Big C Cancer Charity
At a glance
Key takeaways
- Big C suits cancer research that is early-stage or early-career and tied to Norfolk, since it prioritises local over national investment.
- A PhD studentship grant can be up to £50,000, covering part of the PhD fees and the full stipend, with the host institution meeting the rest, so a modest request is unlikely to fit this model.
- The annual report shows £50,000 awarded in total, of which £4,200 went to individuals, and the charity reports funding one of one requests, so there is little track record to read.
- PhD studentship applications are due by 5pm on 31 August each year and go to bigcgrants@big-c.co.uk.
- Do not apply if the work is for commercial or private gain, is not cancer related, or would run longer than four years of PhD training.
Overview
Big C Cancer Charity is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 281730).
Big C Cancer Charity exists to conduct, support, promote or assist research into the causes, prevention, treatment and cure of cancer, within the UK or in any other part of the world. It supports early-stage, early-career research, both projects and PhDs, with a preference for local rather than national investment, and it prioritises Norfolk. Its programmes include PhD studentship grants of up to £50,000 per PhD and undergraduate summer bursaries of up to 8 weeks at £175 per week. Its annual report records £50,000 awarded in total.
What they fund
Priority Areas
Big C funds vital cancer research in Norfolk, including early-stage, early-career projects and PhD studentships, with a preference for local rather than national investment. It prioritises excellence rather than a particular strategic area or type of research. Its postgraduate studentship grants contribute towards PhD fees and the full stipend, with remaining costs covered by the host institution; it also offers undergraduate summer bursaries for cancer-related research projects. Its research addresses cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment and works alongside the research institutes it funds at Norwich Research Park, making a local, national and international difference.
Themes
- Cancer research
Geographic Focus
Priority: Norfolk.
What they don't fund
- Funding for postgraduates only: research for commercial or private gain; PhD training periods longer than four years
- Funding for undergraduates only:
- research for commercial or private gain
- students who are not currently registered for an undergraduate degree at UEA and in the middle years of a degree course
- students who have completed their degree before the work takes place in the summer immediately following the award
- students who have already made an application
- projects that are not cancer related
- projects that do not have ethical and research approval, if relevant
- projects that do not have clear objectives which are achievable by the student in the time available
- projects that are part of degree work (the project should not be part of degree work)
How to apply
For PhD studentship funding, complete the application by 5pm on 31 August and send it to bigcgrants@big-c.co.uk.
Deadlines: PhD studentship grant applications are due by 5pm (BST) on 31 August each year.
Application windows:
- PhD studentship grants: Applications need to be submitted by 5pm on 31 August each year.
- Undergraduate student bursaries: Applications need to be submitted by 5pm on 31 March each year.
Who can apply:
- Undergraduate student bursaries: To apply for our funding for undergraduates, you must currently be registered for an undergraduate degree at UEA and be in the middle years of a degree course. Only one application can be made per student.
Application success factors
What the charity says:
- Big C prioritises excellence in research rather than a particular strategic area or type of research.
- Big C prefers local rather than national investment in early-stage, early-career research.
- Applications are assessed for originality.
- Applications are assessed for scientific quality.
- The principal applicant’s track record is assessed.
- Applicants are asked to suggest three independent reviewers and may exclude up to three reviewers.
Where they fund
Where it says it funds
Similar funders
Funders supporting work similar to Big C Cancer Charity.
Grants
The largest grants to organisations in this funder’s latest annual report:
- Cancer Nano – Therapeutics at cell interfaces£50,000year to 31 December 2025
Grant examples taken from the funder’s filed accounts. Not included above: 1 grant to individuals.
Five years of accounts
| Financial year | Income | Expenditure | Grants paid | Accounts document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| year to 31 December 2021 | £3,137,672 | £2,537,954 | £109,449 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2021 |
| year to 31 December 2022 | £3,134,649 | £2,814,520 | £109,762 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2022 |
| year to 31 December 2023 | £2,979,216 | £3,336,162 | £199,079 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2023 |
| year to 31 December 2024 | £3,375,838 | £3,498,101 | £98,158 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2024 |
| year to 31 December 2025 | £3,170,566 | £3,540,345 | £50,000 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2025 |
Income vs grants paid
IncomeGrants paid
Total value each financial year
Grants paid stayed within income across the 5 years shown.
- Grants paid, year to 31 December 2021; year to 31 December 2022; year to 31 December 2023; year to 31 December 2024: grants to institutions, as reported on the charity register (Part B).
- Grants paid, year to 31 December 2025: grants awarded in the year, as reported in the accounts.
Figures from the charity’s filed accounts and its register entry. The document icon links to the charity’s entry on the Charity Commission register, where its filed accounts can be found.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
- big-c.co.uk
- big-c.co.uk/our-research · read on 30 October 2026
- big-c.co.uk/our-research/funding-for-postgraduates · read on 30 October 2026
- big-c.co.uk/our-research/funding-for-undergraduates · read on 30 October 2026
- big-c.co.uk/our-research/help-with-research · read on 30 October 2026
- Annual report (year to 31 December 2025)
This profile draws on the funder’s own website as well as its filed accounts.
Sources last checked on 30 October 2026.
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At a glance
Applying to Big C Cancer Charity?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
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Applying to Big C Cancer Charity?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required