Developing a proposal

Developing a proposal or writing a research bid is a major commitment. As a researcher, you need to think through all the aspects of the project and how you will make your project idea a reality. Bidding for funding is a competitive process and it is crucial to submit a strong proposal or grant application the first time around.

We have put together some guidance on how to get you started along with tips on bid writing and useful resources.

Discuss your proposal

If you have never developed a proposal before or don’t feel confident in your project idea, reach out for advice. Draw up a brief outline of your idea (one side A4) and discuss with your colleagues, mentors and senior/more experienced researchers in your department and externally. Get in touch with the Research Support Officers – they can review your idea and let you know of potential funding and/or suitable collaborations with other researchers.

Submission deadlines – allow plenty of time

Allow plenty of time, developing a competitive proposal often takes longer than you initially think. Complex bids can take months to prepare and you will need to factor in writing, costing and getting internal approval for the proposal. For proposals over £20k, you will need to initiate the Peer Review Research Funding Process

Major funders require researchers to submit applications using their online submission system, this process can be time consuming and you will need to provide sufficient time for your Research Support Officer to review and submit the application online.

Research your funder and check the funder criteria

Each funder will have their own priorities, objectives and funding criteria. Once you’ve identified your funder, research the work they do and their funding calls and programmes. A good tip is to look at their past awarded projects to gauge if your project idea is the right fit.

Most funding calls come with guidance notes and it is important to read these thoroughly.

Guidelines – ensure you are aware of the call/programme specifications, application requirements and processes.
Eligibility criteria – check that the University, collaboration institutions/partners and all project investigators are eligible to apply.
Assessment criteria – check you meet all of the criteria before investing time and effort in developing the proposal.
Application process – check the funder’s application process and complete any pre-submission registration requirements.
Deadlines – develop a feasible timeline and be realistic about the time it can take to write and revise the proposal/grant application. Build in draft application deadlines and the time needed to obtain University approval for both the costings and the application.
Supplementary documents – some calls will require additional documents. These can include a justification of costings, data management plan, letters of support, CVs. Be sure to collate this information in advance of the deadline.

Proposal-writing team

The development of a competitive research proposal will involve a wide range of staff and departments. These can include:

the principal investigator and a team of co-investigators
faculty accountant
research support officer
peer reviewers
colleagues from other faculties
external partners, if multi-partner bid

A multi-disciplinary team will draw on their knowledge and expertise to produce a strong proposal. If you are an early career researcher, ensure to include an experienced researcher on the team who can mentor and support you. Convene a meeting to discuss the project idea, agree on roles and responsibilities especially who will co-ordinate the proposal (write it, take ownership and progress it to submission). Tips on a strong team: academic expertise, reputation and track record.

Writing the proposal

This can seem like a daunting task and if it is your first proposal, where do you start? To help with this process, we have compiled a bid writing guide to help you navigate the process along with tips on how to produce a competitive bid.

Research ethics

Ethical approval is required for research activities that directly involve humans, human tissue, data relating to humans and it is the responsibility of the principal investigator to decide whether ethical approval is required. The research ethics and integrity page provides details of the faculty ethics committee approval process.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

The University believes equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) is a critical aspect of a healthy research culture. As part of our internal approval process, you will need to consider if your research project involves EDI, any of the protected characteristics under the 2010 Equality Act and how to embed EDI into your research.

Research impact

Impact should form a core component of your proposal and you will need to demonstrate a mind-set in which research and impact are intertwined. Our research impact page offers guidance and support on how to achieve this.

Research dissemination

Effective dissemination is sharing the findings of your research with stakeholders and wider audiences. You need to understand your target audience, the key outcomes of the project and the impact you want your dissemination to have. Dissemination is crucial for the success of the project and the sustainability of outputs in the long term. In your proposal you will need to demonstrate this along with the approach you will take to disseminate your findings e.g. website, presentations, seminars, conferences, newsletters, social media and research papers.

Submission checklist

When putting together your proposal or grant application, there are many aspects to consider. To avoid missing important steps and having last minute panics, we’ve put together a handy Applying for Funding Checklist

This checklist will help you navigate institutional and funder requirements, ensuring you submit your proposal on time.

Useful resources

We are planning to create a bid writing toolkit that will contain useful resources, videos and more. In the meantime, please see the below links to resources provided by external sources.

UKRI top tips