Access to Facilities

STFC operates world-class large-scale research facilities and manages the UK access to large-scale facilities in other countries. This page contains details of how to access large-scale research facilities which STFC is responsible for.

Time awarded at facilities which STFC is responsible for can count as in-kind income for the purposes of the UK Research Excellence Framework 2014 exercise.

The table below contains details of where to find access information for the large-scale facilities for which STFC is responsible. Most facilities have more than one access mechanism, including methods for rapid access outside normal proposals deadlines, programme mode access and industrial access. Please see the individual websites for details.

Facility	Normal proposal deadlines
Neutron and Muon Facilities
ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, RAL	16 April and 16 October
Institut Laue Langevin neutron source, Grenoble	6 monthly – see website
Lasers
Vulcan, Astra, Gemini high power lasers, RAL	6 monthly – see website
Academic access to Orion high power laser, AWE	6 monthly – see website
Artemis XUV source, RAL	6 monthly – see website
Octopus and Ultra facilities in the Research Complex at Harwell	6 monthly – see website
Synchrotron Light Sources
Diamond light source	1 April and 1 October
European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Grenoble	See website
Telescopes
European Southern Observatory

Please see the CLF Access Page for more information.