Costs

Research Project Grants provide (a) salaries for research staff and (b) associated research costs.

(i) Salaries for research staff

At least 75% of the resources requested must be used to provide funding for research staff (research assistants; postgraduate students) who will work specifically on the project with the applicant, the award being payable directly to the institution at which the applicant is employed. Research assistants should have a research degree or equivalent research experience. The tuition fees and maintenance costs of a PhD studentship or studentships may be included provided they are set at the base rate for Research Council awards for UK students. Support for an overseas student is allowable, but requires explicit justification, addressing how their specific skills are to contribute to the project.

The Principal Investigator and co-applicants may apply for the costs of staffing replacement. To be eligible for these, applicants must be currently employed on a continuing basis by their eligible institution. A maximum of a total of one year’s staff replacement per grant over the course of a three year grant – and pro rata for grants of different lengths or for those with contracts less than full time – may be awarded. The replacement should not be someone currently studying for a research degree. The staff replacement should normally start at the most junior point of the lecturer scale of the institution concerned.

Awards are not made to cover the salary costs of the applicant, or those of the co-applicants.

(ii) Associated research costs

These can be included up to a maximum of 25% of the total budget. This percentage is a maximum and not a target. The following are examples of such eligible associated costs:

  • Technical, computing, clerical and secretarial staff costs or services.
  • Travel and subsistence costs directly related to the research activity. These can include conference attendance provided that such attendance can be shown to make a direct contribution to the research project.
  • Consumable costs.

Please ensure that applications do not include any of the ineligible costs listed here.

Applications for continuation of funding for an existing Leverhulme Research Project Grant, or continuation of funding for a research fellow currently active on an existing Leverhulme Research Project Grant will not normally be considered.