Our funding requirements

We have several different funds. Answer the questions below to find out if you are eligible for Nuffield Foundation funding.

yes_no

Question 1/5

1. Are you employed by or affiliated with a UK-based institution or organisation?

Great
Unfortunately, you don't meet our requirements
We only make grants to organisations and institutions that are based in the UK. Applicants must be employed by, or affiliated to, the organisation that will receive the grant.
yes_no

Question 2/5

2. Is your research project being considered by other funders?

Great
yes_no

Question 3/5

3. Are you a school, further education, undergraduate, masters or PhD student?

Great
Doesn’t meet our requirements
We do not accept grant applications from school, undergraduate or Masters students or where the main purpose is to support a PhD. You might be interested in our POST Fellowship for PhD students.
yes_no

Question 4/5

4. Is your research question relevant to at least one of our three core domains of education, welfare or justice?

Great
yes_no

Question 5/5

5. Will your research project require funding upward of £750,000?

Perfect
Changes to our March 2024 funding round
In March 2024, we are pausing funding for strategic grants of over £750,000 while we consult with partners and stakeholders about our new strategy. The pause means that for 2024, the research projects we support will be for grant sizes of up to £750k

Eligibility for Nuffield Foundation funding

We prioritise rigorous research, development and analysis projects that improve the design and operation of social policy. Answering these questions will help identify whether your project is eligible for funding.

Unfortunately, you are currently ineligible for Nuffield Foundation funding.

Sorry, you do not meet our funding requirements.
For more information, read our Guide for Applicants which contains detailed information about our funding priorities and eligibility criteria.

Good news, you may be eligible for Nuffield Foundation funding.

Based on your responses, it’s likely that your project is eligible for our

Next steps

In 2023, we awarded

£11.7 million

for social research projects

The Nuffield Foundation’s purpose is to advance social well-being and educational opportunity across the UK. We want to improve people’s lives and their ability to participate in society, through better understanding of the social, economic, technological and demographic factors that affect their chances in life. One of the ways we do this is by funding research that will inform the design and operation of social policy.

Our funds

Open

£10,000 - £750,000

Research, Development & Analysis Fund

Our Research, Development & Analysis Fund focuses on our three core domains of Education, Welfare and Justice, as well as areas that cut across them.

Next outline application deadline for funding requests up to £750,000:
06 Oct 2025 23:59 GMT
Apply now

Open

Racial Diversity UK

The Foundation has a programme supporting research on racial diversity within the UK. Racial Diversity UK offers an opportunity for a fresh look at how patterns of racial diversity and disparity develop and shape the UK now and in the coming decades, and to improve understanding of the barriers and pathways to a racially just and inclusive society.   

The priority theme for the RDUK autumn 2025 application round is migration, arrivals, and legacies. 

06 Oct 2025 23:59 GMT
Apply now

Closed

Oliver Bird Fund

£4 million for research funding to improve the social and economic well-being of people living with musculoskeletal conditions.

View fund
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