Opportunity status:
Open
Funders:
Funding type:
Grant
Total fund:
£800,000
Award range:
£10,000 - £500,000
Publication date:
22 August 2025
Opening date:
5 September 2025 9:00am UK time
Closing date:
14 July 2026 4:00pm UK time
Apply for funding for a ship borne and virtual site survey investigation to support development of applications for scientific ocean drilling expeditions.
You must be:
* based at a UK research organisation eligible for Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) funding
* in a role that meets the individual eligibility requirements
The full economic cost (FEC) of your project can be up to £500,000 for ship borne investigations and £187,500 for virtual investigations. NERC will fund 80% of the FEC.
Your project can last up to 24 months.
Before applying for funding, check the following:
* *
To lead a project, you must be based at an eligible organisation. .
Who is eligible to apply
This funding opportunity is open to research groups and individuals. We:
* encourage multidisciplinary research and collaborations with other UK organisations
* welcome applications from individuals at any career stage, subject to NERC eligibility criteria
Who is not eligible to apply
You may be involved in no more than two applications submitted to this funding opportunity. Only one of these can be as project lead.
Project partners are encouraged but they fund their own involvement. We will only fund minor incidental expenses, such as some travel costs, if needed for project partners.
You should include all other international collaborators (or UK partners not based at approved organisations) as project partners. This includes organisations from the business or financial sectors.
Equality, diversity and inclusion
for all funding applicants. We encourage applications from a diverse range of researchers.
We support people to work in a way that suits their personal circumstances. This includes:
* career breaks
* support for people with caring responsibilities
* flexible working
* alternative working patterns
for UKRI applicants and grant holders during the application and assessment process.