British Academy ERC Starting Grants Webinar 2026: Free Guidance for UK Researchers in Humanities and Social Sciences

The British Academy Grants Webinars provide UK-based researchers in the humanities and social sciences with an opportunity to gain practical guidance on applying for European Research Council (ERC) grants. The webinars are led by British Academy Fellows who have experience with ERC grants and/or ERC evaluation panels. Their purpose is to help researchers better understand the ERC application process, including the proposal format, evaluation criteria, and the key issues researchers need to consider when planning, writing, and costing a competitive proposal. The next webinar will focus specifically on the ERC Starting Grants Call, which opened in July 2026. The upcoming session will take place on Monday, 28 September, from 14:30 to 16:00 BST.

Researchers who want to participate must register by Friday, 25 September at 12:00 noon. Those who would like to submit a B1 draft proposal for possible panel feedback during the webinar must submit it by Thursday, 17 September at 12:00 noon.

About the British Academy Grants Webinars

The British Academy organizes these webinars as part of its European Research and Collaboration programme.

The sessions are designed for researchers who are considering applying for ERC grants and want to better understand what is expected when preparing an ERC proposal.

Rather than simply providing general information about funding, the webinars focus on the practical aspects of developing an application.

Participants can gain a deeper understanding of:

• The ERC proposal format
• The evaluation process
• Important issues that applicants need to address
• Planning a research proposal
• Writing a strong proposal
• Costing a proposal
• The issues that can affect how a proposal is evaluated

This makes the webinar particularly relevant to researchers who are preparing, or considering preparing, an ERC application.

Next Webinar: ERC Starting Grants

The next British Academy webinar will focus on the ERC Starting Grants Call.

Webinar details

• Date: Monday, 28 September 2026
• Time: 14:30–16:00 BST
• Focus: ERC Starting Grants
• Target audience: UK-based researchers in the humanities and social sciences
• Format: Online webinar
• Organizer: British Academy
• Registration deadline: Friday, 25 September 2026 at 12:00 noon
• B1 draft submission deadline: Thursday, 17 September 2026 at 12:00 noon

The webinar will focus on the ERC Starting Grants Call that opened in July 2026.

What Will the Webinar Cover?

A central purpose of the webinar is to help researchers understand the proposal and evaluation format used in the ERC process.

For researchers preparing an ERC application, understanding what evaluators are looking for is an important part of proposal development.

The webinar will therefore address key considerations involved in:

Planning a Proposal

Researchers will receive guidance on issues they need to consider when planning their ERC proposal.

This can help applicants think carefully about how their research idea should be structured before moving into the writing stage.

Writing a Proposal

The webinar will provide insight into the proposal format and the key issues researchers need to address when writing their applications.

This is intended to help researchers better understand how to communicate their research project within the ERC application framework.

Costing a Proposal

The session will also address costing, helping researchers understand issues they need to consider when developing the financial aspects of their proposal.

Opportunity to Receive Feedback on a B1 Draft Proposal

One of the notable features of this webinar is the opportunity for participants to have their B1 draft proposal reviewed by the panel.

Researchers interested in receiving this feedback can indicate their interest when completing the webinar registration form.

If selected, their B1 proposal will be discussed during the webinar.

However, there is an important condition: not every submitted B1 proposal will be reviewed.

The British Academy makes clear that submitting a draft does not guarantee that it will be selected for discussion.

When a proposal is discussed during the webinar, all names and personal details will be removed.

This allows the panel to focus on the substance of the proposal while removing identifying information.

Feedback Is Designed to Benefit All Participants

Even though not every B1 draft will be selected for review, the guidance provided during the webinar is intended to benefit all attendees.

Therefore, researchers who submit a proposal but are not selected for individual feedback can still participate in the session and learn from the broader discussion and guidance provided by the experienced panel.

This makes the webinar useful not only for researchers whose proposals are reviewed but also for participants who want to understand how ERC proposals can be approached and evaluated.

Who Will Lead the Webinar?

The session will be led by Professor Patrick Haggard FBA together with British Academy Fellows who have experience with ERC grants and/or ERC panels.

The involvement of Fellows with experience of ERC funding and evaluation gives the webinar a practical focus.

Participants can therefore expect the session to draw on experience with the ERC proposal and evaluation process rather than relying solely on general descriptions of grant applications.

Why Researchers May Find the Webinar Useful

Applying for a major research grant requires more than having an interesting research idea.

Researchers also need to understand how to:

• Structure their proposal effectively
• Address the issues required by the funding scheme
• Present their research clearly
• Understand the evaluation process
• Plan their application carefully
• Develop an appropriate budget
• Respond to the expectations of evaluators

The British Academy webinar is designed to address these areas and help researchers develop a deeper understanding of the ERC application process.

For researchers considering an ERC Starting Grant, this can provide useful preparation before submitting their proposal.

Registration Deadline

Researchers who want to attend the webinar must register by:

Friday, 25 September 2026 at 12:00 noon.

Registration must be completed using the designated registration form.

Researchers should register before the deadline rather than waiting until the final hours.

Deadline for B1 Draft Proposal Feedback

There is an earlier deadline for researchers who want their B1 draft proposal to be considered for feedback.

The deadline is:

Thursday, 17 September 2026 at 12:00 noon.

Researchers interested in submitting a draft should:

1. Indicate their interest in receiving B1 proposal feedback on the webinar registration form.
2. Prepare their B1 draft proposal.
3. Send the draft to Barbora Krasova.
4. Ensure that the draft is submitted no later than 17 September 2026 at 12:00 noon.

Again, submitting a draft does not guarantee that it will be reviewed.

Important Difference Between the Two Deadlines

Applicants should be careful not to confuse the two deadlines.

B1 Draft Proposal Deadline

17 September 2026 at 12:00 noon

This applies to researchers who want to have their B1 draft considered for feedback during the webinar.

Webinar Registration Deadline

25 September 2026 at 12:00 noon

This is the deadline for registering to attend the webinar.

The B1 draft deadline therefore comes eight days before the general webinar registration deadline.

The Webinar Will Not Be Recorded

Another important point for prospective participants is that the webinar will not be recorded.

Researchers who want to benefit from the session should therefore make arrangements to attend it live on:

Monday, 28 September 2026, from 14:30 to 16:00 BST.

Because there will be no recording available afterward, participants should make sure that they register on time and reserve the webinar period in their schedules.

How to Prepare Before the Webinar

Researchers planning to attend can make better use of the session by preparing in advance.

Useful preparation could include:

1. Reviewing the ERC Starting Grant Call

   Familiarize yourself with the specific grant scheme that will be discussed during the webinar.

2. Developing your research idea

   Have a clear understanding of the research question, objectives, and broader significance of your proposed project.

3. Preparing a B1 draft if seeking feedback

   If you want your proposal to be considered for panel discussion, prepare your B1 draft well before the 17 September deadline.

4. Registering early

   Complete the webinar registration before 25 September at noon.

5. Preparing questions

   Consider the areas of proposal planning, writing, evaluation, and costing where you need additional guidance.

6. Attend the full session

   Since the webinar will not be recorded, attending the live session is important for researchers who want to benefit from the guidance.

Learn more and Apply HERE

Key Information at a Glance

Important Points to Remember

Researchers interested in this opportunity should keep the following points in mind:

• The webinar is aimed at UK-based researchers in the humanities and social sciences.
• It focuses on ERC grants, with this particular session dedicated to ERC Starting Grants.
• The session is designed to explain the proposal and evaluation format.
• Guidance will cover proposal planning, writing, and costing.
• The webinar will be led by British Academy Fellows with ERC grant and/or panel experience.
• Participants may submit a B1 draft for possible feedback.
• Not every submitted B1 proposal will be reviewed.
• Selected B1 proposals will be discussed with names and personal details removed.
• The guidance is intended to benefit all attendees, even if their proposal is not selected.
• Webinar registration closes on 25 September 2026 at 12:00 noon.
• B1 drafts for consideration must be submitted by 17 September 2026 at 12:00 noon.
• The webinar takes place on 28 September 2026 from 14:30 to 16:00 BST.
• The webinar will not be recorded.

Conclusion

The British Academy ERC Starting Grants Webinar 2026 provides UK-based researchers in the humanities and social sciences with an opportunity to strengthen their understanding of the ERC grant application and evaluation process.

Led by British Academy Fellows with experience of ERC grants and panels, the webinar focuses on practical aspects of developing an ERC proposal, including planning, writing, costing, proposal format, and evaluation.

A particularly valuable feature is the opportunity for researchers to submit a B1 draft proposal for possible panel feedback. Although selection for review is not guaranteed, the guidance provided during the session is designed to benefit all participants.

Researchers interested in attending should register by 25 September 2026 at 12:00 noon, while those seeking consideration for B1 proposal feedback must submit their draft by 17 September 2026 at 12:00 noon.

Because the webinar will not be recorded, eligible researchers should plan to attend the live online session on 28 September 2026 from 14:30 to 16:00 BST and take advantage of the opportunity to learn directly from experienced researchers and ERC panel contributors.

More opportunities HERE