Leverhulme Trust

News (March 2012): Please note that from midday on 15 March 2012 institutional approval will be required as part of the Outline Application process for the following schemes:

  • Research Project Grants
  • International Networks
  • Artists in Residence

This brings the application procedure into line with other Leverhulme schemes.

Any applications in pre-submission status will, from that date, have an additional section (entitled 'Signatories') appear. The institutional approval process will be identical to that for detailed applications for these schemes, i.e. applicants are required to notify the Institutional Approver that the application is in progress, and upon submitting the application an email will be generated requesting final Institutional Approval. If the Institutional Approver does not agree with the content of the application it can be rejected so that the applicant can make any necessary changes.

Only when final Institutional Approval is provided will the application be submitted to the Leverhulme Trust.

There are no other changes to the application process. Outline Applications can still be submitted at any time and typically take 12 weeks to be assessed.

Background information on the Leverhulme Trust

Areas supported Research funding to support research and education across all academic disciplines
Leverhulme Trust Study Tour Report Mar 2010 (86kb)
Types of funding
Research projects, fellowships, studentships, bursaries and prizes.
Funding Guide Guide for Applicants
Leverhulme Trust funding opportunities On the Leverhulme Trust website
On ResearchProfessional.com. You will need to log in or click on Campus Access to view these.
Leverhulme Trust Research Income at Oxford 2010/11: Oxford received £3.0M (22nd largest research funder of the University)
Applications and Award Activity at Oxford 2010/11: 169 applications submitted to the value of £24.9M. 53 new awards accepted worth £6.2M, including financial amendments to existing awards (University financial year Aug-Jul)
Success Rates
 The success rates for responsive grants within any given year are difficult to present simply because of the nature of the reviewing system used by the Leverhulme Trust.

Back to top

Preparing your application

  • It is essential that you refer to the Trust's Guide for Applicants and any specific guidance issued by the Leverhulme Trust with the funding call or opportunity. Contact the Leverhulme Trust directly for further guidance.

  • If you are thinking of putting together a grant application, please get in touch with your Departmental Administrator, Research Officer or Research Facilitator as soon as possible (and at the very latest four weeks before the deadline), so that they can provide advice and assistance with the preparation of your proposal. The sooner you get in touch, the more they will be able to help.

  • Leverhulme Research Project Grants have two stages: an outline stage and a full application stage. The guidelines for full applications are sent direct to Principal Investigators (PIs) if an outline application is successful.

Further Information

Back to top

Using the electronic application system

  • Applications for a selected number of schemes must be prepared and submitted via the Trust's online application system.

  • The navigation notes which explain how to use the online system are particular to each scheme and are available when you log in to the online application system.

Further Information

Back to top

Preparing a Case for Support

  • This is the part of the application where you will describe your proposed project and why you should be funded to carry it out.

  • Ensure that your case is well-structured and addresses the issues or questions raised by the Leverhulme Trust in the call.

  • Familiarise yourself with the assessment criteria that will be used - and the weighting given to each.

  • When writing your proposal be aware of who will ultimately be reading and assessing it. This will not just be subject experts but also generalists sitting on review panels, as well as (in some cases) research users.

  • Use the advice and expertise of colleagues, especially those who have had successful proposals with the Leverhulme Trust - it can be helpful to ask colleagues who are both expert and non-expert in your field to read and comment on your application.

  • As with all aspects of your application, don't overlook 'minor details'. The wrong font size or exceeding page limits will result in your application being returned by the funder - and sometimes not considered at all.

Back to top

Ethics

Further Information

Back to top

Costing and Budgeting

  • Your Departmental Administrator, Research Officer or Research Facilitator will assist you to identify the costs of your project and also prepare a Resolve costing. Please contact them as soon as you are thinking about applying and at the very latest four weeks before the deadline. The Resolve costing will provide the financial information that you must include in the Je-S forms and, since this is the form that indicates Departmental approval of the costs of a project, it has to be provided to Research Services before the application can be approved and submitted by the University to the funder.

  • Funding from the Leverhulme Trust constitutes eligible income for the purpose of HEFCE's Charity Support Funding.

  • Leverhulme will only pay the Directly Incurred costs on a research project. They will not pay any Directly Allocated costs or Indirect costs.

  • Research Project Grants application forms are now electronic and have two stages: an outline stage and a full application stage. It is important that a Resolve Costing is produced for each stage, and that the application goes through Research Services for checking and approval, as the budget should not increase between the two stages. Leverhulme will however allow for minor adjustments to cater for salary scale updates.

  • Leverhulme will meet national pay awards for research staff and therefore the cost of living allowance should not be included for these posts when completing the salary part of the budget on the application. However, the cost of living allowance needs to be included for non-research posts (e.g. clerical, computer staff).

Further Information for researchers

Departmental administrators see guidance on Resolve costings

Back to top

Justification of Resources

  • All applications must include a completed section setting out the justification for the resources requested. This is an opportunity to explain in words why you require the resources detailed in your budget.

  • Note that this is not justifying the costs (money) sought, rather the resources required to undertake the project, such as equipment or number of staff but also the level (seniority) of proposed staff and the proportion of their time they will dedicate to the project.

Back to top

I'm ready to submit my application - what should I do now?

  • Firstly check that your application is complete and includes all the information required by the Leverhulme Trust.

  • Research Project Grants application forms are now electronic and have two stages: an outline stage and a full application stage. It is important that a Resolve Costing (OG) is produced for each stage, and that the application goes through Research Services for checking and approval, as the budget should not increase between the two stages. Leverhulme will however allow for minor adjustments to cater for salary scale updates.

  • For electronic applications press 'Notify' under 'Institutional Approver' and if mandatory fields are complete the 'Submit' button will appear.

Further Information

Back to top

The application has been submitted - what next?

  • Do let your Departmental Administrator know the outcome of your application. Where it is to be funded they will liaise with you and Research Services regarding the acceptance of the award.

Back to top

Managing your award

    • See Managing awards for the process at Oxford for accepting and managing awards.

    • All claims, invoices and financial statements to funders must go out from Research Accounts, never directly from Departments.

    • The Trust's grant terms and conditions can be found on their Terms and Conditions pages.

    • Details about interim and final reports can be found on the Trust's Report Instructions pages.

    • Publications arising from research funded by the Trust should include an acknowledgement of Trust support as set out in the Trust's Terms and Conditions pages.

    Back to top

    Documents

    Related links

    Find out more