The University of Bath is committed to further strengthening our research culture, which puts people at the heart of research and innovation. For over a decade we have been investing in our research culture. The two waves of Enhancing Research Culture Funding that we are supporting this year are as follows:

Wave 1: Delivering on our Action Plan commitments

In the first instance, 'Owners' of actions in the Research Culture Action Plan will be contacted to establish essential resource needed to deliver against key priorities in their remit. This ensures we make progress against the things people told us matter most in consultations. Proposals will be subject to panel review and prioritised. 

Wave 2: Open call

The remaining budget will be directed to an Open Call to support colleagues of any job family/ discipline/ career stage to pilot new approaches to enhance our research culture.

Proposals should contribute to the advancement of one or more ‘pillars’ of research culture as outlined in our Action Plan.

We expect this call to launch in November, with roughly a one-month application window, ensuring new projects can launch January in 2026. All funds must be spent by 31 July 2026. The size of the fund is to be confirmed dependant on the outcomes of Wave 1.

For more information, see last year’s scheme and a summary of previously funded projects from 2023/24 and 2024/25.