The Nuffield Foundation has announced the next round of its Racial Diversity UK Fund (RDUK), offering substantial support for research that deepens understanding of the barriers and pathways toward a racially just and inclusive society in the UK.
The fund awards grants between £15,000 and £500,000 for projects running six months to three years, with the next outline application deadline in October 2026.
About the RDUK Fund
The programme supports research exploring racial diversity in the UK, with a particular interest in how the country’s colonial past continues to shape contemporary social, economic and political realities. This includes understanding why some racial disparities persist, what effectively addresses them, and how racial diversity can enrich society.
The priority theme for the Autumn 2025 round is:
Migration, Arrivals, and Legacies
Proposals focusing on any of the following areas are especially encouraged:
- How colonial histories shape the UK’s racially diverse present and future
- Experiences and patterns of migration, settlement and departure
- Impacts of migration on communities, opportunities, and outcomes
- Demographic change and the future of a multi-racial UK
- Rights and pathways relating to residency and citizenship
High-quality proposals beyond these areas may also be considered.
What the Foundation is Looking For
Projects should aim to:
- Inform understanding, public debate, policy, or practice around racial inequality
- Contribute to mapping pathways toward a UK that embraces and benefits from racial diversity
- Use any suitable methodology, including participatory or applied approaches
The Foundation particularly welcomes applications from researchers and organisations from racially minoritised communities, including collaborative bids between academics and community partners.
Additional Opportunity: Evidence Review
Alongside the main fund, the Foundation is commissioning a major evidence review on racial demography and racialised outcomes in the UK from 1948 to 2048.
Find Out More
Full details, eligibility information, and guidance on how to apply are available here: