Support for researchers

Research Services assists with research grant applications and awards and provides research-related management information. Research Professional is the primary online research funding opportunities database for researchers at UWS. Researchers can also sign up for alerts and regularly check for new funding calls on the following funding finder portals:  

UK Research and Innovation Funding Finder 

Funding and Tenders Portal European Commission  

Innovate UK Innovation Competitions

Applications to external funders must be approved by a UWS School and peer review processes help refine applications. Research Services can help with costing and preparing a grant application. Funder visits to UWS and proposal preparation workshops are advertised regularly and they are an ideal opportunity to find out what funders are looking for in a great application.  

UWS is a member of both www.ukro.ac.uk and www.scotlandeuropa.com. Both organisations provide specialist funding application workshops, factsheets and one to one advice for researchers considering EU funding opportunities.  

At UWS we actively support our researchers in the development of their grant proposal writing skills. Our  Research Career Development page details the range of programmes and initiatives in place to support researchers to develop their potential to win research funding. 

We run a programme of events throughout the year to provide UWS researchers with the inside knowledge on how funders work and what makes a successful grant application. Forthcoming events are advertised by email and on the Research Services staff intranet site.

Grant Accelerator will relaunch in October 2021 with pathways for early career and mid-career researchers. This is our flagship grant proposal development programme.  The Grant Accelerator bite-size programme of funder visits continues throughout the year. Follow the UWS Ebulletin and Research Services on twitter @ResearchUWS to keep up to date with new announcements.  

UWS Academy offer The Postgraduate Certificate (PgCert) in Academic Practice, a professional qualification for those in a teaching and research role in higher education. It offers an optional module - Research in Academic Practice, which will also prepare early career researchers for writing grant proposals.  

UWS Crucible, largely based on the Scottish Crucible, is a programme for future research leaders. UWS Crucible 2020 inspired greater creativity and innovation via collaboration and cooperation amongst early career researchers at UWS. It offers the highest quality personal development experience for competitively selected participants. Recruitment for the next cohort will be announced early 2022.

At UWS, PFACT is the system available to help cost each research project application and it provides the correct costs required by the funder guidelines. Training and support materials are available on the staff intranet or contact researchservices@uws.ac.uk  

Following notification  of a successful grant application, Research Services will arrange acceptance on behalf of UWS. Research Services will then detail the budget and request a specific project code in our accounts system Agresso. If necessary, the Finance Research team will arrange a kick off meeting for the new project. 

Project leaders should read the contract terms and conditions carefully. They may include reporting guidelines, confidentially clauses and procedures for approving publication and sharing research data.  

Contact the team direct at financeresearch@uws.ac.uk for help with reporting post-award.