FAQs

Research and Consultancy Funding

Q: My bid is only worth £250, do I still need approval? 

A: Yes, it is important to get approval before any bid is submitted. Please inform the Research Funding Office of your Intention to Submit a Bid and they can guide you through the approvals process.

Q: How do I get my project costed? 

A: Please refer to the 'Costing your project' pages, which are part of the Research Funding Office site.

Q: How do I let you know about a consultancy bid? 

A: Please inform the Research Funding Office of your Intention to Submit a Bid. They can help cost your bid (including the added VAT) and can guide you through the approvals process. Please see our Consultancy page for more information.

Q: Do I need ethical approval before I submit? 

A: Ethical approval is usually sought after you have been awarded the grant. The main exceptions are submissions to the NIHR, which always require ethical approval before submission. Please contact the Research Funding Office who can advise you further.

Q: How do I begin an application?

A: Please inform the Research Funding Office of your Intention to Submit a Bid and they will be in touch.

Q: How do I know if a project is classed as research or consultancy? 

A: Please contact the Research Funding Office who can advise you. You also might like to visit the Consultancy pages. If you have any other queries, please contact the Research Funding Office.

Q: My bid is only an outline bid, do I still need approval? 

A: Yes, it is important to get approval before any bid is submitted. Please inform the Research Funding Office of your Intention to Submit a Bid and they can guide you through the approvals process.

Q: Who should my initial point of contact be for my research proposal?

A: Please talk to your line manager and inform the Research Funding Office.

Q: Where can I find out about research opportunities?

A: The University has a subscription to Research Professional which is free to all staff. This enables you to search through a database of research funding opportunities. Please contact the Research Funding Office if you do not have an account. They are also happy to help find funding opportunities.

Q: What is Research?

A: Research, as defined by HEFCE, is:

"original investigation undertaken in order to gain knowledge and understanding. It includes work of direct relevance to the needs of commerce, industry, and to the public and voluntary sectors; scholarship [*]; the invention and generation of ideas, images, performances, artefacts including design, where these lead to new or substantially improved insights; and the use of existing knowledge in experimental development to produce new or substantially improved materials, devices, products and processes, including design and construction. It excludes routine testing and routine analysis of materials, components and processes such as for the maintenance of national standards, as distinct from the development of new analytical techniques. It also excludes the development of teaching materials that do not embody original research.
[*] scholarship for the RAE is defined as the creation, development and maintenance of the intellectual infrastructure of subjects and disciplines, in forms such as dictionaries, scholarly editions, catalogues and contributions to major research databases.

Q: What is Full Economic Costing (fEC)?

A: Full Economic Costing is an approach to costing research projects that was introduced across the entire Higher Education (HE) sector from 2005.

fEC is calculated on a transparent basis using an extension of the TRAC methodology. Using this methodology costs are normally divided into 4 main types: Directly Incurred Costs, Directly Allocated Costs, Estates Costs and Indirect Costs. More information is available here.

Q: I work in a non-academic department, do I still need to go through the approvals processes?

A: Yes, you do. All bids for research and consultancy funding need to go through the approvals process. Please inform the Research Funding Office by filling out theironline form and they will guide you through the process.

Q: I have just moved to the university and would like to bring a grant with me. Who do I contact?

A: Please contact the Research Funding Office who would be happy to advise.

Q: I've been approached by a researcher who would like to visit. Who do I contact for information?

A: In the first instance, please contact the Research Funding Office. Further information can be found on the Visiting Researcher pages.

Q: I'm interested in doing a PhD, who do I contact?

A: Please contact the Research School who would be happy to advise.

Q: Do I need to have my bid peer reviewed?

A: The University operates a Peer Review Process which require all bids with values over £50,000 (fEC) and/or to one of the following funders to be reviewed prior to submission:

  1. UK Research Councils
  2. National Institute of Health Research
  3. Department of Health
  4. NHS
  5. Strategic Health Authority
  6. British Academy
  7. Royal Society
  8. Leverhulme Trust
  9. Wellcome Trust
  10. Joseph Rowntree Foundation
  11. Nuffield Foundation
  12. Medical Research Charities
  13. European Commission
For more information please see the Peer Review pages.

Research Degrees

Q: Where are your PhDs advertised?

A: PhD studentships are advertised here.

Q: I am interested in applying for a PhD, where can I find guidance?

A: The Research School pages are full information and guidance on postgraduate degrees. If you have any specific questions, please email the Research School.

Q: I am interested in applying for a Professional Doctorate, where can I find guidance?

A: The Research School pages are full information and guidance on postgraduate degrees. If you have any specific questions, please email Karen Akin, the Professional Doctorate administrator.

Post-Award guidance

Q: My bid was successful, who do I contact? 

A: Please contact Louise Heath, our Post-Award Officer. She will guide you through the Post-Award process, including contracts, Intellectual Property, and Finance Codes.

Q: My bid was successful, when can I start spending?

A: Please contact  Louise Heath, our Post-Award Officer, and she will process the contracts and advise you on the Post-Award process.

Q: Where can I get advice about contracts?

A: Our Post-Award Officer, Louise Heath, will guide you through all aspects of your contract, including Intellectual Property clauses, liability and other aspects of the Post-Award process. 

Researcher Development

Q: Which workshops and training events are available?

A: You can browse workshops and training events here, and book a place.