Deadline: 07-Oct-2026
The International Interdisciplinary Research Programme on Mobilities supports UK-led research projects exploring the movement of people, materials, things, ideas, narratives, and innovation across borders. Grants of up to £300,000 are available for two-year projects, with mandatory international collaboration and a focus on humanities- or social sciences-led interdisciplinary research.
Overview
The programme invites UK-based researchers and international collaborators to develop interdisciplinary projects that deepen understanding of mobility across societies, geographies, and time.
Projects should examine how movement shapes cultural, social, historical, economic, and policy-related transformations.
The programme encourages collaboration across humanities, social sciences, STEM, and wider SHAPE disciplines.
Key Details
- Programme: International Interdisciplinary Research Programme on Mobilities
- Eligible lead: UK-based Principal Investigator
- International collaboration: Required
- Funding available: Up to £300,000 per award
- Project duration: Two years
- Funding basis: Up to 80% full economic costing
- Maximum total project value: £375,000
- Expected start: March or April 2027
- PI time commitment: At least 20%
Research Themes
The programme focuses on three broad areas:
1. People
This theme explores the movement of people across borders, regions, societies, and time.
It may include migration, displacement, labour mobility, education, diaspora, identity, belonging, citizenship, and cross-border communities.
2. Materials and Things
This theme focuses on the movement of objects, resources, technologies, goods, cultural materials, and physical things.
It may include supply chains, heritage objects, environmental materials, infrastructure, trade, collecting practices, and material culture.
3. Ideas, Narratives and Innovation
This theme examines how ideas, knowledge, stories, creative practices, and innovations travel across societies and influence change.
It may include public narratives, policy ideas, scientific knowledge, cultural exchange, digital communication, and innovation systems.
Key Concepts Explained
What is Mobility?
Mobility refers to the movement of people, materials, objects, ideas, knowledge, and practices across places, communities, institutions, and time.
What is Interdisciplinary Research?
Interdisciplinary research brings together methods, theories, and expertise from different disciplines to address complex questions that cannot be fully understood from one field alone.
What are SHAPE Disciplines?
SHAPE refers to Social Sciences, Humanities and the Arts for People and the Economy. These disciplines help explain human behaviour, culture, history, governance, society, and public life.
What is Knowledge Exchange?
Knowledge exchange means sharing research insights with communities, practitioners, policymakers, and other stakeholders so that research can inform practice, public understanding, and decision-making.
Who is Eligible?
The Principal Investigator must:
- Be based at an eligible UK university or research institute.
- Hold a postdoctoral-level or equivalent position.
- Commit at least 20% of their time to the project.
- Lead the project from a humanities or social sciences perspective.
International co-applicants are mandatory.
Projects must include meaningful international collaboration and knowledge exchange.
Funding and Eligible Costs
Awards provide up to £300,000 over two years.
Funding covers up to 80% full economic costing.
The total project value must not exceed £375,000.
Eligible costs may include:
- Researcher time
- Postdoctoral support
- Travel
- Fieldwork
- Networking
- Workshops
- Collaboration activities
- Research-related costs
Programme Expectations
Projects should:
- Be led by humanities or social sciences research.
- Integrate collaboration with STEM and other SHAPE disciplines.
- Include international co-applicants.
- Explore mobility across borders, societies, and time.
- Improve understanding of public knowledge and policy delivery.
- Support cross-disciplinary communication.
- Contribute to practice, policy, and knowledge exchange.
How to Apply
Step 1: Confirm UK Lead Eligibility
Ensure the Principal Investigator is based at an eligible UK university or research institute and holds a postdoctoral-level or equivalent position.
Step 2: Build the International Team
Identify and confirm international co-applicants who will contribute meaningfully to the project.
Step 3: Select a Mobilities Theme
Choose a focus linked to people, materials and things, or ideas, narratives and innovation.
Step 4: Develop an Interdisciplinary Research Design
Show how humanities or social sciences will lead the project while integrating STEM or other SHAPE disciplines.
Step 5: Prepare the Budget
Ensure the request does not exceed £300,000 and the total project value does not exceed £375,000.
Step 6: Plan Knowledge Exchange
Include activities that connect research with policy, practice, communities, or public understanding.
Step 7: Confirm Timeline
Plan for the project to begin in March or April 2027 and run for two years.
Step 8: Submit the Application
Submit the application through the required programme process.
Why It Matters
Mobility shapes how societies change, how knowledge travels, and how policy responds to global challenges.
The programme matters because it supports:
- Better understanding of migration and movement
- Cross-border research collaboration
- Humanities and social sciences leadership
- Integration with STEM and SHAPE disciplines
- Evidence for policy and practice
- Public understanding of global change
- Historically informed analysis of mobility
- International knowledge exchange
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid:
- Applying without an eligible UK-based Principal Investigator.
- Missing the mandatory international co-applicant requirement.
- Proposing a project not led by humanities or social sciences.
- Failing to show genuine interdisciplinarity.
- Exceeding the £300,000 funding cap.
- Exceeding the £375,000 total project value.
- Ignoring the PI’s 20% time commitment.
- Providing weak knowledge exchange plans.
- Treating mobility only as travel without deeper social, cultural, historical, or policy analysis.
Tips for a Strong Application
Applicants should:
- Clearly define the mobility question.
- Show why an interdisciplinary approach is necessary.
- Demonstrate strong international collaboration.
- Explain the role of each discipline and partner.
- Include a clear knowledge exchange plan.
- Link research to public understanding or policy relevance.
- Provide a realistic budget and timeline.
- Show how the project will create lasting research value.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the International Interdisciplinary Research Programme on Mobilities?
It is a funding programme supporting UK-led international research projects on the movement of people, materials, things, ideas, narratives, and innovation across borders.
How much funding is available?
Each award can provide up to £300,000.
How long do projects last?
Projects run for two years.
Who must lead the project?
The Principal Investigator must be based at an eligible UK university or research institute and hold a postdoctoral-level or equivalent position.
Are international collaborators required?
Yes. International co-applicants are mandatory.
What disciplines are eligible?
Projects must be led by humanities or social sciences but should include collaboration with STEM and other SHAPE disciplines.
When should projects begin?
Projects are expected to begin in March or April 2027.
Conclusion
The International Interdisciplinary Research Programme on Mobilities supports UK-led research that examines how people, materials, things, ideas, and innovations move across borders and shape societies. With grants of up to £300,000 over two years, the programme encourages international collaboration, interdisciplinary research, knowledge exchange, and policy-relevant insights into mobility in a changing world.
For more information, visit The British Academy.