Focal award: EPSRC and MHCLG Fire Engineering Skills Hub (Grant)

This opportunity is open to organisations with standard eligibility. Check if your organisation is eligible.

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) individual eligibility rules apply. For full details, visit UKRI’s eligibility page.

Who is eligible to apply

This funding opportunity is only open to higher education institutions.

Organisations can only apply as the lead organisation on one submitted application. However, organisations can be a collaborating organisation or project partner on any number of applications.

The lead organisation:

• will play a strategic leadership role in shaping the vision, skills priorities, and delivery model

• will lead submission of the application

• will act as the training grant holder if you are successful

• does not require doctoral research degree awarding powers, but an organisation with these powers must be present within your consortium

• must provide the principal base (host) for a minimum of one doctoral student per year of intake for this funding opportunity

Identification of the project lead should not be interpreted as recognition as the dominant partner, where the majority of funds are deployed or where the majority of doctoral studentships will be hosted.

While only one individual can be included as project lead on the UKRI Funding Service, UKRI welcomes applications that reflect flexible and joint leadership models.

EPSRC expects lead organisations to join with additional organisations, forming a consortium, in which other organisations could also host doctoral students or support delivery of the wider skills hub. You are encouraged to engage effectively with other organisations to ensure the:

• development of the level 7 (or equivalent) training courses, including continuing professional development training for members of the consortium and potentially shared more widely

• delivery of a truly interdisciplinary training environment and experience for doctoral students. Any organisations hosting students must be named as collaborating organisations on your application

Project co-leads are welcome at either the lead organisation or collaborating organisations. Project leads and co-leads may include:

• research technical professionals

• innovation and commercialisation professionals

• research software engineers

• professional training and programme managers, where they play an integral role in programme delivery

More information is available on roles in funding applications.

Project partners

Organisations may also act as project partners on your application. Unlike collaborating organisations or subcontractors who can receive funds from the grant, project partners can make direct or indirect contributions to the grant and cannot receive funds from it.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government do not require financial contributions from project partners in this funding opportunity but encourage you to develop new or existing links and partnerships with the fire engineering industry and public sector organisations.

Information regarding the nature of these collaborations must be included within your application in the ‘Project partners’ section. Any organisation acting as a project partner may do so on any number of applications, as long as they are able to support them all if funded.

An organisation cannot, on the same application, act as a project partner and as a lead or collaborating organisation.

We welcome applications to include a wide range of project partner organisations contributing to research and skills training. This can include, but is not limited to:

• universities that are not leading or co-leading the application

• businesses of all scales

• public sector organisations, such as public sector research establishments and government at all levels, including devolved administrations

• third sector organisations

• other key stakeholders across the research and innovation landscape

Your application must demonstrate that there is significant added value from any project partners you choose to form part of your consortium. Examples include:

• hosting work experience, placements, venture building activities or similar

• co-supervision or mentoring

• training for students, programme staff, or both

• access to facilities, infrastructure, data, customers or markets

• delivery of training, including on entrepreneurship, venture creation or commercialisation

• commitment to cover the costs of access to facilities or training that cannot otherwise be provided

• strategic links to an important stakeholder or user

• supporting employees into doctoral study

There is no limit to the total number of organisations you may include within your application. However, each member of the consortium must make meaningful contributions to the delivery of the training provision, as set out in your application.

International researchers

The UKRI-RCN Money Follows Cooperation Agreement does not apply to this funding opportunity. As such grants submitted to this funding opportunity cannot include a Norway-based project co-lead (international).

You should include all international collaborators (or UK partners not based at approved organisations) as project partners.

Resubmissions

We will not accept uninvited resubmissions of projects that have been submitted to UKRI or any other funder.

Find out more about EPSRC’s resubmissions policy.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

We are committed to achieving equality of opportunity for all funding applicants. We encourage applications from a diverse range of researchers.

We support people to work in a way that suits their personal circumstances. This includes:

• career breaks

• support for people with caring responsibilities

• flexible working

• alternative working patterns

UKRI can offer disability and accessibility support for UKRI applicants and grant holders during the application and assessment process.

Demand management

Demand management is being applied to this funding opportunity. Organisations can only apply as the lead organisation on one submitted application.

Aim

The Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 report makes a number of recommendations relating to the fire engineering profession, which the government has accepted in full, including establishing an independent body to regulate the profession in title and function and to take urgent steps to increase the number of places on master’s level courses.

The government is acting to implement these recommendations. In December 2025, it published the Fire Engineers Advisory Panel’s Authoritative Statement, setting out the knowledge and skills expected of a competent fire engineer. Alongside this, it published the Next steps on fire engineering profession reform setting out the next steps we will take to implement the recommendations concerning fire engineers.

These next steps include how it will increase the fire engineering workforce. In March, we announced £15 million that will make a significant contribution to building the pipeline into the profession.

As part of this package, this funding opportunity provided by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) aims to strengthen the capacity and capability of the fire engineering profession through both education provision and research capability.

EPSRC are one of two delivery partners secured by MHCLG to deliver fire engineering skills development and training. The funding will be distributed by each partner as detailed below:

• Royal Academy of Engineering will manage the provision of scholarships for taught Master’s level, innovative routes for future recruitment and other campaigns to enhance the recognition of fire engineering as a profession and attract entrants to the profession

• EPSRC is leading the coordination of the allocation of funding for the development of level 7 including continuing professional development (CPD) programmes and doctoral studentships through a skills hub model

A skills hub will develop the skills and capabilities of the next generation of fire engineering practitioners, researchers and innovators.

It will address the skills gaps and differing levels of training provision across the UK Fire Engineering community and adjacent professions.

It will provide leadership in research, through the funding of new doctoral studentships, and will coordinate and support the development of new and updated level 7 provision for training master’s students, doctoral students and supporting the wider continuing professional development of the UK fire engineering community.

Scope

The funding is provided as part of the UK Government Building Workforce programme designed to increase capacity and capability of safety critical professions which includes fire engineering.

There are three elements for the skills and training provided by this funding:

• a doctoral training programme to support the next generation of researchers in fire engineering through a cohort based, highly tailored training programme

• the development of taught postgraduate (level 7) development programmes for the fire engineering community with innovative modes of study to cater for a range of audiences

• the development of level 7 fire engineering continuing professional development training for the wider fire engineering community and adjacent professions wishing to upskill or re-train into fire engineering

You must deliver all the above elements.

We welcome applications from multi organisational consortia which bring together expertise in fire engineering. Consortia can be new collaborations, as well as applications that expand on existing doctoral training investments. Cohesion across the consortium must be demonstrated in the application, including a clear case for the given size of their consortia.

You will be expected to work in collaboration with the ongoing work:

• to underpin future regulation and reform of the fire engineering profession

• of the regulator responsible for the accreditation of education programmes

You are expected to:

• deliver specialist fire engineering teaching capacity with recognition given to the government’s commitment to fire safety strategy being the central, protected function of the profession

• provide emphasis on the ethical practice fundamental to ensuring life safety

• demonstrable fire engineering research capability sufficient to support research-led teaching, dissertation supervision, and engagement with emerging fire safety challenges, including the ability to contribute to the future development of the profession

• deliver assessment of students’ ability to apply fire engineering knowledge to realistic design, risk and regulatory scenarios

• provide evidence that students develop skills necessary to work effectively within multidisciplinary design, construction and regulatory environments

• show clear routes towards accreditation or professional recognition

• develop meaningful links with industry, professional bodies, and the fire sector

• demonstrate credible plans for financial sustainability including plans beyond the funding period

• evidence that provision will widen access across geography, career stage (including accessibility for those in work), and student background

In addition, support should prioritise courses that align with the Fire Engineers Advisory Panel’s Authoritative Statement. The proposed skills hub should provide foundational scientific and engineering knowledge alongside specific learning in fire engineering principles and practice. This should include the development and stewardship of the fire safety strategy, ethical professional conduct, fire dynamics, prevention, human behaviour, building structures, systems and operations, fire-fighting needs, and good analytical and communication skills.

Doctoral training programme

Expectations for the doctoral training element of this funding opportunity will include the following:

• to support up to two cohorts on a four-year doctorate, bringing together a critical mass of academic and industrial supervisors of internationally recognised research excellence with a track record of doctoral supervision

• for the one to two skills hubs funded we expect to support at least 18 students

• entrants onto the doctoral training programme should normally have completed a masters (MEng or MSc) or equivalent qualification in a relevant engineering or scientific discipline. The degree must be accredited by the Engineering Council or an equivalent body

• to develop a cohort approach to doctoral education including peer-to-peer learning, within the cohort. Students may also work as a cohort to address research challenges

• to nurture a diverse and inclusive research environment to support people in achieving world class research

• to provide opportunities for significant, challenging, and original research projects leading to the award of a doctoral-level degree in accordance with a university’s standard regulations. Universities are free to choose the type of research doctoral qualification that is offered to students, for example PhD or EngD. You may choose to offer all students the same type of qualification or a mixture, and to consider innovative approaches to delivering, awarding and assessing doctoral degrees

• students should also expect that doctoral projects are designed or planned in such a way that (barring exceptional circumstances) they are able to submit their thesis within their four-year funded period or part-time equivalent

• where needed, consider the delivery of suitable, taught activities which would develop and enhance, for example, technical disciplinary and multidisciplinary knowledge, as well as broadening skills including, for example, project management, entrepreneurship and commercialisation

• to embed a culture of responsible research and innovation, environmental sustainability, equality, diversity and inclusion, trusted research approaches and support for student wellbeing to the highest standard

• to provide opportunities for students to engage with industrial and government stakeholders, for example in the form of joint supervision, industrial placements or expert advice and input. This could also take the form of the co-creation of doctoral projects. The training should maximise the impact from this investment and grow capacity in this area for the benefit of the nation. If pursuing industrial placements, the management team will need to ensure students are given sufficient time to complete their doctoral studies

• as appropriate, to provide innovative approaches to doctoral study. This may include support for students who are based in non-academic organisations for the majority of their time, either receiving a stipend or by contributing to their salary. Where beneficial for the research area, student or project partner, we expect applicants to build on routes such as engineering doctorates and the innovative approaches in EPSRC centres for doctoral training, doctoral training partnership mobility pilots, or other recent UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) training investments

• to create opportunities for supervisors and students to identify and align synergies between individual doctoral projects so that the sum of the activity is greater than its component parts

• to support mechanisms, where appropriate, by which students can reach out to the broader research community, user community and wider public

• to add value to the UK’s existing landscape by working with other large investments to develop an integrated network of research, innovation and skills capability

• to provide appropriate access to a wide range of equipment, facilities and e-infrastructure, for example, software and high-performance computing. Students should benefit from the environment and accessibility of infrastructure at the hosting institutions and partners. If appropriate to their research, students should also have access to large facilities and UKRI national research facilities

Whilst not an exclusive list, the areas of skills for doctoral research could include:

• fire safety strategy

• egress modelling of evacuation lifts

• advancing instrumentation for external wall fire testing

• a decision framework for identifying and managing built environment risks

• the role of smouldering in fire safety design for mass timber structures

• from disaster to foresight: a framework for identifying future building safety threats

• fire resistance and structural resilience in modern methods of construction

• understanding the long-term performance of fire-retardant treatments

Postgraduate-level 7 including continuing professional development (CPD) programme development

The funding provided for the post-graduate (level 7) programmes including CPD programme development is intended to coordinate and support, across the collaborating institutions of the skills hub, the development of new and the updating of existing level 7 standalone taught master’s programmes or shorter courses. Provision should include modules for master’s or part-master’s (PG Cert, PD Dip) level, micro-credentials, stand-alone modules to support the CPD of those in employment.

The funding is also intended to support the upskilling and level 7 CPD of existing professionals in employment in the UK fire engineering sector or other related disciplines, including bridging and conversion modules. Bridging modules and conversion pathways aimed at those who have studied or are working in related disciplines, for example:

• mechanical engineering

• structural engineering

• civil engineering

• architecture

• building services engineering

• physics, construction management.

Both postgraduate-level 7 including CDP programmes must be credit-bearing and include some form of assessment.

Duration

Applications must have a maximum duration of 60 months with respect to doctoral training. The post-graduate (level 7) programmes including CPD programme development funding must be spent by end of March 2029.

For doctoral studentships only

Where the end date of an individual studentship is subsequently extended later than the end date of the grant, in line with training grant conditions six and eight, award holders will be able to apply to EPSRC at the time to extend the grant, which may be beyond 60 months. Projects must start no earlier than 1 April 2027 and no later than 1 October 2027. Awards will have a fixed start date, on the date requested in the application.

Funding available

£5.9 million funding in total is available to support up to two skills hubs delivering a combination of doctoral training, level 7 post-graduate development programmes including CPD training programmes.

Applicants requesting the full £5.9 million available must demonstrate coverage of the full scope of this funding opportunity and include key institutions delivering post graduate training in fire engineering.

As a training grant (non-full economic cost award), EPSRC will fund 100% of eligible costs listed in the opportunity. Eligible costs vary between EPSRC training grants, so please check the ‘What we will fund’ and ‘What we will not fund’ sections for full details.

All costs (including stipends and fees) requested in applications should be calculated at your chosen October 2026 rates with no addition made to consider inflation over the length of the funding period. This includes the appropriate fee rate for your institution(s) and any enhanced stipend rates above the UKRI minimum, described below. UKRI will include an allowance for fee and stipend indexation at the final funding stage.

What we will fund

Doctoral training

We will fund doctoral studentship costs up to a maximum of the equivalent of 18 students. This could be, for example, 100% funding for 18 students or 50% funding for 36 students.

Students will be funded across a maximum of two cohorts.

Applications must specify the number of students that will be supported. This should align to the proposed delivery model and costs per studentship proposed in the application.

Please complete the costings template. Justifications for costs, numbers of students, durations of studentships will be examined carefully to ensure value for money.

UKRI funding for studentship costs includes the following.

Tuition fees

Fees charged to UKRI cannot be higher than the fee charged by the university for home funded students on similar programmes.

UKRI’s standard 30% cap on international students will apply.

Stipends

The stipends must be at least at the minimum rates published by UKRI. We will not cover additional college fees. You are encouraged to request funding for enhanced stipends, where justified, to attract UK home students in the context of the area of research and training and UK skills need.

Given the importance of establishing increased capability and research capacity in fire engineering in the UK, you may, for example, choose to set stipends comparable to the HESA graduate outcomes survey salary data for engineering and technology, adjusted to an October 2026 equivalent and taking into account that the stipend is not taxed. EPSRC’s estimate of this is £29,500 or £7,500 above the UKRI minimum.

Stipend support will also be covered for doctoral candidates based for the majority of their time in a company, or other non-academic organisation. If you are proposing more innovative options, such as contributions to salaries, you are encouraged to contact EPSRC before submission, to discuss the best route to fund this. You must ensure at all times that training grant funding is compliant with the Subsidy Control Act 2022.

Research training support grant (RTSG)

This covers items for individual students such as travel, consumables, and facility access where this is linked to conducting the research of the project, or specialised training such as a summer school only being attended by a student due to their project.

As well as the studentship costs above, we will also fund other costs including:

• leadership and management costs, where these are specific and proportionate to the delivery of the award

• direct costs that are explicitly linked to training activities and student development

• additional support needed to facilitate diversity and mobility of career paths, and to accommodate doctoral students at different career stages or employed in relevant industrial sectors

• wider career development experience for students

• innovative routes for student recruitment and widening the participation of underrepresented groups in doctoral study

Postgraduate-level 7 including CPD programme development

We will fund the following costs with respect to postgraduate level 7 including CPD programme development.

• academic and technical experts time for the proposed programme development

• leadership and management costs, where these are specific and proportionate to the delivery of the award

• lab time and the cost of equipment to support the delivery of research-oriented taught programmes (not pure research) to a maximum value of £400,000 per consortium. Funding for equipment covers items between £25,000 and £400,000. Items under £25,000 are not considered equipment

If successful you will have flexibility in how you use the funding awarded and we encourage flexibility and virement between headings, subject to the standard UKRI terms and conditions for training grants. The only exception will be where UKRI makes separate awards to lead and collaborating organisations to reflect subsidy control considerations, where there will be limitations on viring across separate awards.

What we will not fund

We will not fund the following costs:

• direct costs associated with applying for intellectual property (IP) protection (including patent filing costs)

• costs associated with student supervision

• visa and international health surcharge costs for international students

• estates and indirect costs

Supporting skills and talent

We encourage you to follow the principles of the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers and the Technician Commitment.

Equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI)

EDI is a core feature of this funding opportunity, in line with UKRI’s principles on EDI. We want to work with our partners to shape a dynamic, diverse, and inclusive system of research and innovation that is an integral part of society.

Your doctoral training programme should work to provide everyone involved with an opportunity to participate in, and benefit from, the award.

You should provide a brief summary at the application stage of how your EDI strategy will embed the core principles of EDI at all levels and across all aspects of the award, including:

• increasing access to doctoral study, including recruitment

• working practices, including individualised student support

• wellbeing support, including mental health

• monitoring and evaluation, including a baseline and plans for improvement

We will require successful applicants to develop detailed EDI strategies, activities and commitments. These will be regularly reviewed by UKRI. Data will be collected on at least a yearly basis via annual reports, and we will reserve the right to access these data across the lifetime of the award. For more information see the UKRI data collection policy.

You should also refer to equality, diversity and inclusion at UKRI and EPSRC EDI action plan 2026 to 2029.

Legacy and impact

Training programmes which are supported by this funding opportunity are done so with the intention of developing a legacy of training excellence. Applications must demonstrate consideration of the legacy and impacts of the doctoral training programme beyond the lifetime of the UKRI investment.

Reporting requirements and monitoring

We expect award holders to monitor progress towards the vision and objectives of your programme, as well as evidence impact from this investment.

This information will be used by EPSRC to review the success of our training investments. Information provided will also be used to provide assurance that awards are being managed appropriately and are progressing in accordance with the original funding application. This will be conducted in various ways, including:

• mandatory annual reports

• a mid-term review of progress

• hosting a regular visit by EPSRC staff

Successful applicants will be expected to respond to other reporting requirements when requested.

We will use key information required from the training programmes supported by this funding opportunity in reports and publications.

You are expected to describe your approach to monitoring and evaluation, outlining your success measures and baselines and a continuous improvement process built in within your applications.

Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I)

UKRI is committed in ensuring that effective international collaboration in research and innovation takes place with integrity and within strong ethical frameworks. Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I) is a UKRI work programme designed to help protect all those working in our thriving and collaborative international sector by enabling partnerships to be as open as possible, and as secure as necessary. Our TR&I Principles set out UKRI’s expectations of organisations funded by UKRI in relation to due diligence for international collaboration.

As such, applicants for UKRI funding may be asked to demonstrate how their proposed projects will comply with our approach and expectation towards TR&I, identifying potential risks and the relevant controls you will put in place to help proportionately reduce these risks.

See further guidance and information about TR&I, including where applicants can find additional support.

Assessment process

In the event of this funding opportunity being substantially oversubscribed as to be unmanageable, EPSRC reserves the right to modify the assessment process.

We will assess your application using the process, detailed below:

Expression of interest (EOI)

As outlined in the ‘How to apply’ section, a mandatory EOI must be submitted by 1 October 2026 at 4:00pm UK time. However, this will only be used by EPSRC to plan the assessment process; for example, panel membership.

The assessment of each application will be based on the content of the application rather than the EOI. We intend to publish the details of the project lead, lead institution, institutions involved in the consortium and the summary provided in each expression of interest.

Assessment of applications to  EPSRC and the Royal Academy of Engineering funding streams will be conducted jointly through a single expert review or interview panel.

If less than five applications are received for this funding opportunity EPSRC and Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) will take all applications through to interview.

If more than five applications are received an internal sift panel will take place to identify those applications to go through to interview.

Sift panel

An internal sift panel comprising members from EPSRC, MHCLG, Royal Academy of Engineering and additional expertise if needed, will be invited to review applications, against the capability to deliver assessment criterion for this funding opportunity and will prioritise applications to be invited for interview. The internal sift panel will take place week commencing 9 November 2026.

EPSRC and MHCLG will make the final decision on the applications invited to interview.

For more information on how we prioritise applications for funding please visit How we make decisions.

Interview

Applications shortlisted for interview, will be invited for an interview conducted by an expert interview panel. The interview panel will be drawn from academic, business and other relevant communities. The expert interview panel will score and rank applications against the assessment criteria using evidence from the submitted application and the interview. The expert interview panel will make a funding recommendation to the MHCLG.

We expect interviews to be held in early December 2026.

MHCLG, EPSRC and Royal Academy of Engineering will make the final funding decision across the two funding streams.

We expect to make and communicate the final decision week commencing 14 December 2026.

Feedback

Feedback will be provided on the outcome of your application.

Principles of assessment

We support the San Francisco declaration on research assessment and recognise the relationship between research assessment and research integrity.

Find out about the UKRI principles of assessment and decision making.

Using generative artificial intelligence (AI) in expert review

Generative AI may be used only for the purpose of language refinement during application assessment. When using generative AI to refine the language of a review, expert reviewers and panellists must ensure that:

• no part of the application being assessed is entered into a generative AI tool

• no personal information from the application is disclosed

• generative AI is not tasked with understanding, summarising or evaluating the application’s content

Expert reviewers and panellists must also:

• comply with relevant intellectual property and data protection legislation

• not take into account or speculate within their assessment whether generative AI has been used to develop the application

For more detail see our policy on the use of generative AI.

Sharing data with co-funders

We will need to share the application (including any personal information that it contains) with MHCLG and the Royal Academy of Engineering so that they can participate in the assessment process.

For more information on how personal information is used visit the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (PDF, 107KB) and the Royal Academy of Engineering.

We reserve the right to modify the assessment process as needed.

Assessment areas

The assessment areas we will use are:

• vision

• approach

• positive culture and environment

• capability to deliver

• partnerships and governance

• costs

• your organisation’s support

• ethics and responsible research and innovation

• trusted research and innovation

Find details of assessment questions and criteria under the ‘Application questions’ heading in the ‘How to apply’ section.

Webinar for potential applicants

We will hold joint webinars with Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Royal Academy of Engineering on the following dates:

• 16 September 2026 2:00pm to 3.30pm UK time

• 29 September 2026 10:00am to 11:30am UK time

The webinars will provide more information about the funding opportunity and a chance to ask questions. Register for the webinars.

Click https://funding-service.ukri.org/OPP1364/apply/1390 in the UKRI Funding Service to apply.

Expression of interest (EoI)

This funding opportunity has a mandatory EOI stage. This will enable EPSRC to prepare for the assessment process. Any applications without an EOI will be rejected.

Please submit your EOI via Citizen Space. The deadline for submission of an EOI is 1 October 2026 at 4:00pm UK time.

The EOI should include:

• contact details for the project lead

• contact details for others involved in the application, including a contact for the lead organisation’s research office

• the title of your proposed fire engineering skills hub

• other organisations that are expected to be involved in delivering the skills hub, including the lead organisation and any confirmed or likely collaborating organisations

• the thematic areas your training programme will cover (approximately 200 words)

Only the lead organisation should submit an EOI. Universities must discuss with their university research office before submitting an EOI.

Your EOI will not be assessed externally. It will be used by EPSRC to plan the assessment process. We will only contact you if we require any clarifications or have any concerns about whether the proposed work is in scope and remit for this funding opportunity. We intend to publish the details of the project lead, lead institution, institutions involved in the consortium and the summary provided of each expression of interest.

Only applications that have submitted an EOI will be permitted to submit a full application.

Full proposals stage

We are running this funding opportunity on the new UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Funding Service, so please ensure that your organisation is registered. You cannot apply on the Joint Electronic Submissions (Je-S) system.

The project lead is responsible for completing the application process on the Funding Service, but we expect all team members and project partners to contribute to the application.

Only the lead research organisation can submit an application to UKRI. Please refer to the eligibility sections on the UKRI website to ensure that your organisation and applicants are eligible for UKRI funding. Check if your organisation is eligible.

To apply

Select ‘Start application’ near the beginning of this Funding finder page.

1. Confirm you are the project lead.

2. Sign in or create a Funding Service account. To create an account, select your organisation, verify your email address, and set a password.

3. Answer questions directly in the text boxes. You can save your answers and come back to complete them or work offline and return to copy and paste your answers. If we need you to upload a document, follow the upload instructions in the Funding Service. All questions and assessment criteria are listed in the How to apply section on this Funding finder page.

4. Allow enough time to check your application in ‘read-only’ view before sending to your research office.

5. Send the completed application to your research office for checking. They will return it to you if it needs editing.

6. Your research office will submit the completed and checked application to UKRI.

Please be aware that research office and finance teams undertake checks on hosting arrangements and financial eligibility. The ultimate responsibility for ensuring compliance with all opportunity requirements lies with the applicant.

Where indicated, you can also demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant.

When including images, you must:

• provide a descriptive caption or legend for each image immediately underneath it in the text box (this must be outside the image and counts towards your word limit)

• insert each new image onto a new line

• use files smaller than 5MB and in JPEG, JPG, JPE, JFI, JIF, JFIF, PNG, GIF, BMP or WEBP format

Images should only be used to convey important visual information that cannot easily be put into words. The following are not permitted, and your application will be rejected if you include:

• sentences or paragraphs of text

• tables

• excessive quantities of images

A few words are permitted where the image would lack clarity without the contextual words, such as a diagram, where text labels are required for an axis or graph column.

For more guidance on the Funding Service, see:

• how applicants use the Funding Service

• how research offices use the Funding Service

• how reviewers use the Funding Service

References

References should be included within the word count of the appropriate question section. You should use your discretion when including references and prioritise those most pertinent to the application.

Hyperlinks can be used in reference information. When including references, you should consider how your references will be viewed and used by the assessors, ensuring that:

• references are easily identifiable by the assessors

• references are formatted as appropriate to your research

• persistent identifiers are used where possible

General use of hyperlinks

Applications should be self-contained. You should only use hyperlinks to link directly to reference information. You must not include links to web resources to extend your application. Assessors are not required to access links to conduct assessment or recommend a funding decision.

Generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Use of generative AI tools to prepare funding applications is permitted, however, caution should be applied.

For more information see our policy on the use of generative AI in application and assessment.

Deadline

EPSRC must receive your application by 3 November 2026 at 4:00pm UK time.

You will not be able to apply after this time.

Make sure you are aware of and follow any internal institutional deadlines.

Following the submission of your application to this funding opportunity, your application cannot be changed, and submitted applications will not be amended. If your application does not follow the guidance, it may be rejected.

If an application is withdrawn prior to peer review or office rejected due to substantive errors in the application, it cannot be resubmitted to the opportunity.

Personal data

Processing personal data

EPSRC as part of UKRI, will need to collect some personal information to manage your Funding Service account and the registration of your funding applications.

We will handle personal data in line with UK data protection legislation and manage it securely. For more information, including how to exercise your rights, read our privacy notice.

EPSRC, as part of UKRI, will need to share the application and any personal information that it contains with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Royal Academy of Engineering so that they can participate in the assessment process.

For more information on how personal information is used visit the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (PDF, 107KB) and the Royal Academy of Engineering.

Sensitive information

If you or a core team member need to tell us something you wish to remain confidential, email TFSchangeEPSRC@epsrc.ukri.org

Include in the subject line: [the funding opportunity title; sensitive information; your Funding Service application number].

Typical examples of confidential information include:

• individual is unavailable until a certain date (for example due to parental leave)

• declaration of interest

• additional information about eligibility to apply that would not be appropriately shared in the ‘Applicant and team capability’ section

• conflict of interest for UKRI to consider in reviewer or panel participant selection

• the application is an invited resubmission

For information about how UKRI handles personal data, read UKRI’s privacy notice.

Institutional matched funding

There is no requirement for matched funding from the institutions hosting the project lead, project co-leads or other staff employed on the application, beyond costs that are not eligible. Expert reviewers and panels assessing UKRI funding applications must not consider levels of institutional matched funding as a factor on which to base recommendations.

This policy does not remove the need for support from host organisations who must provide the necessary research environment and infrastructure for award-specific activities funded by UKRI. For example, research facilities, training and development of staff.

Publication of outcomes

EPSRC, as part of UKRI, will publish the outcomes of this funding opportunity at EPSRC Funding Applications Outcomes

If your application is successful, we will publish some personal information on the UKRI Gateway to Research.

Summary

Word limit: 550

In plain English, provide a summary we can use to identify the most suitable experts to assess your application.

We usually make this summary publicly available on external-facing websites, therefore do not include any confidential or sensitive information. Make it suitable for a variety of readers, for example:

• opinion-formers

• policymakers

• the public

• the wider research community

Guidance for writing a summary

Clearly describe your proposed work in terms of:

• context

• the challenge the project addresses

• aims and objectives

• potential applications and benefits

Core team

List the key members of your team and assign them roles from the following:

• project lead (PL)

• project co-lead (UK) (PcL)

• specialist

• grant manager

• professional enabling staff

• research and innovation associate

• technician

• visiting researcher

• researcher co-lead (RcL)

Only list one individual as project lead.

If partner higher education partners are hosting studentships to have access to the grants, they need to be listed as a project co-lead on the ‘Team’ section of the award.

UKRI has introduced a new addition to the ‘Specialist’ role type. Public contributors such as people with lived experience can now be added to an application.

Find out more about UKRI’s core team roles in funding applications.

Application questions

Vision

Word limit: 1,000

What will this training investment achieve? How will this support UK capability and capacity needs and why is it important that UKRI support this activity?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Please outline:

• a clear vision, and objectives that will make a positive contribution to the scope of this investment opportunity and deliver high quality fire engineering education with tracking measures

• the positive outcomes and impact for society and the economy that the investment is aiming to deliver. Describe the strategies to deliver these, grounded in a model that results in highly skilled fire engineering personnel, employable across a range of sectors and careers

• how your vision aligns and will positively contribute to relevant wider strategies and priorities, including national capability and capacity needs. If relevant, describe how it will provide additionality to your existing doctoral provision

• credible plans for the long-term sustainability of the proposed provision, including future student demand, institutional commitment, maintenance, and development of specialist fire engineering expertise, and where relevant, the development of future academic and research capability

• how the proposed provision will support the future regulated fire engineering profession, including alignment with the Fire Engineers Advisory Panel’s Authoritative Statement and Next Steps paper, development of professional judgement and ethical practice, multidisciplinary working, and the ability to contribute to public safety outcomes

• how the investment will contribute to national fire engineering capability and capacity beyond the funding period, including lasting benefits for the wider education, research and professional ecosystem, and any plans to embed partnerships, expertise, learning resources, or delivery models into longer-term provision

Your vision must align to the scope set out in the ‘What we are looking for’ section. In particular, the UK fire engineering capability and capacity needs must be considered in terms of UK Government priorities, as outlined in the latest spending review. These include those set out in the Fire Engineering Advisory Panel: Authoritative Statement, the Fire Engineering Next Steps, the Building Construction Prospectus and the Industrial Strategy, including developing capability and capacity needs.

Through this funding opportunity we are seeking to develop the skills and capacity needed by the fire engineering sector over the next 10 years.

References may be included within this section.

You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service.

Approach

Word limit: 1,500

How will the training programme, that you deliver through this grant, support your vision, and align with UKRI’s ambitions for its training investments?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Explain how your choice of skills hub will:

• deliver your vision and any specific requirements set out in the funding opportunity documentation, including why this approach is necessary to achieve the funder’s expected outcomes

• embed delivery of UKRI’s statement of expectations for its students so that the programme provides a holistic approach that delivers high quality education and research. Also, how it integrates in-depth subject knowledge, research and methodological skills, and wider skills development opportunities

• embed delivery of UKRI’s statement of expectations for its students so that the programme supports students to build their understanding of what conducting high quality research involves

• embed delivery of UKRI’s statement of expectations for its students so that the programme prepares globally competitive researchers and practitioners, able to use their skills to thrive in a range of careers (including academia) and operate across interdisciplinary, collaborative and challenge-led environments

• embed the development of post-graduate (level 7) programmes including CPD programme development

Your approach must align to the scope set out in the ‘What we are looking for’ section.

References may be included within this section.

You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service.

Positive culture and environment

Word limit: 750

How will you create and maintain an inclusive and supportive culture and environment for all those involved?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Explain briefly how your training and development programme will:

• create and maintain a positive, inclusive, and supportive environment for all students and staff involved, addressing a variety of needs and supporting good wellbeing including relevant, specific support and training for supervisors where needed

• champion and embed equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) for students and staff, across all aspects of the training grant, including supervision, training design and approaches, and flexible student support

• achieve the specific EDI requirements detailed in the funding opportunity documentation or that you are proposing. You should provide evidence for the specific need and value of the proposed EDI activities to achieve its intended aim, including baseline information

UKRI will require successful applicants to develop detailed EDI strategies, activities and commitments.

Your response must align to the scope set out in the ‘What we are looking for’ section

Capability to deliver

Word limit: 750

Who will lead and drive delivery of this application’s vision?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Demonstrate that those leading the delivery of this award have:

• secured the appropriate research and pastoral capacity to support the number of studentships that you expect to deliver through this award

• a well-evidenced track record of the experience and skills needed to deliver the proposed vision, skills hub programme, and scale

• a well-evidenced track record of contributing to a positive research culture and the wider community

• a well-evidenced track record of supporting the training and development of others, particularly previous involvement in delivering doctoral training successfully

• a track record of fire engineering programme development (master’s level)

Your response must align to the scope set out in the ‘What we are looking for’ section.

Partnerships and governance

Word limit: 1,000

How will the skills hub be governed, and partnerships or relationships be supported and managed, to maximise benefit and minimise risk?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Provide evidence that partners are committed to:

• working together, with effective two-way engagement and decision-making processes

• positively and constructively contributing to the delivery of the doctoral training and the training experiences of the students, with students clearly benefitting from these interactions

• positively and constructively contributing to the delivery of the level 7 programme development

Within the ‘Partnerships and governance’ section, we also expect you to provide evidence that there is an established, clear and effective governance and risk management structure for the skills hub award that:

• is appropriate for the size and complexity of the skills hub and ensures continuity of the programme’s capabilities

• has clear leadership roles and responsibilities across the consortium

• supports continual improvement, monitoring, and evaluation

• manages the legal duties of the programme and providers

• supports UKRI’s expectations to create value for society in an ethical and responsible way through relevant frameworks

Your response must align to the scope set out in the ‘What we are looking for’ section, and the particular governance challenges highlighted there.

You must also provide a summary of any non-cash contributions secured from project partners or collaborators, which can be used flexibly to provide support for uses including studentships, industrial placements and co-created workshops.

Your organisation’s support

Word limit: 500

Provide details of support from your research organisations.

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Provide a Statement of Support from your research organisations detailing how they will support the consortium, and your proposed activities. This should include details of any additional support that might add value to the work.

Assessors will be looking for a strong statement of support from your research organisations. This information should have been approved for submission by an appropriate institutional authority.

You must also include the following details:

• a significant person’s name, their position and office or department, or all

• office address or web link

Upload details are provided within the Funding Service on the actual application.

Project partners

Add details about any project partners’ contributions. If there are no project partners, you can indicate this on the Funding Service.

A project partner is a collaborating organisation who will have an integral role in the proposed research. This may include direct (cash) or indirect and in-kind contributions for example use of project partner’s equipment, datasets, or facilities. Project partners may be academia, third sector or government organisations in the UK.

Add the following project partner details:

• the organisation name and address (searchable via a drop-down list or enter the organisation’s details manually, as applicable)

• the project partner contact name and email address

• the type of contribution (direct or in-direct) and its monetary value

If a detail is entered incorrectly and you have saved the entry, remove the specific project partner record and re-add it with the correct information.

For audit purposes, UKRI requires formal collaboration agreements to be put in place if an award is made.

Project partners: letters (or emails) of support

Upload a single PDF containing the letters or emails of support from each partner you named in the ‘Project partners’ section. These should be uploaded in English or Welsh only.

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Enter the words ‘attachment supplied’ in the text box, or if you do not have any project partners enter N/A.  Each letter or email you provide should:

• confirm the partner’s commitment to the project

• clearly explain the value, relevance, and possible benefits of the work to them

• describe any additional value that they bring to the project

• have a page limit of two sides A4 per partner

The Funding Service will provide document upload details when you apply.

If you do not have any project partners, you will be able to indicate this in the Funding Service.

Ensure you have prior agreement from project partners so that, if you are offered funding, they will support your project as indicated in the ‘Project partners’ section.

For audit purposes, UKRI requires formal collaboration agreements to be put in place if an award is made.

Costs

Word limit: 750

What will you need to deliver your proposed work and how much will it cost?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Provide a single, overall grant value for your proposal with a cost breakdown across the relevant funding headings.

The overall or individual funding levels do not need to be justified where these have been mandated by UKRI.

Through the costings template, indicate the:

• total number of students that you expect your programme will support

• costs for the post-graduate (level 7) programmes including CPD programme development in the Total – other costs heading in the costings template

Further details are provided in the Funding Service.

Outline the main uses of the following funding:

Total RTSG: research support costs

Outline your approach to costing the research and training costs associated with individual studentship projects or tailored, individual student training in support of your vision and approach.

Total – other costs – programme-wide initiatives

Outline costs of group training and other overarching activities through the programme that will support your vision and approach. Include here how funding will be used to develop post-graduate (level 7) programmes including CPD programme development.

Total – staff – management costs connected to the skills hub delivery

You must not include costs standard to all doctoral studentships for example not general administration or supervision.

You do not need to justify the following unless the funding opportunity has afforded you flexibility:

Total – student stipend

Stipend costs only need to be justified where enhancements are requested above the UKRI minimum rate.

Total – fees

Fee costs only need to be justified where enhancements are requested above the UKRI minimum rate.

You should describe any co-funder contributions to the programme’s costs.

Assessors are not looking for detailed costs or a line-by-line breakdown of all resources. Overall, they want you to demonstrate how the resources you anticipate needing for your proposed work:

• are comprehensive, appropriate, and justified

• represent the optimal use of resources to achieve the intended outcomes

• maximise potential outcomes and impacts

Ethics and responsible research and innovation (RRI)

What are the ethical and RRI considerations, implications and issues relating to the proposed work? If you do not think that the proposed work raises any ethical or RRI issues, explain why.

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Demonstrate that you have identified and evaluated:

• the relevant ethical or responsible research and innovation considerations

• the wider implications of the proposed work, and how you will maximise the positive societal, environmental, and economic benefits arising from the project, whilst minimising unintended negative impacts, such as research misuse or accidental harm

• how you will manage these considerations

You should provide a brief summary of how responsible research and innovation will be addressed by the skills hub. If funded, you will be required to provide a more detailed plan.

You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service.

Please refer to the UKRI position statement on funding ethical research and Responsible innovation for more information around our expectations on ethical and responsible research and innovation.

Animal involvement and “3Rs”

You must complete this section about how your proposed project will involve or impact animals.

If your project does not involve or impact animals, you must confirm this on the next page.

You may be asked about:

• what animals you are involving

• the severity of the procedures you are using

• where the procedures will take place

• welfare standards you aim to meet

• the relevance of your project to the development, validation or dissemination of the 3Rs

You may also need to download, complete, and upload at least one set of additional questions. You will be told how to do this towards the end of this section.

To complete this section and check whether your project is in the scope of the questions, refer to the UKRI policy for research and innovation involving animals.

What counts as an animal

UKRI policy relates to all animals in the Kingdom Animalia, including vertebrates and invertebrates.

Genetically modified organisms and biological risk

You must complete this section if your project will include genetically modified organisms or genetic technologies.

If you project does not involve genetically modified organisms or genetic technologies, you must confirm this on the next page.

You may be asked about:

• the type of organism your project will involve and the procedures your project will include

• the intended use of the organism or genetic technology

• the genetic, biological and environmental risks of your project

For more information, see UKRI’s guidance on genetic technologies.

Human participation in health-related research

You must complete this section about whether your project will include human participation.

If your project does not involve human participation, you must confirm this on the next page.

You may be asked about:

• what type of human participation your project includes

• the project design for human participation

• the phase of the clinical trial

• whether the project will be in an NHS setting, if so, how the project will be registered

• whether diversity and inclusion will be considered

For more information, see UKRI’s guidance for human participants in research.

Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I)

Trusted Research and Innovation is the protection of the UK’s intellectual property, sensitive research, people, and infrastructure from potential theft, misuse, and exploitation.

Organisations receiving UKRI funding are obliged to act in line with UK government legislation. They are also expected to undertake appropriate due diligence assessments of organisations involved in research partnerships, collaboration agreements, and commercial contracts.

You will be asked about:

• which areas of the National Security and Investment (NSI) Act your project relates to

• who you intend to collaborate with and how

• if your project requires an export control licence

Your answers may affect the T&Cs of your funding agreement if you are successful. We may use your answers to determine that our current T&Cs are sufficient or if additional T&Cs are required.

Research and innovation impact

Impact can be defined as the long-term intended or unintended effect research and innovation has on society, economy and the environment; to individuals, organisations, and the wider global population.

Supporting documents

All applicants are required to complete the following costings template and submit with their application. The template covers financial information and the geographic balance of students.

Costings Template (XLSX, 29KB)

Equality impact assessment (PDF, 288KB)

Webinar for potential applicants

We will hold joint webinars with Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Royal Academy of Engineering on the following dates:

• 16 September 2026 2:00pm to 3.30pm UK time

• 29 September 2026 10:00am to 11:30am UK time

The webinars will provide more information about the funding opportunity and a chance to ask questions. Register for the webinars.

Research disruption due to COVID-19

We recognise that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused major interruptions and disruptions across our communities. We are committed to ensuring that individual applicants and their wider team, including partners and networks, are not penalised for any disruption to their career, such as:

• breaks and delays

• disruptive working patterns and conditions

• the loss of ongoing work

• role changes that may have been caused by the pandemic

Reviewers and panel members will be advised to consider the unequal impacts that COVID-19 related disruption might have had on the capability to deliver and career development of those individuals included in the application. They will be asked to consider the capability of the applicant and their wider team to deliver the research they are proposing.

Where disruptions have occurred, you can highlight this within your application if you wish, but there is no requirement to detail the specific circumstances that caused the disruption.

Related content

• UKRI policies and standards

• EPSRC policies and standards

• Fire Engineers Advisory Panel’s Authoritative Statement

• Next steps on fire engineering profession reform

• EPSRC EDI action plan 2026 to 2029

• Royal Academy of Engineering portal

Get help with your application

If you have a question and the answers aren’t provided on this page

The helpdesk is committed to helping users of the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Funding Service as effectively and as quickly as possible. In order to manage cases at peak volume times, the helpdesk will triage and prioritise those queries with an imminent opportunity deadline or a technical issue. Enquiries raised where information is available on the Funding finder opportunity page and should be understood early in the application process (for example, regarding eligibility, content or remit of a funding opportunity) will not constitute a priority case and will be addressed as soon as possible.

Contact details

For help and advice on costings and writing your proposal please contact your research office in the first instance, allowing sufficient time for your organisation’s submission process.

For questions related to this specific funding opportunity please contact TeamEngineering@epsrc.ukri.org

Any queries regarding the system or the submission of applications through the Funding Service should be directed to the helpdesk.

Email: support@funding-service.ukri.org

Phone: 01793 547490

Our phone lines are open:

• Monday to Thursday 8:30am to 5:00pm

• Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm

To help us process queries quicker, we request that users highlight the council and opportunity name in the subject title of their email query, include the application reference number, and refrain from contacting more than one mailbox at a time.

For further information on submitting an application read How applicants use the Funding Service.