UKRI

EPSRC programme grant outline stage

The questions, word limits and assessment criteria below are the funder’s own, taken from the published competition material. You still submit through their service; this is where the writing happens first.

4 questions, straight from the funder

Their word limits are on every box, counted live as you type, and what the assessor is told to look for sits beside it. All of that is free. The pre-sift check — every mechanical rule that rejects a proposal before anyone reads it, run over what you have written — comes with the pass.

Application questions

Q1 Summary

0 / 550 words

In plain English, provide a summary we can use to identify the most suitable experts to assess your application. We usually make this summary publicly available on external-facing websites, therefore do not include any confidential or sensitive information. Make it suitable for a variety of readers, for example: opinion-formers policymakers the public the wider research community

Q2 Strategic vision and fit to programme grant scheme

Create a document that includes your responses to all criteria. The document should not be more than five sides of A4, single spaced in paper in 11-point Arial (or equivalent sans serif font) with margins of at least 2cm. You may include images, graphs, tables. References may be included but should not exceed one page of your document. You can have an additional page for a diagrammatic workplan. For the file name, use the unique Funding Service number the system gives you when you create an application, followed by the words Strategic vision and fit to programme grant scheme Save this document

What the assessor looks for

  • fits within EPSRC’s strategic priorities and the wider research landscape
  • enables a unique contribution to the research field that is timely to the research landscape
  • underpins EPSRC research areas and strategic priorities
  • the programme grant scheme is the most appropriate route for the proposed research
  • there is clear use of inter-linked projects that require a programme of connected research activities
  • there is a clear structure in place to take advantage of the flexibility provided by a programme grant
  • there is a clear management and advisory structure, and the project has the right balance of skills and expertise to cover the proposed work

A filled dot only means your answer mentions that ground. It is not a judgement of how well.

Q3 Outline costs

0 / 500 words

What are the expected costs of the proposed work?

What the assessor looks for

  • provide the approximate total values in GBP (£) for the expected directly incurred, directly allocated, indirect costs and exceptions
  • view the guidance on the costs you can apply for

A filled dot only means your answer mentions that ground. It is not a judgement of how well.

Q4 Facilities

0 / 250 words

Does your proposed research require the support and use of a facility?

What the assessor looks for

  • name of facility, copied and pasted from the facility information list (DOCX, 35KB)
  • proposed usage or costs, or costs per unit where indicated on the facility information list
  • confirmation you have their agreement where required

A filled dot only means your answer mentions that ground. It is not a judgement of how well.

Saves as you type