Overview

Funds are competitively attributed on a first-come, first served basis in each round until the funds are used.  

This fund is intended to support major applications to non-national funding sources, primarily but not exclusively the European Research Council (other funders are acceptable, including the Wellcome Trust).  The fund will provide two main kinds of support: teaching support to allow a member of staff additional time to draft and prepare an application; research supports which will assist a member of staff in meeting the expected research career standards in the funding scheme in question.  Support will be provided only for funding bids with a minimum total value of €350 000; in case of multi-partner bids, those where UCC is the lead partner will be prioritized. 

2026/2027 Academic Year

Call 1 Opens: 07 September 2026. Closes: 05 October 2026. Expected decisions mid October 2026

Terms and Conditions

Applications 

Eligible members of FHI affiliated* staff may apply for funding either for 2026-2027, and may receive only a maximum of €1,500 in total in any given academic year. If applying to Horizon Europe, applications are expected to apply to Enterprise Ireland supports first, and to approach this fund subsequently.  

Conditions 

1. Permanent and fixed-term academic FHI affiiliated* staff from Schools, Departments and Disciplines in Schedule 1 of the College Rules are eligible to apply. 
2. Staff’s discipline of situation and primary research areas should be aligned with the Arts and Humanities, though the grant application may involve interdisciplinary collaboration.  
3. Holders of postdoctoral fellowships may apply for research supports from these funds, excluding teaching support. 
4. Applications for funding will be assessed by the executive of the Future Humanities Institute.  
5. Successful applications will be funded on a first-come, first-served basis across four annual deadline dates, until the fund is fully committed.  
6. Applications must demonstrate that a grant, if awarded, will contribute in substantive ways to the completion of a major research funding application already under active development.  Applications must be supported by Heads of School/Discipline.  Heads of School should seek the support of the Head of College in making applications. 
7. Grants may be used to cover: 

• Teaching support to provide time to complete a major research funding application. Teaching buyout costs must be approved by Head of School as College, as appropriate, in advance of the application submission.  
• Personal research costs in support of a major research funding application, including archival or library visits, conference fees at major international conferences where support beyond that provided by the College Research Support Fund may be required, travel and accommodation costs, publication costs, networking costs. 

       8. Applications must be presented on the appropriate application form.   

      9. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered. 

     10. Any funding which is granted must be expended and claimed by 30 September 2027.  If funds are not used within these periods, the grant will expire and cannot be subsequently claimed. 

     11. Successful applicants will be advised by Future Humanities on the processing of grants. 

*FHI affiliation evidenced on PURE

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted using the online application form available here.

Future Humanities Institute Internal Funding Support Application Form 2026/2027 – Fill in form