The Peer Review System helps ensure that the research funded by the AHRC is in line with our commitment to funding world-class research.
Peer Review is a tried and tested system used by the seven UK research councils (RCUK) and other funding bodies. Peer reviewers are independent experts drawn from academia and other organisations, covering the full range of Arts and Humanities research areas, who review and grade funding proposals. Their reviews inform panels and, ultimately, the AHRC's decision making process.
Introduction to the AHRC Peer Review College
The Peer Review College has a membership of around 1300 people with expertise in research areas across the AHRC's remit.
Peer Review College membership list (excel format 256kb)
Peer Review College membership list (pdf 450kb)
Reviewing
College members are invited to submit peer reviews which are used by moderating panels as the basis to make decisions on whether applications are of a fundable standard. Assessments are made using a pre-defined grading scale. Typically three reviews are required for each funding proposal.
AHRC staff select reviewers on the basis of the research classifications and key words assigned to the application from the cross-council classification system, available in the Joint Electronic Submission (Je-S) System.The same list is used by applicants to classify their research proposal and by College members to describe their research expertise. Using common lists for both reviewers and applicants helps ensure that reviewers receive proposals within their area(s) of research.
The AHRC will always endeavour to choose reviewers from within its College membership, but draws on non-college members from the wider academic and user communities from time to time when a suitable College member is not available.
Guidance notes for Off College Reviewers (pdf 51kb)
Panels
The AHRC convenes non-standing panels from the membership of the College. Panels meet on an ad hoc basis according to the requirements of the scheme for which they provide final grades and ranking.
To avoid conflicts of interest College members are not appointed to panels for which they have submitted a review or are involved with the proposed project.
The AHRC relies on moderating panels to make funding recommendations for most of their schemes, including Research Grants and Fellowships with open deadlines. Moderating Panels assign final grades and rank proposals in order of priority for funding. The role of the panel is to make judgements on the applications on the basis of the the feedback from the peer reviewers and PI response. It is not part of their role to reassess the applications when deciding the final grade.
Assessment panels operate differently. It is the role of these panel members to assess the application and assign a suggested grade against the scheme criteria, normally prior to the meeting. The panel meets to discuss the pre-assigned grades, agree final grades and rank proposals in order of priority of funding.
Panel Remits (pdf 120kb)
Membership of AHRC Panels
Whenever possible panel membership is drawn from the College.
The following is taken into consideration when building a panel for each meeting:
- For each panel, A/B/C/D, the subject spread and number of applications are predicted and the size and scope of the panel organised accordingly. However, generally we cannot cover all subjects in which we are likely to get applications.
- An equal balance between those that have previously sat on a panel/acted as Chair and those who have not previously sat on an AHRC panel.
- There will only be one panel member from any one institution.
- Those who have submitted an application review, which will be considered at the panel meeting, will not be invited as this constitutes a conflict of interest.
- We are committed to equal opportunities and aim to ensure an even geographical spread from across the UK and a fair gender balance.
- Not all College Members will have the opportunity to sit on a panel during their term of membership.
Panels which met in 2009 (121kb)
Panels which have met 2010 (117kb)