The cover page should be written on University letterhead, setting out the name of the granting body and scheme to which the submission is to be made, the name of the applicant and his/her appointment, the applicant's department and the title of the project for which funding is sought.
Application
It is advisable to present information in short, well-spaced paragraphs. If the granting body has requested brief non-technical language, this advice should be followed. A completed submission should not be more than two to five typed pages, although additional attachments may be required.
The application should contain information organised under the following headings:
Summary
The summary of the submission should be concise, clear and intelligible to an intelligent lay person and should include the following:
purpose of the submission;
amount requested; and
time period i.e. dates for commencement and expected completion of the proposed project.
Note: As the summary sets the tone of the application it is often useful to write the summary after completing the rest of the application. Remember this is the reviewer's first contact with your proposal. Avoid jargon.
Background
This should be a brief statement explaining the work of the project.
Start with the general area and narrow it down to focus on specific project.
Include literature review.
Repeat the aim of the study.
Explain the problem (including lack, knowledge gaps).
Give reasons for undertaking this particular research.
Indicate the significance of the project to institution, society or community.
Avoid overkill and hyperbole.
Indicate that the study will fill gaps in knowledge, meet community need, and enable important steps to be taken.
Indicate why you or your team is well placed to undertake this project.
Objectives
This section should refer to the significance of the project, highlighting the importance to the community of the anticipated outcomes, particularly if this is an important criterion for the granting body. This section should briefly explain the project's aims in non-technical terms. It is advisable to use brief paragraphs rather than a long single-page format.
Do not confuse objectives and procedures.
Do not confuse objectives and problem (already explained in background).
Methods
This section should outline the methods by which the work will be undertaken. This should include information about:
activities to be undertaken;
detailed and realistic time lines for the activities;
your proposed methodology, if appropriate and space permits;
the qualitative and quantitative approach you propose to take;
number and qualifications of workers required to undertake the work;
how data will be generated, gathered and analysed;
justification of sample sizes, sample design, survey forms, etc.
Budget
It is important to be realistic about the total amount required, and it is essential that amounts requested are in the normal range of grants offered by the granting body. It is not sufficient to state that a full-time research assistant is required, without highlighting the skills and responsibilities such an appointee would bring to the project.
If only seeking part funding make this quite clear and indicate the other sources of funding. Foundations are reassured by the fact that other grantors have considered the project worth funding.
A detailed budget should include:
a clear statement of all anticipated income;
an outline of support and finances to be provided by the applicant;
the trusts, foundations and granting bodies from which funding is sought;
a clear statement of total cost, broken down into salaries, equipment, travel and maintenance and other costs.
Salary scales should be referred to when applying for support staff and research assistance through a number of research grant schemes. Please refer to the Salary Scales (xls 150kb)
Outcomes and Communication of Results
Outline the procedures by which progress will be monitored and outcomes will be measured. Indicate how the results will be used and disseminated.
