Application timelines - MRC

We anticipate that all MRC funding opportunities opening from June 2023 onwards will use the UKRI 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 the 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 nine) June 2025

Opening date
15 March 2025
Closing date
13 June 2025

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

Opening date
16 September 2024
Closing date
3 December 2024

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

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

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

Opening date
15 March 2024
Closing date
13 July 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

Applied global health research and partnership stage one (round 5) Aug 2023

Opening date
24 May 2023
Closing date
1 August 2023
Shortlisting date
31 October 2023
Meeting dates
May 2024

Better methods, better research and new investigator

See the full opportunity details on funding finder (research and new investigator).

Better methods, better research and new investigator Nov 2024

Opening date
11 September 2024
Closing date
6 November 2024
Shortlisting date
April 2025
Meeting dates
May 2025

Better methods, better research and new investigator Jun 2024

Opening date
17 April 2024
Closing date
12 June 2024
Shortlisting date
October 2024
Meeting dates
November 2024

Better methods, better research and new investigator Nov 2023

Opening date
29 September 2023
Closing date
8 November 2023
Shortlisting date
April 2024
Meeting dates
8 to 9 May 2024

Career development award

Career development award Sep 2024

Opening date
July 2024
Closing date
11 September 2024
Shortlisting date
February 2025
Meeting dates
March 2025

Career development award Apr 2024

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

Career development award Sep 2023

Opening date
20 July 2023
Closing date
13 September 2023
Shortlisting date
15 February 2024
Meeting dates
26 to 27 March 2024

Centre of Research Excellence (MRC CoRE)

See the opportunity details on the UKRI funding finder (round two invited full application, round two outline application, round one invited full application).

MRC Centre of Research Excellence: round two invited full application

Opening date
May 2024
Closing date
September 2024
Interview panel date
January 2025

MRC Centre of Research Excellence: round two outline application

Opening date
25 September 2023
Closing date
7 February 2024
Shortlisting date
March 2024

MRC Centre of Research Excellence: round one invited full application

Opening date
2 May 2023
Closing date
7 September 2023
Interview panel date
31 January to 1 February 2024

Clinical academic research partnership

Clinical academic research partnership Nov 2024

Opening date
August 2024
Closing date
November 2024
Shortlisting date
April 2025
Meeting dates
June 2025

Clinical academic research partnership Nov 2023

Opening date
25 August 2023
Closing date
16 November 2023
Shortlisting date
April 2024
Meeting dates
June 2024

Clinical research training fellowship

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

Clinical research training fellowship predoctoral and postdoctoral Jan 2025

Opening date
October 2024
Closing date
January 2025
Shortlisting date
May 2025
Meeting dates
June 2025

Clinical research training fellowship Sep 2024

Opening date
July 2024
Closing date
4 September 2024
Shortlisting date
February 2025
Meeting dates
March 2025

Clinical research training fellowship Apr 2024

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

Clinical research training fellowship Jan 2024

Opening date
14 October 2023
Closing date
11 January 2024
Shortlisting date
May 2024
Meeting dates
June 2024

Clinical research training fellowship Sep 2023

Opening date
20 July 2023
Closing date
13 September 2023
Shortlisting date
February 2024
Meeting dates
March 2024

Clinician scientist fellowship

Clinician scientist fellowship Jan 2025

Opening date
October 2024
Closing date
January 2025
Shortlisting date
May 2025
Meeting dates
June 2025

Clinician scientist fellowship Sep 2024

Opening date
July 2024
Closing date
11 September 2024
Shortlisting date
February 2025
Meeting dates
March 2025

Clinician scientist fellowship Apr 2024

Opening date
February 2024
Closing date
April 2024
Shortlisting date
October 2024
Meeting dates
November 2024

Clinician scientist fellowship Jan 2024

Opening date
14 October 2023
Closing date
11 January 2024
Shortlisting date
May 2024
Meeting dates
June 2024

Clinician scientist fellowship Sep 2023

Opening date
20 July 2023
Closing date
13 September 2023
Shortlisting date
February 2024
Meeting dates
March 2024

Develop guidance for better research methods

Develop guidance for better research methods Jun 2025

Opening date
April 2025
Closing date
June 2025
Shortlisting date
October 2025
Meeting dates
November 2025

Develop guidance for better research methods Jun 2024

Opening date
17 April 2024
Closing date
12 June 2024
Shortlisting date
October 2024
Meeting dates
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 Jul 2024

Opening date
June 2024
Closing date
July 2024
Shortlisting date
August 2024
Meeting dates
September 2024

Developmental pathway funding scheme Mar 2024

Opening date
5 February 2024
Closing date
20 March 2024
Shortlisting date
April 2024
Meeting dates
May 2024

Developmental pathway funding scheme Nov 2023

Opening date
1 September 2023
Closing date
22 November 2023
Shortlisting date
December 2023
Meeting dates
17 to 18 January 2024

Developmental pathway gap fund

Funding for early stage development of new healthcare interventions Jul 2024

Opening date
May 2024
Closing date
12 July 2024
Shortlisting date
Not applicable
Meeting dates
September 2024

Funding for early stage development of new healthcare interventions Mar 2024

Opening date
February 2024
Closing date
March 2024
Shortlisting date
April 2024
Meeting dates
May 2024

Funding for early stage development of new healthcare interventions Nov 2023

Opening date
6 October 2023
Closing date
15 November 2023
Shortlisting date
Not applicable
Meeting dates
17 to 18 January 2024

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 Apr 2025

Opening date
January 2025
Closing date
April 2025
Stage one shortlisting date
June 2025
Meeting dates (invited proposals only)
December 2025

Experimental medicine stage one Oct 2024

Opening date
July 2024
Closing date
October 2024
Stage one shortlisting date
December 2024
Meeting dates (invited proposals only)
June 2025

Experimental medicine stage one Apr 2024

Opening date
18 January 2024
Closing date
17 April 2024
Stage one shortlisting date
June 2024
Meeting dates (invited proposals only)
December 2024

Experimental medicine Oct 2023

Opening date
11 July 2023
Closing date
4 October 2023
Stage one shortlisting date
6 to 7 December 2023
Meeting dates (invited proposals only)
26 to 27 June 2024

Experimental medicine Apr 2023

Opening date
18 January 2023
Closing date
19 April 2023
Stage one shortlisting date
June 2023
Meeting dates (invited proposals only)
December 2023

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 2024

Opening date
June 2024
Closing date
September 2024
Shortlisting date
February 2025
Meeting dates
March 2025

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

Opening date
February 2024
Closing date
May 2024
Shortlisting date
September 2024
Meeting dates
November 2024

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

Opening date
12 October 2023
Closing date
10 January 2024
Shortlisting date
May or June 2024
Meeting dates
June or July 2024

Infections and immunity (new investigator, partnership, programme, research) Sep 2023

Opening date
23 June 2023
Closing date
19 September 2023
Shortlisting date
February 2024
Meeting dates
March 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 2024

Opening date
June 2024
Closing date
September 2024
Shortlisting date
February 2025
Meeting dates
March 2025

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

Opening date
February 2024
Closing date
May 2024
Shortlisting date
September 2024
Meeting dates
November 2024

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

Opening date
12 October 2023
Closing date
10 January 2024
Shortlisting date
May or June 2024
Meeting dates
June or July 2024

Molecular and cellular medicine (new investigator, partnership, programme, research) Sep 2023

Opening date
23 June 2023
Closing date
19 September 2023
Shortlisting date
February 2024
Meeting dates
March 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 2024

Opening date
June 2024
Closing date
September 2024
Shortlisting date
February 2025
Meeting dates
March 2025

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

Opening date
February 2024
Closing date
May 2024
Shortlisting date
September 2024
Meeting dates
November 2024

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

Opening date
October 2023
Closing date
January 2024
Shortlisting date
May 2024
Meeting dates
June 2024

Neurosciences and mental health (new investigator, partnership, programme, research) Sep 2023

Opening date
23 June 2023
Closing date
19 September 2023
Shortlisting date
February 2024
Meeting dates
March 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 2024

Opening date
June 2024
Closing date
September 2024
Shortlisting date
February 2025
Meeting dates
March 2025

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

Opening date
February 2024
Closing date
May 2024
Shortlisting date
September 2024
Meeting dates
November 2024

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

Opening date
12 October 2023
Closing date
10 January 2024
Shortlisting date
May or June 2024
Meeting dates
June or July 2024

Population and systems medicine (new investigator, partnership, programme, research) Sep 2023

Opening date
23 June 2023
Closing date
19 September 2023
Shortlisting date
7 February 2024
Meeting dates
20 to 21 March 2024

Public health intervention development

Public health intervention development Mar 2025

Opening date
24 January 2025
Closing date
18 March 2025
Shortlisting date
Not applicable
Meeting dates
May 2025

Public health intervention development Sep 2024

Opening date
25 July 2024
Closing date
12 September 2024
Shortlisting date
Not applicable
Meeting dates
November 2024

Public health intervention development Mar 2024

Opening date
25 January 2024
Closing date
19 March 2024
Shortlisting date
Not applicable
Meeting dates
May 2024

Purchase mid-range equipment for biomedical research: MRC Equip

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

Opening date
October 2024
Closing date
January 2025
Shortlisting date
Not applicable
Meeting dates
April or May 2025

Purchase mid-range equipment for biomedical research: MRC Equip Dec 2023 round three

Opening date
6 October 2023
Closing date
16 January 2024
Shortlisting date
Not applicable
Meeting dates
April or May 2024

Senior clinical fellowship

Senior clinical fellowship Apr 2025

Opening date
February 2025
Closing date
April 2025
Shortlisting date
October 2025
Meeting dates
November 2025

Senior clinical fellowship Apr 2024

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

Senior non-clinical fellowships

Senior non-clinical fellowships Sep 2024

Opening date
July 2024
Closing date
11 September 2024
Shortlisting date
February 2025
Meeting dates
March 2025

Senior non-clinical fellowships Apr 2024

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

Senior non-clinical fellowships Sep 2023

Opening date
20 July 2023
Closing date
13 September 2023
Shortlisting date
February 2024
Meeting dates
26 to 27 March 2024

Transition support for MRC intermediate fellows

Transition support for MRC intermediate fellows Oct 2024

Opening date
August or September 2024
Closing date
17 October 2024
Shortlisting date
Not applicable
Meeting dates
February 2025

Transition support for MRC intermediate fellows Oct 2023

Opening date
7 September 2023
Closing date
19 October 2023
Shortlisting date
Not applicable
Meeting dates
22 February 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 within the funding finder opportunity

MRC reserves the right to reject any application that has been submitted to the incorrect MRC 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, MRC will endeavour to inform each applicant of the funding decision by email (funded and unfunded), 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: 11 December 2023

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