Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

It is the experience of the Trust that when applicants are putting together an application they often contact staff with questions. In response to these enquiries we have assembled a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), together with appropriate answers, and these are given below. It is recommended that applicants read these FAQs before completing an application and that they pay particular attention to these when constructing the budget for their application.

Not all the FAQs are relevant to every scheme we run. To ensure you are reading the right information for the scheme you are interested in, the initials of the relevant scheme are in the brackets which follow the question. The initials are:

Research Grants - RG
Fellowships (excluding Major Research Fellowships) - F
Major Research Fellowships - MRF
Philip Leverhulme Prize - PLP
Fine and performing arts - FPA
Academic Collaboration - AC

Budget-related Questions: salary costs

Can I include estimates for future pay awards? (RG, F, MRF)
Inflationary increases should not be shown in the budget. The Trust will endeavour to cover these increases over the period of the grant. Your finance office should include inflation in the end of year statement of expenditure.

Should studentship fees/maintenance come under Salaries (Part A) or Associated costs (Part B) of the Budget Form?(RG)
Under salaries (Part A) and be based on the Research Council rates. Explicit justification is required for an overseas student.

How do I calculate the cost of replacement teaching?(RG)
Applicants can apply for a maximum of one year's staffing replacement over the course of a three year grant and pro rata for shorter or longer grants. The replacement should not be someone currently studying for a research degree. N.B. This does not apply to Research Fellowships

Does the Trust pay for maternity, paternity or adoptive leave allowance? (RG, F, MRF, AC)
Yes, the Trust will pay the statutory maternity, paternity or adoptive leave allowance.

Will the Trust pay redundancy? (RG, AC)
Yes, for researchers working on a fixed term contract for 2 years or more the Trust will pay the statutory redundancy payment. However, redundancy payment will not apply if the researcher is offered a new post with the same employer. This should not be built into the budget, but agreed with the Trust at the end of the grant.

Does the Trust pay for sick leave?(RG, F, MRF, AC, PLP, FPA)
No.

Can I receive a salary for work on a project if I receive a pension?(RG, AC)
Yes.

Can I increase the budget of my application on moving from the Outline Application stage to the Detailed Application stage?(RG, F, AC, FPA)
Minor adjustments to cater only for salary scale increases are permitted.

Budget-related Questions : associated costs/research expenses

What can be included under equipment, including computers?(RG, F, AC, FPA)
Items of equipment costing £1000 and under are allowable provided that explicit justification is given for each item.

For overseas field work, can I purchase a vehicle, where this is cheaper than hire costs?(RG, F, AC)
Yes, but the vehicle must be sold at the end of the award and the funds returned to the Trust.

Should inflationary increases be built into the costs for clerical, secretarial, technical and computing staff or services in Part B of the budget?(RG, F, AC)
Yes.

Will the Trust pay publication costs?(RG, F, MRF, AC)
Costs associated with the preparation of results for publication are allowable.

Non-financial Questions

What is the Trust’s definition of an independent referee?(RG, F, MRF, AC, FPA)
A referee may not come from the same institution as that of any of the applicants and each referee should come from a different institution. Neither should be connected with the proposed project in any way.

Can a referee be based in an overseas institution?(RG, F, MRF, AC, PLP, FPA)
Yes.

Can I employ a researcher who does not have a PhD.?(RG)
Yes. However, if the person you have identified is completing a PhD please ensure his or her thesis has been submitted before starting work on the project. Anyone currently registered for PhD studies would only be eligible for fees and maintenance, not for a salary.

If I cannot start work on the project on the date given in my application, would the Trust agree to a delayed start date?(RG, F, AC, FPA)
Yes. However, consideration must be given to the extent of the delay, since a period of over six months will incur increased salary costs.

Can I employ several researchers all working part-time on the project?(RG)
Yes. But one must be working at least 50% of the time, and you will need to show the percentage for any who are not working 100% of the time on the project.