applicants of the outcome of their proposals within approximately four months from the end of the month in which the application is made. For example, if an application is submitted at any point in the month of January, then the earliest possible start date for the project would be 1st June.
On occasion, there might be a delay in obtaining the peer reviews for an application and this may result in the assessment process taking longer.
All applications to this scheme must be submitted via the cross-council Joint Electronic Submission - (JE-S) System. If you need any assistance to use the system, please contact the JE-S helpdesk on 01793 444164 or on JesHelp@rcuk.ac.uk.
AHRC Funding Guide (919kb) provides an overview of the Research Networking Scheme. It details the eligibility criteria, assessment criteria, information on how to apply, application deadlines, eligible dates and terms and conditions of awards. You must ensure that you meet all of the eligibility criteria before submitting an application.
Subject Coverage
Impact Summary and Pathways to Impact: - Frequently Asked Questions (154kb)
RCUK Impact Requirements - Frequently Asked Questions (151kb)
Examples of Impact from AHRC-funded projects (273kb)
Documents for current award holders
Standards of Service Questionnaire: 
word (172kb), PDF (27kb), 
RTF (663kb)
Terms and Conditions of Award (75kb)
The AHRC work with the RCUK Shared Services Centre (SSC) to deliver all of our funding activities. All queries regarding eligibility for funding and applications in progress and also queries regarding current awards, should be directed to the SSC team dealing with your subject area using the contacts page.