Application timelines - MRC

We anticipate that all MRC funding opportunities opening from June 2023 onwards will use the UK Research and Innovation Funding Service. For further information, see  council transition to the new Funding Service and  our pathway for change.

We held a webinar on 20 November 2023 for potential applicants applying to MRC responsive mode and fellowship funding opportunities closing in January 2024. Watch webinar recording (Zoom). Passcode: sh6Q?EAU

MRC reserves the right to amend any of the published dates for opening, closing, shortlisting and meetings. Please check regularly in case of any changes.

We highly recommend that you check the important information at the end of this page on:

  • applicant responsibilities for the application process
  • information related to closing, shortlisting and meeting dates

Applied global health research and partnership stage one and stage two

See the stage one opportunity details on funding finder (research stage one and partnership stage one).

See the stage two opportunity details on the funding finder (partnership invited stage two and research invited stage two).

See previous meeting outcomes.

Applied global health research and partnership stage one (round eight) Dec 2024

Opening date
16 September 2024
Closing date
3 December 2024
Shortlisting date
April 2024
Meeting dates
November 2024

Important note: stage two round eight dates are as follows:

  • opening date: 1 May 2025
  • closing date: 16 July 2025

Applied global health research and partnership stage one (round seven) Jul 2024

Opening date
15 March 2024
Closing date
13 July 2024
Shortlisting date
April 2024
Meeting date
November 2024

Important note: stage two round seven dates are as follows:

  • opening date: 1 November 2024
  • closing date: 16 January 2025

Applied global health research and partnership stage one (round six) Feb 2024

Opening date
2 November 2023
Closing date
13 February 2024
Shortlisting date
April 2024
Meeting dates
November 2024

Important note: stage two round six dates are as follows:

  • opening date: 15 February 2024
  • closing date: 16 July 2024

Career development award

Career development award Sep 2026

Opening date
19 April 2026
Closing date
9 September 2026
Shortlisting date
February 2027
Meeting dates
March 2027

Career development award Apr 2026

Opening date
19 November 2025
Closing date
15 April 2026
Shortlisting date
September 2026
Meeting dates
October 2026

Career development award Sep 2025

Opening date
17 April 2025
Closing date
10 September 2025
Shortlisting date
February 2026
Meeting dates
March 2026

Career development award Apr 2025

Opening date
20 November 2024
Closing date
16 April 2025
Shortlisting date
September 2025
Meeting dates
October 2025

Career development award Sep 2024

Opening date
13 June 2024
Closing date
11 September 2024
Shortlisting date
19 February 2025
Meeting dates
25 to 26 March 2025

Centre of Research Excellence (MRC CoRE)

MRC Centre of Research Excellence: round four invited full application

Opening date
14 May 2026
Closing date
10 September 2026
Interview panel date
January 2027

MRC Centre of Research Excellence: round four: outline application

Opening date
1 October 2025
Closing date
4 February 2026
Interview panel date
April 2026

MRC Centre of Research Excellence: round three invited full application

Opening date
15 May 2025
Closing date
11 September 2025
Interview panel date
January 2026

MRC Centre of Research Excellence: round three: outline application

Opening date
9 October 2024
Closing date
13 February 2025
Interview panel date
April 2025

MRC Centre of Research Excellence: round one invited full application

Opening date
16 May 2024
Closing date
12 September 2024
Shortlisting date
22 to 23 January 2025

Clinical research training fellowship

See the full opportunity details on the funding finder: predoctoral and postdoctoral.

Clinical research training fellowship predoctoral and postdoctoral Sep 2026

Opening date
10 June 2026
Closing date
2 September 2026
Shortlisting date
February 2027
Meeting dates
March 2027

Clinical research training fellowship predoctoral and postdoctoral Apr 2026

Opening date
15 January 2026
Closing date
8 April 2026
Shortlisting date
September 2025
Meeting dates
October 2025

Clinical research training fellowship predoctoral and postdoctoral Jan 2026

Opening date
22 October 2025
Closing date
14 January 2026
Shortlisting date
June 2026
Meeting dates
July 2026

Clinical research training fellowship predoctoral and postdoctoral Sep 2025

Opening date
11 June 2025
Closing date
3 September 2025
Shortlisting date
February 2026
Meeting dates
18 to 19 March 2026

Clinical research training fellowship predoctoral and postdoctoral Apr 2025

Opening date
16 January 2025
Closing date
9 April 2025
Shortlisting date
October 2025
Meeting dates
12 to 13 November 2025

Clinical research training fellowship predoctoral and postdoctoral Jan 2025

Opening date
23 October 2024
Closing date
15 January 2025
Shortlisting date
May 2025
Meeting dates
2 to 3 July 2025

Clinical research training fellowship Sep 2024

Opening date
6 June 2024
Closing date
4 September 2024
Shortlisting date
12 February 2025
Meeting dates
19 to 20 March 2025

Clinician scientist fellowship

Clinician scientist fellowship Sep 2026

Opening date
10 June 2026
Closing date
2 September 2026
Shortlisting date
February 2027
Meeting dates
March 2027

Clinician scientist fellowship April 2026

Opening date
15 January 2026
Closing date
8 April 2026
Shortlisting date
September 2025
Meeting dates
October 2025

Clinician scientist fellowship Jan 2026

Opening date
22 October 2025
Closing date
14 January 2026
Shortlisting date
May 2026
Meeting dates
July 2026

Clinician scientist fellowship Sep 2025

Opening date
11 June 2025
Closing date
3 September 2025
Shortlisting date
February 2026
Meeting dates
18 to 19 March 2026

Clinician scientist fellowship April 2025

Opening date
16 January 2025
Closing date
9 April 2025
Shortlisting date
October 2025
Meeting dates
12 to 13 November 2025

Clinician scientist fellowship Jan 2025

Opening date
23 October 2024
Closing date
15 January 2025
Shortlisting date
May 2025
Meeting dates
2 to 3 July 2025

Clinician scientist fellowship Sep 2024

Opening date
6 June 2024
Closing date
4 September 2024
Shortlisting date
February 2026
Meeting dates
19 to 20 March 2025

Clinician scientist fellowship Apr 2024

Opening date
8 February 2024
Closing date
3 April 2024
Shortlisting date
October 2024
Meeting dates
13 to 14 November 2024

Developmental pathway funding scheme stage one and stage two

See the full opportunity details on funding finder (stage one and invited stage two).

Developmental pathway funding scheme stage one Nov 2026

Opening date
16 July 2026
Closing date
18 November 2026
Stage one panel meeting date
September 2027

Developmental pathway funding scheme stage two Nov 2026

Opening date
27 August 2026
Closing date
4 November 2026
Meeting dates
May 2027

Developmental pathway funding scheme stage one Jul 2026

Opening date
19 March 2026
Closing date
15 July 2026
Stage one panel meeting date
May 2027

Developmental pathway funding scheme stage two Jul 2026

Opening date
6 May 2026
Closing date
1 July 2026
Meeting dates
January 2027

Developmental pathway funding scheme stage one Mar 2026

Opening date
20 November 2025
Closing date
18 March 2026
Stage one panel meeting date
January 2027

Developmental pathway funding scheme stage two Mar 2026

Opening date
10 December 2025
Closing date
4 March 2026
Meeting dates
May 2026

Developmental pathway funding scheme stage one Nov 2025

Opening date
17 July 2025
Closing date
19 November 2025
Stage one panel meeting date
May 2026

Developmental pathway funding stage two scheme Nov 2025

Opening date
28 August 2025
Closing date
5 November 2025
Meeting dates
January 2026

Developmental pathway funding stage one scheme Jul 2025

Opening date
20 March 2025
Closing date
16 July 2025
Stage one panel meeting date
January 2026

Developmental pathway funding stage two scheme Jul 2025

Opening date
7 May 2025
Closing date
2 July 2025
Meeting dates
17 to 18 September 2025

Developmental pathway funding stage one scheme Mar 2025

Opening date
21 November 2025
Closing date
19 March 2025
Stage one panel meeting date
17 to 18 September 2025

Developmental pathway funding scheme stage two Mar 2025

Opening date
11 December 2024
Closing date
5 March 2024
Meeting dates
14 to 15 May 2025

Developmental pathway funding stage one scheme Nov 2024

Opening date
28 August 2024
Closing date
20 November 2024
Stage one panel meeting date
14 to 15 May 2025

Developmental pathway funding scheme stage two Nov 2024

Opening date
28 August 2024
Closing date
6 November 2024
Meeting dates
15 to 16 January 2025

Developmental pathway funding scheme stage one Jul 2024

Opening date
5 June 2024
Closing date
17 July 2024
Stage one panel meeting date
15 to 16 January 2025

Developmental pathway gap fund (funding for early stage development of new healthcare interventions)

Funding for early stage development of new healthcare interventions Nov 2024

Opening date
13 September 2024
Closing date
13 November 2024
Shortlisting date
Not applicable
Meeting dates
January 2025

Experimental medicine stage one and stage two

See the full opportunity details on funding finder (stage one and invited stage two).

Experimental medicine stage one Oct 2026

Opening date
16 April 2026
Closing date
7 October 2026
Meeting dates
December 2026

Experimental medicine stage two Sep 2026

Opening date
7 June 2026
Closing date
2 September 2026
Meeting dates (invited proposals only)
December 2026

Experimental medicine stage one Apr 2026

Opening date
3 October 2025
Closing date
15 April 2026
Meeting dates
June 2026

Experimental medicine stage two Mar 2026

Opening date
13 January 2026
Closing date
11 March 2026
Meeting dates (invited proposals only)
June 2026

Experimental medicine stage one Oct 2025

Opening date
17 April 2025
Closing date
1 October 2025
Meeting dates
3 to 4 December 2025

Experimental medicine stage two Sep 2025

Opening date
8 August 2025
Closing date
13 September 2025
Meeting dates (invited proposals only)
3 to 4 December 2025

Experimental medicine stage one Apr 2025

Opening date
3 October 2024
Closing date
16 April 2025
Meeting dates
24 to 25 June 2025

Experimental medicine stage two Mar 2025

Opening date
14 January 2025
Closing date
12 March 2025
Meeting dates (invited proposals only)
24 to 25 June 2025

Experimental medicine stage one Oct 2024

Opening date
9 July 2024
Closing date
2 October 2024
Meeting dates
11 to 12 December 2024

Experimental medicine stage two Sep 2024

Opening date
9 July 2024
Closing date
4 September 2024
Meeting dates (invited proposals only)
11 to 12 December 2024

Infections and immunity (new investigator, partnership, programme, research)

See the full opportunity details on funding finder (new investigator, partnership, programme, research).

Infections and immunity (new investigator, partnership, programme, research) Sep 2026

Opening date
20 May 2026
Closing date
15 September 2026
Shortlisting date
February 2027
Meeting dates
March 2027

Infections and immunity (new investigator, partnership, programme, research) May 2026

Opening date
21 May 2026
Closing date
19 May 2026
Shortlisting date
October 2026
Meeting dates
November 2026

Infections and immunity (new investigator, partnership, programme, research) Jan 2026

Opening date
5 September 2025
Closing date
20 January 2026
Shortlisting date
May 2026
Meeting dates
July 2026

Infections and immunity (new investigator, partnership, programme, research) Sep 2025

Opening date
1 May 2025
Closing date
4 September 2025
Shortlisting date
February 2026
Meeting dates
18 to 19 March 2026

Infections and immunity (new investigator, partnership, programme, research) May 2025

Opening date
10 January 2025
Closing date
30 April 2025
Shortlisting date
1 October 2025
Meeting dates
18 to 20 November 2025

Infections and immunity (new investigator, partnership, programme, research) Jan 2025

Opening date
18 September 2024
Closing date
9 January 2025
Shortlisting date
13 May 2025
Meeting dates
8 to 9 July 2025

Infections and immunity (new investigator, partnership, programme, research) Sep 2024

Opening date
18 June 2024
Closing date
17 September 2024
Shortlisting date
5 February 2025
Meeting dates
25 to 26 March 2025

Infections and immunity (new investigator, partnership, programme, research) May 2024

Opening date
15 February 2024
Closing date
15 May 2024
Shortlisting date
2 October 2024
Meeting dates
19 to 20 November 2024

Molecular and cellular medicine (new investigator, partnership, programme, research)

See the full opportunity details on funding finder (new investigator, partnership, programme, research).

Molecular and cellular medicine (new investigator, partnership, programme, research) Sep 2026

Opening date
1 May 2026
Closing date
4 September 2025
Shortlisting date
February 2026
Meeting dates
March 2026

Molecular and cellular medicine (new investigator, partnership, programme, research) Apr 2026

Opening date
21 January 2026
Closing date
30 April 2026
Shortlisting date
September 2026
Meeting dates
October or November 2026

Molecular and cellular medicine (new investigator, partnership, programme, research) Jan 2026

Opening date
5 September 2025
Closing date
20 January 2026
Shortlisting date
May 2026
Meeting dates
June or July 2026

Molecular and cellular medicine (new investigator, partnership, programme, research) Sep 2025

Opening date
June 2025
Closing date
4 September 2025
Shortlisting date
February 2026
Meeting dates
March 2026

Molecular and cellular medicine (new investigator, partnership, programme, research) May 2025

Opening date
10 January 2025
Closing date
30 April 2025
Shortlisting date
September 2025
Meeting dates
October or November 2025

Molecular and cellular medicine (new investigator, partnership, programme, research) Jan 2025

Opening date
18 September 2024
Closing date
9 January 2025
Shortlisting date
May or June 2025
Meeting dates
June or July 2025

Molecular and cellular medicine (new investigator, partnership, programme, research) Sep 2024

Opening date
21 June 2024
Closing date
17 September 2024
Shortlisting date
12 February 2025
Meeting dates
18 to 19 March 2025

Molecular and cellular medicine (new investigator, partnership, programme, research) May 2024

Opening date
15 February 2024
Closing date
15 May 2024
Shortlisting date
September 2024
Meeting dates
19 to 20 November 2024

Neurosciences and mental health (new investigator, partnership, programme, research)

See the full opportunity details on funding finder (new investigator, partnership, programme, research).

Neurosciences and mental health (new investigator, partnership, programme, research) Sep 2026

Opening date
20 May 2026
Closing date
15 September 2026
Shortlisting date
February 2027
Meeting dates
March 2027

Neurosciences and mental health (new investigator, partnership, programme, research) Apr 2026

Opening date
21 January 2026
Closing date
19 May 2026
Shortlisting date
September 2026
Meeting dates
October or November 2026

Neurosciences and mental health (new investigator, partnership, programme, research) Jan 2026

Opening date
5 September 2025
Closing date
20 January 2026
Shortlisting date
May 2026
Meeting dates
June or July 2026

Neurosciences and mental health (new investigator, partnership, programme, research) Sep 2025

Opening date
1 May 2025
Closing date
4 September 2025
Shortlisting date
February 2026
Meeting dates
March 2026

Neurosciences and mental health (new investigator, partnership, programme, research) Apr 2025

Opening date
10 January 2025
Closing date
30 April 2025
Shortlisting date
September 2025
Meeting dates
October or November 2025

Neurosciences and mental health (new investigator, partnership, programme, research) Jan 2025

Opening date
18 September 2024
Closing date
9 January 2025
Shortlisting date
May 2025
Meeting dates
June or July 2025

Neurosciences and mental health (new investigator, partnership, programme, research) Sep 2024

Opening date
21 June 2024
Closing date
17 September 2024
Shortlisting date
February 2025
Meeting dates
26 to 27 March 2025

Neurosciences and mental health (new investigator, partnership, programme, research) May 2024

Opening date
15 February 2024
Closing date
15 May 2024
Shortlisting date
September 2024
Meeting dates
12 to 13 November 2024

Population and systems medicine (new investigator, partnership, programme, research)

See the full opportunity details on funding finder (new investigator, partnership, programme, research).

Population and systems medicine (new investigator, partnership, programme, research) Sep 2026

Opening date
20 May 2025
Closing date
15 September 2025
Shortlisting date
February 2026
Meeting dates
March 2026

Population and systems medicine (new investigator, partnership, programme, research) May 2026

Opening date
21 January 2026
Closing date
19 May 2026
Shortlisting date
October 2026
Meeting dates
November 2026

Population and systems medicine (new investigator, partnership, programme, research) Jan 2026

Opening date
5 September 2025
Closing date
20 January 2026
Shortlisting date
May or June 2025
Meeting dates
June 2026

Population and systems medicine (new investigator, partnership, programme, research) Sep 2025

Opening date
1 May 2025
Closing date
4 September 2025
Shortlisting date
February 2026
Meeting dates
24 to 25 March 2026

Population and systems medicine (new investigator, partnership, programme, research) May 2025

Opening date
10 January 2025
Closing date
30 April 2025
Shortlisting date
1 October 2025
Meeting dates
12 to 13 November 2025

Population and systems medicine (new investigator, partnership, programme, research) Jan 2025

Opening date
18 September 2024
Closing date
9 January 2025
Shortlisting date
May or June 2025
Meeting dates
24 to 25 June 2025

Population and systems medicine (new investigator, partnership, programme, research) Sep 2024

Opening date
21 June 2024
Closing date
17 September 2024
Shortlisting date
12 February 2025
Meeting dates
19 to 20 March 2025

Population and systems medicine (new investigator, partnership, programme, research) May 2024

Opening date
15 February 2024
Closing date
15 May 2024
Shortlisting date
2 October 2024
Meeting dates
13 to 14 November 2024

Purchase mid-range equipment for biomedical research: MRC Equip

Purchase mid-range equipment for biomedical research: MRC Equip Jan 2026 round four

Opening date
2 October 2025
Closing date
8 January 2026
Shortlisting date
Not applicable
Meeting dates
April or May 2026

Purchase mid-range equipment for biomedical research: MRC Equip Dec 2024 round four

Opening date
14 October 2024
Closing date
17 December 2024
Shortlisting date
Not applicable
Meeting dates
April or May 2025

Senior clinical fellowship

Senior clinical fellowship Apr 2024

Opening date
8 February 2024
Closing date
3 April 2024
Shortlisting date
October 2024
Meeting dates
13 to 14 November 2024

Senior non-clinical fellowships

Senior non-clinical fellowships Sep 2024

Opening date
13 June 2024
Closing date
11 September 2024
Shortlisting date
February 2025
Meeting dates
19 to 20 March 2025

Senior non-clinical fellowships Apr 2024

Opening date
22 February 2024
Closing date
17 April 2024
Shortlisting date
September 2024
Meeting dates
16 to 17 October 2024

Opportunity closing date

It is your responsibility to ensure that:

  • you apply to the correct MRC funding opportunity
  • your application is submitted with adequate time to allow your research organisation to undertake all the necessary checks
  • your host research organisation completes the final submission of the application before the date and time advertised on the funding finder

Your application will be unsuccessful if you submit it to the incorrect MRC funding opportunity.

Late applications will not be considered.

Funding opportunity guidance

You must read the funding opportunity guidance before starting your application.

Shortlisting dates

Unless otherwise indicated, MRC shortlisting of applications should take place four to five weeks before the meeting date.

Please do not contact us for a decision regarding an MRC application.

We will notify you by email with the outcome of your application as soon as operationally possible after the shortlisting meeting has concluded.

Meeting dates

Following the conclusion of the funding decision meeting, we aim to inform each applicant of the funding decision by email (successful and unsuccessful), within 10 working days.

Contact details

If you have any questions regarding the correctness of any information published on this MRC timelines page, or you experience any difficulties navigating, please contact the Research Funding Policy and Delivery (RFPD) team.

Email: rfpd@mrc.ukri.org

We will be happy to help resolve issues related to our published content or page navigation.

The Research Funding Policy and Delivery (RFPD) team will provide a response to your email query within 10 working days.

Please do not email RFPD to request progress of a submitted application, as we are unable to provide this information.

Last updated: 23 January 2025

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