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arc.discourse@ucl.ac.uk

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DisCouRSE Flexible Fund round 3

Round 3 of the DisCouRSE flexible funding scheme is now open for applications! For full details and to apply visit https://discourse-network.github.io/funding/round-3.

The closing date for submissions is 11th December 2026 at 4pm GMT, decisions will be shared by 22nd January, and projects are expected to begin in the spring. There will be a Q&A webinar on 15th October 2026 at 2pm; register here to attend.

This call has two strands:

  1. Pilot projects of up to £15k in any area relevant to DisCouRSE’s aims. This category is focused on enabling and exploring new ideas, so we are particularly seeking applications from organisations that have not yet received DisCouRSE funding.
  2. Growth projects of up to £50k building on previous DisCouRSE funding or existing community initiatives, particularly in one of the focus areas set out below.

With pilot projects we are looking for novel ideas from the community, and hence welcome a wide range of proposal topics or approaches, provided they are relevant to DisCouRSE’s overall aims. We especially want to expand the DisCouRSE network beyond our current contacts, so proposals from new individuals, organisations, or communities will be prioritised in our review process.

For growth projects we strongly encourage projects in one of the following areas, with such proposals prioritised for funding:

  1. working to implement dRTP career pathways in groups or organisations where they are limited or non-existent (linking to the work of other DRI projects such as SCALE-UP or TSN in this area could be beneficial) and building up an evidence bank for others to leverage,
  2. community building among leaders in under-represented (within the DisCouRSE Network) professions,
  3. environmental dRTP leadership,
  4. expanding the use and broader uptake of the DIRECT web app,
  5. developing or delivering dRTP leadership training.

Any project proposing to create or deliver training must:

  1. include a sustainability plan,
  2. align to DIRECT in respect of learning outcomes, and
  3. work with the dRTP Skills Landscape Coordination Group to ensure complementarity with existing initiatives. Contact Adrian Harwood to discuss your project before submission.

Many dRTPs have not been accustomed to leading research grants, and their organisation’s processes may not be set up to make it easy for them. Part of the motivation for the DisCouRSE flexible fund is to change this situation! We have prepared some guidance for applicants on typical issues to watch out for, and what some of the terminology you may encounter means. New to this round, we have also launched a mentoring scheme whereby the DisCouRSE management team or previous applicants can provide direct assistance with making an application. If this is of interest to you then get in touch.

As before, if you decide not to apply in this round we also need reviewers for applications, giving you an excellent insight into the process to inform a future application. You can volunteer via our online form.