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Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), with MOD, DHSC and Defra

Doctoral focal award: chemical threat reduction

UKRI, with the Ministry of Defence, DHSC and Defra, will fund one doctoral focal award training at least 40 students over three cohorts in chemical threat reduction: defence chemistry, toxicology and related fields. It runs for 78 months from 1 April 2027 and pays 100% of eligible costs, up to £14.275 million. UK universities and other research organisations eligible for UKRI funding can lead. A lead's research organisation must complete an intent to submit survey by 1 December 2026, or it cannot apply; full applications then close on 19 January 2027.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
£1 – £14,275,000
Closes in
19 days left
1 December
Effort
Heavy
budgets, references, often several stages

Who can apply

  • UK higher education institutions, research council institutes, eligible independent research organisations and Catapult centres, and public sector research establishments (PSREs), under UKRI standard organisation and individual eligibility rules
  • Each organisation can lead only one application
  • The lead must host at least one student per year of intake and needs no degree awarding powers itself, but an organisation with them must be in the consortium
  • Businesses, third sector organisations and other universities can join as project partners but cannot receive funds
  • All staff, students and supervisors must provide details for a Baseline Personnel Security Standard check, and only students eligible for UK home fees can receive studentships

What it funds

  • Studentship costs up to the equivalent of 50 students over a maximum of three cohorts: tuition fees, stipends and research training support
  • Leadership and management costs
  • Costs to set up new focal awards
  • Developing training which forms part of the cohort training package
  • Direct costs explicitly linked to training activities and student development
  • Additional support to facilitate diversity and mobility of career paths, and to accommodate doctoral students at different career stages or employed in relevant industrial sectors
  • Wider career development experience for students
  • Innovative routes for student recruitment and widening the participation of underrepresented groups in doctoral study

Training should cover hazardous agent handling, attribution methods, analytical and decontamination techniques, toxicology and responsible innovation, with project goals and supervision set jointly with government partners such as Dstl. Cohorts must have at least five students.

What it will not fund

  • Equipment over £25,000 in value (including VAT)
  • Costs associated with student supervision
  • Estates and indirect costs
  • Additional college fees
  • Uninvited resubmissions of projects submitted to UKRI or any other funder

How to apply

  1. Have your research organisation complete the intent to submit survey by 11:59pm on 1 December 2026; without it you cannot apply
  2. Confirm your organisation is registered on the UKRI Funding Service, then select 'Start application' on the UKRI opportunity page and create an account
  3. Answer the application questions directly in the Funding Service, uploading documents where asked
  4. Send the application to your research office for checking; it submits to EPSRC by 4:00pm on 19 January 2027
  5. A panel shortlists applications and shortlisted applicants are interviewed, expected in February 2027

Have ready

  • Letters or emails of support from project partners

Most answers are typed directly into the Funding Service.

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