EPSRC standard grants

Application procedure

Notice of intent: If you have identified a call for proposals to which you wish to respond, contact research facilitation, indicating your intent to apply.

Application processing: Your application will be assigned to members of Research Facilitation, who will review your application and prepare institutional budgets.

Application submission portals: If your application is to be submitted online, provide Research Facilitation with access to your account or application.

Deadlines: A complete first draft of your application should be submitted to Research Facilitation at least four weeks prior to the external deadline.

Review process: Your application will be reviewed internally and you will be guided through the application process, which may take several weeks.

Departmental approval: The Head of Research Facilitation will provide departmental approval for completed applications; this is required prior to submission of applications to Research Services for institutional approval.

Institutional approval: Following receipt of departmental approval, completed applications are submitted to Research Services for institutional approval. Research Services require five working days to process applications for institutional approval, which is the last stage before applications are submitted to the funding body.

Standard grant funding applications

Many of the grant applications submitted through the Mathematical Institute occur within the EPSRC research base funding mode, which funds EPSRC standard grants. Below is given a framework for grant applications submitted to the EPSRC, which is largely representative of the research councils.

Applications for EPSRC standard grants can be submitted at any time in the year. The application process (from submission to decision) typically takes up to ten months. Once an approval has been issued, there is a delay before the grant may begin.

EPSRC standard grant applications can include funds for: postdoctoral researchers, travel and subsistence for conference attendance, meetings, and for any named visiting fellows, computing equipment and software. The EPSRC will not provide funds for items not specifically used by the project, and have recently not granted monies for printers and books.

Steps

• read and follow funder guidelines
• create an online account if you have not already done; all applications must be submitted via the online portal
• create and complete an online application
• you will be contacted with regard to budget items to be included in the grant application
• letters of support may only be provided by those listed as project partners in the application; each project partner must issue a letter of support
• letters of support must be addressed to the applicant, dated, signed, and prepared on headed paper
• collaborators from within the University of Oxford must provide written permission for their involvement from the relevant Head of Department (or authorised delegate, where applicable); those from elsewhere should write to confirm involvement on the terms set out in the application; email confirmation is acceptable in both cases

After the application is submitted

Application are checked by EPSRC to ensure conformity with guidelines, then sent to reviewers, at least one of whom is recommended by the applicant. Reviewers assess proposals, commenting on the substantive content as well as on timeliness, impact, management, resources and dissemination plans. Reviewer reports are returned to applicants, who are invited to submit a response. Proposals with poor reports are denied funding at this stage; other proposals are assigned to a review panel. At the meeting of the review panel, proposals are discussed and ranked. EPSRC fund from the top of the ranked list to a cut-off point determined by the available funds.