University Research Fund

This fund is temporarily closed.

The University Research Fund provides selective support for non-recurrent research activity which is considered to be of strategic importance to the University’s overall research profile. The Fund is looking to support projects that either:

  • Are clearly aimed at securing additional external grant funding. Applications should clearly identify the source of potential external funding
  • Are in line with the strategic priorities of major external funding agencies, such as UKRI, the individual Research Councils or Innovate UK
  • Or, are essential for outputs intended for the next REF and which would be demonstrably stronger through an award

The URF is concerned to support research which initially might not attract external funding, but which could reasonably lead to external support. All applicants will be asked whether they have applied (or could have applied) for external funding. Grants will not normally be given for services or equipment facilities that may be better funded by Departments or Faculties, or for projects for which external agencies could reasonably be approached (though supplementary support may be considered).

Projects must be ‘stand-alone’ i.e. must not be designed to supplement other external funding or reliant on the outcomes of other concurrent projects.

NOTE: Internal funds for Impact are available separately.

Eligibility

Support from the University Research Fund is restricted to academic staff who are members of academic departments, whose posts are not funded by external contracts and who are REF eligible through AU.  Staff who are in the process of moving to a  Teaching and Research Contract who have the support of their Head of Department and their Faculty Pro-Vice Chancellor to apply to the URF may also be eligible.

We particularly encourage applications from individuals who feel their research has been impacted negatively by the Covid-19 pandemic.  Please use ‘section 5: Other information’ of the application form to provide more detail on how a URF award will positively impact your research portfolio’.

 

Awards

A maximum of £10,000 is available per award. This is an upper limit and not a target. The panel are keen to see value for money in applications and that requests for resources are well justified. Proposals should be minimum of 1 month up to a maximum of 12 months in duration. All projects should be started and completed within the academic year, i.e. have an earliest start date of the 1st of August, and be completed by the 31st of July at the latest. (Therefore, if you are planning a 12-month project it must start on the 1st of August).

There is no potential to "roll-over" finance from one financial year to another, so in your project planning you must make sure that your project can be completed (including processing of all expenditure) by the 31st of July at the very latest. If in doubt and there is a risk of slippage from the outset, then please plan a shorter-term project so this can be accommodated within the financial year.

Eligible Costs

Direct costs of research only, e.g. travel and subsistence, consumables, limited research assistance, teaching replacement and other justifiable directly incurred costs.

The fund will not support Open Access costs, estates, indirect costs, or directly allocated costs (e.g. staff time). If PhD students are to be employed as Research Assistants on the project, they must be undertaking a PhD at Aberystwyth University.

If research assistance or teaching replacement is required, then due to the time restrictions on the funding it is expected that this would be only short term in nature (e.g. up to 3 months). Normal HR recruitment procedures apply. See Aber Works for employing students.

Next deadline

Applications open W/C 6th March 2023 and will close at 4pm on 1st June 2023.

How to Apply

Applications should be made by emailing a completed form to drbi@aber.ac.uk by the deadline along with a completed FEC form, and a subject title 'URF'. Applicants must have the approval from their Head(s) of Department(s), indicated by the Head of Department signature on the application form. Please download the Ffurflen Cais URF Application Form 2022-23  and save as (your name URF).

FEC Guidance:

  • For Sponsor use "Charities"
  • Include Applicant and Co-applicant time commitment under "Directly Allocated Staff"

Full Economic Costing Schedule: Research, Business & Innovation, Aberystwyth University

Please contact your RDO for support with your application and FEC form well in advance of the deadline.

For further information or queries about the URF contact rdostaff@aber.ac.uk

Final Report

Award holders will be required to submit a final report within 3 months of the project end for consideration by Research Committee

URF Final Report Form