University of Sunderland

Policies and Procedures

All research applications for external funding must be agreed formally by the Faculty and University before they are submitted. To meet the funders' deadlines it is important to allow enough time to seek approval by both Faculty and University (provided by GRS). The respective Deans of Faculties should approve the grant application first before GRS authorisation. In order to ensure that proposals are of the highest possible quality, as part of this approval process they are internally reviewed against various criteria including:

• Is the academic content appropriate and rigorous
• Have all the costs be justified and correctly calculated
• Have any ethical issues been addressed
• Has a risk assessment been undertaken                                                            
• Have the guidelines of the funder been followed?
• Is the Faculty involved able to support the work in accordance with the award?
• Has the Faculty acknowledged the contribution that they are making to the project (for example any under recovery of cost)
• Is the University in a position to undertake the work in accordance with the terms and conditions of the funder

The University can compile accurate information on bids made, successful awards and income streams.

From 1st September 2005 all research councils and other government department bids need to be calculated on a full economic cost (fEC) basis. Research councils will fund 80% of fEC; government departments should fund 100% of fEC. The project financial appraisal & costing tool (pFACT) can be found at https://pfactpr.sunderland.ac.uk/Login.aspx

For assistance costing projects please contact:

Charlotte Emmerson, Research Development Officer

email: Charlotte.Emmerson@sunderland.ac.uk

tel:  0191 515 2681