FSK-8005 Funding your research – why and how? - 3 stp

Funding your research is a course designed to provide PhDs and postdocs with basic skills in research proposal writing and an understanding of how proposals are evaluated. To continue in science after a PhD it is essential for researchers to master the challenge of securing funding for their research. This means that PhDs needs a good understanding of where to apply for funding and how to write research proposals, as well as to understand which criteria are used for the proposal evaluation. This course is designed by researchers that have a broad experience in proposal writing and will share their knowledge and experience with the course participants.  

The High North Academy’s philosophy is learning by doing, and to obtain the ECTS for this course PhD students need to work on their own ‘real’ proposal. To be allowed to participate in the course, participants are asked to submit a one-page draft of their research idea, which they want to develop into a research proposal. The course starts with three days of lectures and practical exercises, followed by a month where participants are asked to work on their own proposal draft. The second part of the course is reserved for the oral presentations of all proposals, where a panel of experts provide instant feedback on each proposal. Every course participant will be asked to be an opponent for one of their peers` proposals. This feedback should be used to improve the final proposal draft that is submitted as home exam at the end of the course. The exam forms a solid basis for a future, real proposal. 

PhD students at UiT register for classes and exam in StudentWeb before 1 September. The registration starts in middle of May.

Other applicants apply for admission through SøknadsWeb before 1 June. Application code: 9301. Applicants who are granted a seat, needs to register for classes and exam in StudentWeb before 1 September.

The study right gives the applicant admission to register to other open PhD courses or apply for a seat to PhD courses where entry is limited.

Application code: 9301

This course is aimed at PhD candidates from all scientific disciplines, but is open for postdoc fellows if seats are available. If PhD candidates aim to include the credits from the course in your 30 mandatory PhD ECTS you should discuss it with your supervisor. 

PhD students from UiT and other universities in Norway may be admitted to the course. PhD students not registered at UiT must upload a document from their university, stating that there are registered PhD students. This group of applicants does not have to prove English proficiency and are exempt from semester fee. 

Maximum 20 participants. 

If more than 20 applicants, priority will be given as follows:  

• Participants admitted to the PhD programme at UiT that are in the 3. -  4.year of their PhD project 
• Participants admitted to the PhD programme at UiT that that are in the 1. - 2. year of their PhD project  
• Participants in the Associate Professor programme (Førstelektorprogrammet) 
• PhD candidates from other universities  
• People with a minimum of a Master´s degree (or equivalent), who have not been admitted to a PhD programme. Holders of a Master´s degree must upload a Master´s Diploma with Diploma Supplement / English translation of the diploma and must document proficiency in English.  A detailed list of various criteria to qualify for English language proficiency can be found here: English proficiency 

Proficiency in English must be documented - list of countrieshttps://uit.no/Content/254419/PhD_EnglishProficiency_100913.pdf

Proficiency in English - PhD level studies

Please contact Ingjerd Gauslaa Nilsen at the BFE-faculty if you have troubles or questions regarding registration to the course.  

The course will be cancelled if less than 10 participants. 

Knowledge: 

• about the research proposal evaluation process 
• know the major sources for research grants  
• know the different types of research applications (e.g. open calls, targeted calls) 
• know the scientific requirements needed from the applicant and the application 
• know the administrative requirements 
• know how much time is required for writing a proposal & common pitfalls 
• know about funder requirements on open access to the research data and publications, and how to comply with those  

Skills: 

• how to interpret and answer an application call 
• how to formulate a research proposal 
• how to optimize a CV 
• how to set up a budget 
• how to make a data management plan 

General competence: 

• proposal writing skills 
• provide and receive constructive feedback in a group 
• understand the ethics and science philosophy behind open science, and why open science is becoming a requirement in research proposals 

Home exam: final proposal draft (including preliminary budget). Grade: Pass/Fail.

Coursework requirement: 

• Required pre-assignment: submission of a proposal draft (one A4 page) 10 days in advance of the course lectures. The proposal draft should outlines the student`s research project and identify the targeted funding source 
• Minimum 80% participation on lectures and seminars, active participation in the group work 

Re-sit exam: There will not be arranged a re-sit exam for this course.