ADR UK research fellowships 2025

Notify Faculty of Intention to Apply by: 15 December 2026

Funder Deadline: 26 February 2026

Apply for funding to conduct research and analysis demonstrating the policy impact potential of key Administrative Data Research UK (ADR UK) flagship datasets.

The ADR's flagship datasets are:

• Administrative Data, Agricultural Research Collection – England.
  Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) linked to 2011 Census – England and Wales.
• ASHE linked to PAYE and Self-Assessment data – England, Scotland and Wales.
• Data First: Cross-Justice System – England and Wales.
• Data First: Family Court linked to Cafcass and Census 2021 – England and Wales.
• Education and Child Health Insights from Linked Data – England.
• Grading and Admissions Data for England.
• Longitudinal Education Outcomes – England.
• Ministry of Justice and Department for Education linked dataset – England.

The Data First datasets are likely of particular interest to potential Law applicants, as they include Ministry of Justice datasets, including Cross-Justice System - England and Wales, Family Court (Cafcass and Census 2021, England and Wales), and Ministry of Justice/Department for Education linked datasets. 

An example of a webinar on how to write a successful fellowship application can be found here. 

Eligibility

Researchers must be based at a UKRI-eligible research institution. Early career researchers must secure an in-house mentor for their application. The following time commitments are required of the PI:

• a maximum of 0.4 full-time equivalent during the ‘initial’ stage (three months).
• a minimum of 0.6 full-time equivalent for the ‘core’ research phase (15 months).

Duration and Value

The full economic cost of fellowship can be up to £200,000. ESRC and ADR UK will fund 80% of the full economic cost. Funding is available for up to 18 months. Projects must start in September 2026.

How to Apply

Full applications must be submitted via the UKRI's The Funding Service by 16:00 26 February 2026 (Research Services deadline: 19 February 2026). Notifications of interest in applying should be submitted to research@law.ox.ac.uk by 15 December 2025.