ARMA Arts & Humanities SIG Drop-In Session: Implications of UKRI funding changes for Arts & Humanities research by ARMA UK

What challenges do the changes to UKRI funding represent for A&H research in your institution?

samanthasherry — 2026-02-13 08:46:14 UTC

What opportunities do the changes to UKRI funding represent for A&H research at your institution?

samanthasherry — 2026-02-13 08:46:26 UTC

What are you doing (or what would you like to do) in response to these changes at your institution?

samanthasherry — 2026-02-13 08:46:32 UTC

What can the A&H community and ARMA as an organisation do next?

samanthasherry — 2026-04-14 08:52:03 UTC

2026-04-15 13:02:50 UTC

Our success rates appear to have dropped more recently, particularly for curiosity awards. Is there a particular reason for this?

Is it entirely clear yet how the funding changes will affect A&H?

2026-04-15 15:40:05 UTC

About the Session

samanthasherry — 2026-04-16 08:38:37 UTC

UKRI-funded research is in a period of flux. In December 2025, UKRI announced significant changes to its approach to funding, pivoting strongly to research that addresses national and societal priorities, including economic growth. At the same time, a number of Research Councils have already announced pauses to curiosity-driven programmes. The next few months will be a period of uncertainty for many.

We are inviting you to join an informal, supportive session to consider together the implications of these changes for arts and humanities research(ers) specifically and to share ideas and good practice for working in this new funding environment.

AHRC PRC

2026-04-20 11:53:41 UTC

I am on the PRC and we haven't been given guidance to review differently. I have only done paper reviews and not been on a panel since the UKRI changes so don't know if panel meetings have shifted in emphasis, but I would have expected a change in approach to have been communicated to the PRC at large. My guess is portfolio balancing may be playing a bigger role in final decisions by AHRC.

Need clear guidance from AHRC

2026-04-20 13:28:42 UTC

AHRC Needs to be more explicit about what their strategy is likely to entail. There is no sense of direction and Development Managers and academics are struggling to understand how to plan their grant applications. It is all patchy and far too many changes are impacting on the morale. Some academics are now refusing to engage with this Council' schemes due to a very low success rate.

Collaborative approach

2026-04-20 13:30:59 UTC

We need to rely on one another, as we individually feel that we are the only one/s encountering these issues. Events like this, are a godsent and we need more. We can try and collectively understand how to navigate these circumstances and exchange our lived experiences. We can give each other ideas and hope.

AHRC needs to engage

2026-04-20 13:33:11 UTC

We need more guidance. For example: can we have a Study Tour? Can we - individually nudge them for more guidance. Can we collectively under the ARMA umbrella voice our concerns, may be in a Letter?