NIH Grant Deadline Calculator

Pick your activity code and submission type to see your next NIH standard due date and a live countdown. R01, R21, R03, R33, R34, R36, and R15 (AREA) covered.

Activity code Submission type

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Never miss your next NIH cycle

NIH due dates repeat on a fixed three-cycle schedule. Get an email reminder before your next R01, R21, or R15 deadline so a strong application never misses the window.

How these dates are set. These are NIH standard due dates, which repeat every cycle: R01 falls on the 5th, R21 (and R03/R33/R34/R36) on the 16th, and R15 on the 25th of the standard months. New applications use the February / June / October cycle; renewals, resubmissions, and revisions shift one month later to March / July / November (R15 uses the same dates for every type). Always confirm against the specific funding opportunity, because many RFAs and PARs set their own special due dates that override the standard schedule, and if a date lands on a weekend or federal holiday the deadline rolls to the next business day. NIH retired dedicated AIDS due dates as of May 25, 2026; AIDS applications now use these standard dates. Standard schedule verified against the NIH Standard Due Dates table on June 9, 2026.

R01 Guide

NIH R01 Research Project Grant: full breakdown

R21 Guide

NIH R21 Exploratory Grant: eligibility & deadlines

R15 Guide

NIH R15 AREA Grant for undergraduate institutions

Free Tool

Grant Finder: match grants you qualify for

NIH standard due dates at a glance (2026)

Most NIH research grant applications follow a fixed three-cycle calendar that repeats every year. The exact day depends on the activity code, and renewals, resubmissions, and revisions are always due one month after new applications. The table below is the standard schedule; specific funding opportunities (RFAs and PARs) can set their own special dates that override it, so always check the opportunity you are applying to.

Activity code	New (A0)	Renewal / Resubmission / Revision
R01	Feb 5, Jun 5, Oct 5	Mar 5, Jul 5, Nov 5
R21, R03, R33, R34, R36	Feb 16, Jun 16, Oct 16	Mar 16, Jul 16, Nov 16
R15 (AREA)	Feb 25, Jun 25, Oct 25	Feb 25, Jun 25, Oct 25

Source: NIH Standard Due Dates by Activity Code, grants.nih.gov, verified June 9, 2026. AIDS and HIV-related applications no longer have dedicated due dates as of May 25, 2026 and use the standard dates above.

Frequently asked questions

When is the next NIH R01 deadline?

New R01 applications are due February 5, June 5, and October 5 each year. Renewals, resubmissions, and revisions are due one month later: March 5, July 5, and November 5. Use the calculator above to see the exact next date and a countdown from today.

Are R21 deadlines different from R01?

Yes. R21 (and R03, R33, R34, R36) applications are due on the 16th of the standard months rather than the 5th: February 16, June 16, and October 16 for new applications, and March 16, July 16, November 16 for renewals and resubmissions. The cycle months are the same as R01; only the day differs.

What happens if a due date falls on a weekend or holiday?

When a standard due date lands on a weekend or a federal holiday, the deadline automatically moves to the next business day. Even so, NIH advises submitting early because the eRA Commons and Grants.gov systems can be slow near deadlines, and you want time to correct any errors flagged on submission.

Do special funding opportunities use these dates?

Not always. Requests for Applications (RFAs) and many Program Announcements with special receipt dates (PARs) set their own deadlines that override the standard schedule. This calculator gives the standard dates for unsolicited and Parent-announcement applications; always confirm the exact date on the specific funding opportunity you are applying to.