What is the AHRC?
The AHRC funds postgraduate training and research in the arts and humanities, from archaeology and English literature to design and dance. The quality and range of research supported not only provides social and cultural benefits but also contributes to the economic success of the UK.
The AHRC was launched in April 2005 as the successor organisation to the Arts and Humanities Research Board (AHRB). The AHRB, formally launched in 1998, had been established as an interim and transitional body, pending a decision from Government on the recommendation in the Dearing Report of 1997 that an arts and humanities research council be founded.
With a budget of over £100 million per year, the AHRC provides a portfolio of programmes to support the best of UK research enabling development of a world-class research base.
How are you funded?
The AHRB was funded by the UK's higher education funding councils in England, Scotland and Wales, and the Department of Employment and Learning in Northern Ireland. The Arts and Humanities Research Council is funded by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) through the UK Science Budget. The AHRC is included in the combined bid of all the Research Councils to annual Spending Reviews.
What subject areas does the AHRC cover?
We fund postgraduate training and research in diverse subject areas covering the humanities (subjects such as history, English, linguistics, French, philosophy and classics) and the creative and performing arts (for example drama, dance, music, art and design). For full information on our subject domains see the Eligibility page.
How many awards do you make?
Each year the AHRC provides approximately £102 million to support research and postgraduate study in the arts and humanities. Awards are made after a rigorous process of peer review, to ensure that only applications of the highest quality are funded.
In any one year, the AHRC makes approximately 600 research awards and 1,000 postgraduate awards.
The Research Statistics section provides data on all competition outcomes.
I am not employed by an HEI but would like to apply for a research award. Am I eligible?
The AHRC's research schemes are only open to full- and part-time members of the academic and academic related staff of HEIs directly funded by the UK Funding Councils.
How does AHRC assess awards?
Awards are made after a rigorous process of peer review, to ensure that only applications of the highest quality are funded. Applications are assessed by a series of non-standing panels covering the full range of research we support. The Peer Review Panels are convened from membership of our Peer Review College. Further information is available on the Peer Review pages.
When are awards announced?
Each scheme has a separate timetable. Major announcements are flagged on our Home Page after award holders are informed. See the Funded Research section for awards we've made.
How do I acknowledge AHRC funding?
AHRC requires acknowledgement of its financial support for research projects in all publications and other forms of media communication including press releases, media appearances and conferences. This is key to publicising the investment of public funds by the AHRC and provides an indicator of the impact of that research whether social, cultural, academic or economic.
AHRC attaches great importance to the dissemination of research results and we expect results and outcomes to be published.
Acknowledgements need to be at least a line of text that identifies the type of AHRC support, includes our web address, www.ahrc.ac.uk, our logo should be used where possible
Please contact Trish White in Communications for further information.
How do I apply to join the AHRC Council?
AHRC Council members come from the academic community and other stakeholder groups, such as the voluntary or business sectors. Applicants should be able to reflect and express with authority the views of their research or user community, and contribute corporately to the Council's successful pursuit of its vision and strategy. Appointments are based on merit and applications and are independently assessed. Applications from women, minority groups and representatives from regions outside of the south-east would be particularly welcome. Vacancies are generally advertised annually. For further information about the next call for applications please contact the Council Secretary.
Appointments to the Research Councils are made by Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills. Our appointments process is managed in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments' "Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments to Public Bodies". This can be found on the office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA) web site. The AHRC is the initial point of contact for this process.
All appointees are office holders who must agree to comply with the relevant Code of Practice for Council members.
Further information about appointments to the AHRC and other research Councils is available at http://www.dius.gov.uk/science/research_councils