UKRI research data policy

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has set out its overarching research data policy, which applies to all in-scope funding opportunities launched on or after 1 April 2027.

For social science researchers funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) or wider UKRI schemes, this policy establishes clear mandates for how data must be managed, documented, and shared across the research lifecycle.

This page breaks down what the policy means in practice for social science data producers, highlighting key requirements, timelines, and your archiving obligations with the UK Data Service.

Policy overview and core principles

The policy builds upon a central ethos: publicly funded research data is a public good that should be managed to maximise transparency, reproducibility, and long-term value.

It centres around two major frameworks:

The FAIR Principles: Data and associated digital objects must be Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable.

“As open as possible, as closed as necessary”: Data should be shared with minimal restrictions, while recognising that legitimate boundaries, such as ethical considerations, legal frameworks, or commercial sensitivities, require managed access tiers including secure access.

Who and what is in scope?

The policy applies to all research activities funded by UKRI’s constituent research councils, UKRI-wide funding schemes, and specific targeted calls across Innovate UK and Research England. This encompasses individual grants, fellowships, studentships, and major research centres or infrastructures.

Key requirements for social science projects

Planning and Data Management Plans

Applicants will normally be required to provide an outline of how they intend to manage and share their data within their funding proposal.

For successful projects, a comprehensive project Data Management Plan (DMP) must be finalised and in place within six months of the award start date, or within six months of individual studentship start dates for training grants.

Further tailored information on DMPs will be made available by Spring 2027. For general DMP guidance, please visit our Data management planning web page.

Expenses related to data management, including documentation, anonymisation and archiving preparation, are fully eligible UKRI costs and must be factored into project budgets proportionately. For practical guidance, please visit our Resourcing web page.

Timelines and sharing

Social science data arising from ESRC-funded research must be offered for deposit to the UK Data Service by the end of the grant period. UKRI-ESRC also strongly encourages social science data emerging from other UKRI councils to be deposited through the UK Data Service.

Research teams are entitled to a limited, defined period of exclusive data use to realise initial academic benefits (such as primary publications), provided this is justified in the DMP and balanced against the public interest.

Even when data cannot be shared, or when data must be shared with access restrictions, a FAIR metadata record must still be published no later than the time of publication. See further information about catalogue-only records (metadata records) on our Prepare your data collection for deposit web page.

Guidance for grant holders

If you are funded through the ESRC or wider UKRI schemes and producing social science data, please visit our Data Producer Support Learning Hub for data management guidance including planning and governing research data, legal and ethical responsibilities, managing data during the project and preparing data for sharing and reuse.

Check our Prepare your data collection for deposit web page for a step-by-step walkthrough of how to ready your data files and documentation for archiving with the UK Data Service.