The Early Career Scheme (ECS), introduced in 2012/13, is intended to nurture junior academics and to prepare them for a career in education and research.

1. A maximum of 5-year project duration is allowed for applicants in their first year of full time academic job, a 4-year duration for applicants in their second year and a 3-year duration for applicants in their third year, if the proposed duration is deemed appropriate and necessary by the Research Grants Council (RGC).
2. In addition to funding independent research projects, two levels of awards are provided under the ECS: (i) Early Career Awards – an honorary title will be awarded with $100,000 per funded project with outstanding rating and satisfactory education plan¹; and (ii) an additional amount of $50,000 per funded project with satisfactory education plan will be provided to those Principal Investigators (PIs) for undertaking educational activities for training undergraduate students for conducting research.
3. Applicants should not list any collaborator as Co-Investigator.
4. A special session will be organised in each panel meeting to consider exclusively the applications for the ECS to ensure that junior academics will compete only among themselves but not with other General Research Fund (GRF) applicants.

The RGC's main objective is to fund as many worthy projects as possible across a broad front within the funds available. Nevertheless, projects of exceptional merit will be funded more fully than other projects.

The assessment criteria are as follows:

1. academic quality/merit;
   1. scientific and scholarly merit of the proposal;
   2. qualifications and track record of the Principal Investigator;
   3. originality;
   4. feasibility within the timescale of the proposal.
2. institutional commitment;
3. contribution to academic/professional development (where applicable);
4. potential for social, cultural or economic application; and
5. availability of, and potential for, non-RGC funding.

Academic quality/merit is the overriding criterion in evaluating research projects when others are accorded equal weight. In considering grant applications, the RGC will also take cognizance of alternative sources of funding available because some subject areas will attract more private funding than others.

Applications for ECS 2025/26 should reach the UGC Secretariat through the electronic system by 1 November 2024.

Please click here for the call letter issued by the Secretary, RGC to the Heads of UGC funded universities inviting applications.

To download the current forms, etc. please click here.