Navigating complexity: securing research funding in the Social Sciences
Securing research funding is competitive in every field. But in the social sciences, the challenge is often particularly steep. This difficulty arises from a combination of disciplinary and political factors that shape how funding systems operate and how proposals are evaluated. This article explores the structural funding imbalance, the challenges of demonstrating impact, the influence of political context, and practical strategies to strengthen competitive proposals.
High competition and low success rates
Compared to fields such as medicine, engineering, or natural sciences, social sciences typically receive a smaller share of national and international research funding. Large-scale programmes often prioritise areas perceived as directly linked to economic growth, technological innovation, or improved health outcomes. Although social sciences contribute profoundly to societal wellbeing, their impact is often longer-term, systemic, and less immediately tangible. As a result, the overall funding remains relatively small while the number of researchers competing for it continues to grow.
This imbalance contributes to high competition and low success rates. In many funding schemes, success rates range between 5 and 15 percent, and in prestigious programmes these may fall even lower. In such contexts, many outstanding proposals go unfunded. Small differences in scoring determine outcomes, and external factors such as disciplinary balance in panel composition influence results.
The challenge of demonstrating impact
Social sciences investigate complex human systems, including behaviour, governance, inequality, migration, culture, institutions, and markets. These investigations rarely produce straightforward cause-and-effect relationships. At the same time, funders increasingly request quantifiable impact, measurable outputs, and short-term deliverables. Social science impact, however, is often qualitative, context-dependent, long-term, and mediated through policy or institutional change. Demonstrating this type of impact within structured funding templates can be difficult, particularly when evaluation frameworks favour metrics and immediacy.
The influence of political context
Political climate also plays a role. Many social science topics intersect with politically contested areas such as inequality and redistribution, migration, democratic governance, climate justice, and public trust. Funding landscapes can therefore become unpredictable, with shifting political priorities influencing which themes are considered fundable at a given moment.
Strategies for success
Despite these challenges, social science funding is not unattainable. Success depends on clearly articulating societal relevance, providing strong methodological justification, strategically aligning proposals with programme priorities, building credible collaborations and learning from evaluation feedback.
How Hezelburcht supports Social Science researchers
At Hezelburcht, we support researchers in the Social Sciences and Humanities in navigating this complex funding landscape. We work closely with applicants to sharpen research positioning, strengthen impact narratives, align proposals with evaluation criteria, and translate ambitious ideas into coherent, competitive applications for national and European programmes such as ERC and Horizon Europe. From strategic advice and consortium development to proposal writing, budgeting, and interview preparation, we help transform high-quality research into funded projects with lasting societal impact.
Are you interested in applying or would you like to receive more information about our services? Our specialists would be pleased to support you in applying for Social Science and Humanities grants. Contact us via info@hezelburcht.com, call 088 495 20 00 or fill in the form for an introductory meeting:
