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Research Development manage restricted calls and support researchers through various funding streams.
Internal Funding Opportunities
The Research Development Strategic Fund (RDSF)
Funding is available to support early stage activities leading to the submission of an external research grant application supported by your Research Development Manager. This may include, but is not limited to, activities such as consortia building, visits to a partner institution and/or collaborative meetings to prepare a grant application. Attendance at conferences and seminars must be directly related to a specific research grant application.
Funding for the 2025-2026 financial year has now been distributed. The fund is forecast to reopen on 1 August 2026.
Restricted Calls
What are Restricted calls?
In order to ensure that external research grant applications submitted by Ulster University are of the highest quality, we are sometimes required to initiate a process for restricted calls or demand management.
Restricted calls are a funder requirement and managed in line with the funder guidelines and capped number of applications. Non-adherence to the funder requirement may result in all applications being rejected.
Royal Academy of Engineering - Research Fellowships
The Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellowships scheme welcomes applications from early-career researchers worldwide who have been awarded their PhD in the last 4.5 years (before the funders EoI deadline). The scheme provides funding for five years and each application is capped at a maximum contribution from the Academy of £800,000 within an engineering subject area.
In developing your application for this funding opportunity, you may wish to consider the documentation on the funders website such as the eligibility criteria, reviewer Guidance, FAQs and EoI Applicant Guidance Notes.
Ulster University is restricted to 2 to 4 applications (dependent on applicant criteria).
RAEng Fellowship Outline Applications must be submitted to Cian McCrudden by 5pm Friday 29 May 2026.
