UK impacts of the US-Iran conflict: Guide for applicants

Section 1: Introduction

This Guide is for applicants applying for rapid response research funding to understand the economic and social impacts on the UK of the 2026 conflict involving US, Iran, Israel and the wider region, and disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. It sets out the application process and how to apply.

The deadline for applications is 11.59am on 10 July 2026. Projects should ideally begin in either August or September 2026, and must be completed by February 2027.

Section 2: Assessment criteria

Our grants rounds are competitive, and we only fund a small proportion of the many applications we receive. We consider the following factors in assessing applications submitted to us:

• Relevance: Applications need to respond to one or more of our research areas of interest on the UK impacts of the US-Iran conflict. They need to make a clear case for the importance and timeliness of the proposed project and how it would add to the existing knowledge base.
• Impact: Applications must set out a clear and credible route through which the research and associated activities will inform national and local policy responses and help mitigate the impacts of the current crisis on people’s lives in the UK. Communications and engagement plans should identify key audiences, appropriate routes to reach them, and how outputs and dissemination will maximise the relevance, accessibility and practical use of the findings.
• Rigorous and appropriate method: Proposals may take many forms, but they must demonstrate impartiality, objectivity and methodological rigour. The proposed approach should be credible and appropriate for the questions being addressed. We welcome a wide variety of empirical and applied research approaches, including quantitative and qualitative approaches, synthesis, real-time data collection and analysis, policy analysis, evaluation and scenario modelling, and distributional and behavioural analysis.
• Expertise, experience and potential: Applications should demonstrate that the team possess the appropriate experience, expertise and potential to carry out the project as planned. We are not only interested in academic expertise, we are also looking for strong project management and impact/influencing skills in the teams that apply to us. We also look for evidence of potential to enhance the capability of early career members of the team.
• Value for money: We are a charity and are keen to ensure we achieve value for money in the grants that we fund. Value for money considerations include whether the cost of the project is justified by the potential benefits and is in line with comparable research, as well as whether resources are being used in the best way to achieve the intended outcomes.
• Timeliness: Applications will need to provide a realistic timeline and demonstrate how timely evidence will support decision-making in a rapidly evolving context, including consideration of trade-offs and longer-term effects.

Section 3: Eligibility

Due to the rapid nature of this call, we are not able to meet with, or offer bespoke advice to, prospective applicants about eligibility or suitability prior to the submission of an application.

3.1 UK focus

We welcome applications from UK-based organisations.

Proposals for projects should be directly concerned with the economic and social consequences of the crisis on the UK, and support the design of effective, feasible, and proportionate national and local policy responses.

3.2 Staffing

Principal Investigators: 

• Proposed projects must be led by a named Principal Investigator (PI), who is the lead applicant. 
• The PI must have a formal employment or contractual relationship with the host institution. 
• The PI is responsible for the application and serves as the main contact throughout the process and any subsequent grant period. 
• If there are Co-Principal Investigators, one must be designated as the lead applicant and our primary contact for the purposes of grant administration if an award is made. 
• We award grants to organisations (the ‘host institution’) not individuals. The PI must be based at the host institution. 

Other staff: 

• Individuals who will have a significant role in assisting the PI in the management and leadership of the project should be named as Co-Investigators (Co-Is). 
• Individuals with non-leadership roles on the project should also be named in the application if known, and details provided of any roles into which someone would need to be recruited if an award were made. 

3.3 Other funders

• Applicants must state in their application if they are applying or have applied for funds elsewhere for the same or a closely related project.  
• If the proposal was unsuccessful elsewhere, they should include all feedback received.  
• We may contact the other funding organisation(s) for information.  

We don’t support general appeals for pooled funding (funders combining funds into single pot with shared decision-making), but we may consider partnership funding (multiple funders supporting a project in parallel).  

• Applicants should provide the name of the proposed co-funder(s) and explain the case for co-funding.  
• We usually contact the proposed co-funder(s) to discuss the feasibility of co-funding before making a funding decision.  

3.4 Multiple proposals

Multiple applications from the same Principal Investigator are allowed, but it is unlikely more than one will be shortlisted in the same funding round.

3.5 Ineligible categories

• Individuals without formal employment or contractual relationship with the institution hosting the grant for at least the duration of the project.
• Projects led by individuals unaffiliated to any particular organisation.
• Projects led by schools or further education colleges.
• Projects led by undergraduates or master’s students.
• PhD fees or projects where the main purpose is to support a PhD.
• The establishment of academic posts.
• Ongoing costs or the costs of ‘rolling out’ existing work or services (unless explicitly agreed with the Foundation in advance of an application being submitted).
• ‘Dissemination-only’ projects, including campaigning work, which are not connected to our funded work.
• Local charities, replacement for statutory funding, or local social services or social welfare provision.
• Requests for financial help or educational fees from or on behalf of individuals.
• Projects led by organisations or institutions that are not based in the UK.
  • In exceptional cases, we may accept applications from overseas organisations if no UK-based host is feasible. Applicants must show strong plans for UK-focused dissemination, engagement and impact.

Section 4: Applications

Applications must be submitted via our online form. If there are submission issues, or a legitimate reason why we should consider an offline application, contact us at applications@nuffieldfoundation.org

Applications must:

• Provide a clear, concise and compelling account of the proposal, why it is needed now and the impact it is expected to achieve.
• Demonstrate the project addresses one or more of the areas set out in the funding call on our website.
• Clearly articulate its objectives and demonstrate that the approach, methodology and activities are well-considered, fit for purpose and appropriately resourced (staff, time and costs).
• Stand alone to make a case, without any need for the reviewers to undertake further research or to follow up the bibliographic references in order to judge the application.

Queries on applications:

We may request additional information or clarification on an application following submission.

If applicants have any concerns about their application, they should contact applications@nuffieldfoundation.org. Please make sure to include the name of the PI and the application reference number included in the confirmation email (if received).

Funding decisions:

Final decisions will be made towards the end of July 2026 and applicants will be informed whether they have been successful or unsuccessful. We will not provide specific feedback on unsuccessful applications. We will not accept resubmissions of unsuccessful applications.

Section 5: Diversity and inclusion monitoring

As part of our commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, the Foundation collects voluntary diversity data from applicants (PIs and Co-Is) after applications are submitted. This is done via a secure, separate online form, sent by email. Responses are securely and separately stored from other application information, and do not influence application decisions.

If a grant is awarded, further data may be collected from the full project team. All data is anonymised, used for reporting, and deleted after 18 months.

The data we collect enables us to identify and benchmark key trends, evaluate the effectiveness of the actions taken under our EDI Action Plan, and generate insights that inform the development of future priorities.

Section 6: Application form

In addition to contact details and basic information such as the project start and end date, the sections of the application form are set out in the table below.

Project titles should be clear, descriptive and unambiguous. They must be 70 characters or less.

6.1 Filling out the form

In the Outcomes and influence section, we want to know how the project will make a real world difference, and how it will support decision-making in a rapidly evolving context, including consideration of trade-offs and longer-term effects. We are also looking for how key audiences will be identified and plans for influencing and engaging them throughout the project.

• We view research reports, briefing papers, other publications, events, podcasts, online communications, and so forth as outputs.
• Complete content and coverage of outputs does not need to be defined in the application, but an indication of possible and likely topics should be provided.
• Outputs should include at least one report which is freely and publicly available and which serves as a concise and accessible account of your project, drawing out key findings and recommendations. We refer to this an the Main public output and it should be published before the grant end date.
• We also expect projects to produce at least one policy or practice briefing.
• All substantive outputs should be published before the project end date.
• We welcome the production of academic journal articles, but they are not the primary focus of this rapid funding round.

The purpose of the Methods, approach and activities section of the application form is to enable applicants to set out the work they will undertake to achieve the aims and objectives of their project. Applicants must demonstrate that the proposed design is fit for purpose, the project is feasible and that a high-quality project will be delivered. They should clearly set out the work proposed and a rationale for why it is proposed, providing sufficient information for reviewers to assess its rigour. We welcome a wide variety of empirical and applied research approaches, including quantitative and qualitative approaches, synthesis, real-time data collection and analysis, policy analysis, evaluation and scenario modelling, and distributional and behavioural analysis.

This section should also set out how applicants will ensure the quality of the project, and identify any limitations and risks, along with the steps that will be taken to manage and mitigate them. Applicants should refer to Appendix A of this Guide before completing this section of the application.

We need to be confident that the proposed staffing is appropriate and that staff have the necessary expertise and sufficient time available to deliver the project. Applicants must provide the information required to make this assessment in the Research and engagement team section of the application form, focusing on the skills and experience most relevant to delivering this project. They should also describe how project staff, particularly those at earlier career stages, will be supported and developed.

We do not expect a detailed Timetable in the application. However, we do need to be given sufficient information to help us judge whether the overall timeframe is feasible and that the sequencing of key stages in the project fits with its aims and approach and enables timely policy engagement.

We do not expect a detailed Budget in the application. We only need a high-level budget that indicates the split between staff time (separately for different categories of staff), overheads / estate costs, non-staff costs (e.g. quantitative and qualitative research) and other direct costs, and which complies with our Budget guidelines – see Section 8 of this Guide. If your application is successful, you will be asked to provide a detailed budget breakdown using a spreadsheet template that we will supply.After submission of your application, you will be asked in a confirmation of submission email to provide the name and contact information of an institutional signatory for your organisation.

6.2 Terms and Conditions

Applicants should read our Terms and Conditions before submitting their application. The host institution must accept these Terms and Conditions in principle when applicants submit their application. If the application is successful, the institutional signatory will be asked to formally accept the Terms and Conditions on behalf of the host institution.

Please ensure that the institutional signatory is informed in advance that they have been nominated as the Nuffield Foundation will use the contact details provided to contact this individual with a link to a form which must be completed.  

Our Guide for grant-holders sets out in detail our expectations of successful applicants. 

Section 7: Receiving a grant

7.1 Notice of award

• A Notice of Award letter will be sent to successful applicants. 
• Any feedback or requirements will be included. 
• A link to the Grant Acceptance form will be sent along with the Notice of Award letter. 
• Occasionally, we send a Conditional Award letter that identifies specific conditions. Satisfying these conditions is fundamental to a decision to award, and they must be signed off by the Foundation before the grant can be released. 

In the reply to the Notice of Award letter, successful applicants must: 

• Set out any proposed amendments to the project, especially where these are required in response to conditions 
• Confirm the start and end dates, the project budget breakdown, the dates for delivering the requirements, and accept the latest Terms and Conditions. 
• We do not usually expect amendments to the budget at this stage, and significant budget changes will require approval. 
• If there have been substantial changes to the project during the application process, we may require these to be incorporated into an updated project plan or application form so that there is a single record of what has been agreed. 
• We are happy to provide advice before successful applicants send their response letter to the Notice of Award, for example if there is more than one option for addressing feedback, or if they anticipate timing difficulties. 

7.2 Grant acceptance form

• Once any requirements or feedback points from the Notice of award have been addressed, the Grant acceptance form should be completed to:
  • Confirm acceptance of the grant and agreement to our Terms and conditions.
  • Confirm the correct institutional signatory.
  • Submit any comments regarding points in the award letter.

7.3 Confirmation of award

• The Confirmation of award letter confirms the final details of the grant.
• At this stage, it is important to read our Guide for grant-holders, which sets out our typical approach to managing grants, including invoicing, grant outputs, acknowledging the Foundation, and reporting requirements. 

Please note:

• A grant is only formally confirmed once the Confirmation of award letter has been issued.
• Details of the grant can only be made public after the Confirmation of award letter has been issued.
• The Foundation cannot fund any work that takes place before the start date of the grant.
• The Foundation reserves the right to withdraw an in principle offer if it is not possible to confirm the award within six months of issuing the Notice of award.

Section 8: Budget guidelines

8.1 Assessing the budget and financial monitoring

The following points set out our approach to assessing the budget and to financial monitoring:  

• Grant budgets must be set out in calendar year. We do not accept budgets set out using project year or financial year.  
• Our grant funding is outside the scope of VAT, as it is not a business activity for private benefit.  
  • Where applicants are contemplating working with others for substantial parts of the grant, we expect them to consider whether it is feasible to include them as co-applicants or collaborators, rather than as providers of a service which might make them liable for VAT.  
  • Any VAT that is expected to be payable must be set out within the budget submitted as part of the Full application; budgets should be inclusive of all VAT and local taxes, where applicable.  
• We fund 100% of eligible costs, not the 80% funded by Research Councils.  
  • Where we make an award to a Higher Education Institution (HEI), we will meet all ‘directly incurred’ costs (subject to certain conditions set out in the ‘Budget guidelines for Full Applications’ table) and most ‘directly allocated’ costs (except the estates costs of PIs and permanent university staff).  
  • Overheads (which may also be referred to as ‘indirect costs’) are generally ineligible. These include costs associated with institutional infrastructure and shared services, such as:  
    • estate and premises costs   
    • non-project-dedicated administrative, technical, and support staff   
    • central administrative services, including finance, library services, and general room hire   
  • Exceptions apply where specifically stated in this guidance. 
  • Further guidance about these terms should be sought from the host institution’s research administration staff.  

• We reserve the right to hold back up to 20% of the total grant value (to a maximum of £50,000) until satisfactory completion of all grant work and outputs.  
• The budget should not include ‘contingency’ funds. If unforeseen events arise or new activities (such as dissemination activities) are agreed, we can consider a request for a supplementary grant. Further information on supplements can be found in our Guide for Grant Holders.  
• Costs outside the categories described in this guidance may be considered where applicants can demonstrate that they are directly attributable to, and essential for, the delivery of the funded activity. Applicants should provide a clear justification for any such costs within their application. The assessment panel reserves discretion in determining eligibility, and inclusion of a cost does not imply automatic approval.    
• PhD students can work on grants to undertake specific tasks, provided this is explicitly requested and justified.  
  • We would not usually expect a PhD student to be a Principal Investigator.  
  • We will fund the PhD student’s time; we expect the host institution to cost this proportionately to the specific role they will be undertaking.
  • We will not fund PhD fees.  
  • Where the work a PhD student undertakes will contribute to their PhD, the host institution (rather than the Foundation) is responsible for ensuring appropriate progress towards the PhD is made, and for recruiting alternative staff if the project is delayed.  

We recognise that some projects may involve costs that are not explicitly listed in this guidance. Applicants may include such costs in their budget where they can provide a strong justification that the expenditure is both directly incurred and necessary for the delivery of the proposed work. These requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis; inclusion of a cost does not guarantee that it will be deemed eligible for funding.  

8.2 Completing the application form

In the application, applicants will be asked to set out their proposed budget using the broad categories below: 

• Staff costs: PI time 
• Staff costs: Co-I time 
• Staff costs: Team member time 
• Staff costs: Consultants 
• Staff costs: Overheads and estate costs 
• Non-staff costs: Qualitative research 
• Non-staff costs: Quantitative research 
• Non-staff costs: Communications and stakeholder engagement 
• Non-staff costs: Equipment 
• Non-staff costs: Other direct costs 

The types of cost we expect to be included under each of the non-staff cost headings is outlined below (please note that this is our standard guidance and some categories are likely not to be relevant to most proposals under this call). 

A more detailed explanation of eligible and ineligible costs is provided below.

8.3 Detailed budget guidance

Appendix A: Methodologies guidance

Where a project includes primary data collection, applicants must:  

• Supply full details of the rationale for the sampling strategy.  
• This should include a clear description of the population of interest, and plans to select and recruit the sample and any sub-groups within it.  
• We expect a full account of the theoretical, technical and practical issues that have influenced the selected methodology/approach. 

If this involves quantitative data collection, applicants should: 

• Provide information about both the issued and achieved sample sizes, along with appropriate power calculations, and how to account for expected attrition. 
• Where the project involves a survey, applicants must provide details of the approach to implementation, and demonstrate an understanding of the practical implementation challenges as well as statistical theory.  
• If the study involves collecting data in a systematic and quantifiable way from electronic or paper records, (e.g. court files) applicants need to state what data is held in what form, identify issues of data quality and consistency and set out how the data will be accessed, collected and manipulated to be in a useable form for analysis. 

If this involves qualitative data collection, applicants should: 

• Clearly set out the approach suggested for each group (e.g. one to one in-depth interviews, focus groups, deliberation and the numbers involved in each) and identify any specific tools or interviewing techniques to deploy to elicit quality data.
• Set out the approach intended for the analysis and presentation of findings. 

For all projects that include primary quantitative or qualitative data collection, applicants should set out whether they plan to deposit the data at an appropriate archive to ensure data is available for future research. Applicants should: 

• Explain what will be said to participants about how their data will be used, including any statements about anonymised data. 
• Explain how data will be anonymised, which data archive will be used or, if an archive is not appropriate, what other arrangements will be made to enable other researchers to access the data. 
• Set out the timescale for the deposit, which should be within one year of grant completion. 
• Explain the reasons if it is not appropriate to deposit the data for future use. 
• Include in the budget any costs related to preparing data for archiving. 

Where applicants propose secondary data analysis of existing data sources – surveys, administrative data or other sources – they should: 

• Explain how the source is appropriate to address the aims and objectives of the project, how to obtain access to the data source, and what further manipulation of the data may be necessary to make it fit for purpose.  
• Include an analysis plan.  
• Researchers should use and integrate the data sources that best address their research questions (rather than focusing on only one dataset and examining others in separate projects).  

For reviews and synthesis, including formal meta-analysis as well as other systematic and narrative reviews, applicants should:  

• Demonstrate that the approach will deliver a critical assessment of empirical research or policy/practice initiatives, drawing out implications for policy and practice, or generating a new research agenda.  
• Demonstrate that preliminary work has been undertaken to establish there is sufficient literature to review. 
• Explain how relevant research would be identified (i.e. which databases will be searched) and include details about how to assess the quality of studies and other inclusion criteria. 

Evaluations, whether process, impact or economic, will often require a mix of methods in order to address the research questions and meet the wider project objectives, and applicants should therefore apply the guidance above where relevant. In addition, applicants should provide details about: 

• The underlying theory for the intervention proposed for evaluation; 
• How any ‘counterfactual’ would be assessed. 
• The outcome measures to be used, including their validity, reliability and how these would be collected. 
• Estimated sample sizes and whether these would provide sufficient power to detect the expected effect size, with reference to previously observed effect sizes where relevant.