Applying for funding

This page looks first at identifying funding sources, then at writing a research proposal

Finding out who will fund you

As a member of research staff, the opportunities to apply for research funding in your own right can seem limited. However, they do exist and are well worth pursuing!

Note also that where you have made a significant contribution to an application and where funders' regulations allow, you should be entitled to have your name on a bid submitted by your research manager.

The well-known research funders are the research councils, government departments and agencies, learned societies and some of the big charitable trusts including the Wellcome Trust, Leverhulme Trust and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

These usually have specific funding streams, often with tightly defined eligibility criteria. However, some of them have:

• small grants schemes for new researchers, not yet established
• fellowship programmes open to early career researchers
• travel bursaries to fund travel to conferences, etc.

Funding is also available through private companies and smaller charitable organisations. Many universities also have their own schemes to pump-prime small-scale or new research.

Tips for identifying funding sources

• ResearchResearch (an online newspaper outlining research funding opportunities) is a good starting point. It is a subscription service, but many universities do subscribe. Ask your research development office
• Surf the research councils' web pages. They provide full details of their funding programmes and research that they are interested in funding
• Speak to colleagues to find out more about funding opportunities in your discipline
• Scan newspapers and subject-related magazines and journals regularly for one-off tendering opportunities
• Register with notification services and alerts relevant to your subject area.
• Talk to staff in your research development office.

Research Councils UK (RCUK) provides a list of links to the research council websites. RCUK also overviews the research areas funded by research councils and links through to research priorities for each research council.

Writing a research proposal

• Allow more time than you think is necessary and start as soon as possible. Build in plenty of time for the proposal to be ‘signed off' by your department and the university
• Focus your proposal carefully - locate your research firmly within the scope of your funders' interests or, if a tendering opportunity has been advertised, make sure that your proposal clearly delivers the research required
• Follow the application guidelines carefully, including required font size, layout, headings, submission process, etc.
• Write as clearly and succinctly as possible. Be especially clear about the research methodology you will use and how it will be implemented
• Ask colleagues to comment on drafts. Offer to do the same for them - you may learn something valuable from seeing how they approach it!
• Find out what support your institution offers - such as helping construct the budget or proofread your final document
• Find out about the ‘politics' of the funding process:
  • What is the success rate - you may want to be strategic about where you apply for funding
    
  • Who is on the awards committee or panel? - do they know anything about your subject?; do they have particular interests that you could link to in your proposal?
    
  • How does the scoring system work?
    
  • Will your proposal be peer-reviewed? - how does this process work?
  • Can you ask for feedback on your proposal?

• Remember that everyone, even eminent researchers, get rejections - try to pick yourself up and move on again quickly
• Finally, the more proposals that you write the more chance you have of being successful!