Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions (FAQs) are also available on the websites of major funding bodies. On the ARC and NHMRC websites they are generally linked from 'Instructions to Applicants' in the page for each major scheme.
ARC Discovery-Projects
ARC website's Frequently Asked Questions - pathway ARC homepage > National Competitive Grants Program [pillar] > Discovery Projects [left] > Instructions to applicants [in main page] > Frequently Asked Questions [in main page, for each round]
How do I lodge my application with Research Capacity and Compliance?
Please refer to Australian Research Council (ARC) funding opportunities
Can I submit to Research Capacity and Compliance without the research grant application cover sheet or the certification proforma?
No, you are required to submit these two forms when submitting your final application to Research Capacity and Compliance for submission to the ARC. Please ensure that you clearly mark the original copy as original and the three other copies as copies (four copies in total are required).
Are scanned/faxed copies of the certification proforma acceptable?
Yes, as long as they are legible.
Is a Partner Investigator expected to make a financial contribution to the application?
Partner Investigators (PIs) are required under the funding rules to 'secure a significant contribution of cash, or in-kind or other resources from the researcher's organisation for the proposed project' (having regard to the total cost of the project and the relative contribution of other investigators). In the budget section (Part C1) and in the budget justification (C3) you will be required to detail the level and type of support provided by the PI such as cash, travel, lab and people's time.
Am I
eligible to apply for an APD? On my degree certificate it lists both the July 2003 date and May 2004 date.The date for PhD is when it is awarded (the official letter notification). It is not the graduation date which can often occur much later.
If I apply for an ARF/QEII and it is unsuccessful, can I remain on another grant without employment at a University? Or would I have to apply for an adjunct appointment?
Often fellowship candidates have to think about the future if not awarded a fellowship. B9.8 allows for the range of choices for fellows. If the person wants to stay on as a CI on the project he would tick B9.8a, but either have to secure paid employment, or obtain an adjunct appointment - so either way the person would need to meet the eligibility criteria. This would be dealt with as a post award matter later.
If the grant is successful and he/she is unsuccessful and asks to be removed as a CI from the grant so that they can be paid as a Research Associate, does this then affect the eligibility of the first CI, in that they have an ARCDP ending 31/12/2008? Would they have to have another CI on the grant?
If the fellowship candidate ticks B9.8b (to be removed so he can be paid from the grant), as a post award matter it becomes an eligibility issue only if the remaining 1st named CI exceeds the number of permissible grants (as a sole CI for example). There are people who only hold employment funding for 1-2 years that are CIs on DPs. If this time expires and employment is not found subsequently, the university will have to deal with this as a post award matter in the usual manner.
I was a CI on an application and asked to be removed from the grant if I didn't get a fellowship. I am now a Research Associate on the grant, do I list this grant in Section D1 of my proposed application?
The person should not list the project as previous research support as he/she has been removed from the project as a post award matter. If this is questioned by peer reviewers the ARC will have the correspondence to show that he/she was removed.
Can I request conference funding?
Yes you can ask for conference funding if it is directly related to the project you are working on e.g. to present a paper on your research. Place it under travel.
How many copies of the final application will I need to submit to Research Capacity and Compliance?
You will need to submit one original and three copies (four in total).
Who can have a RMS account?
Anyone who is a participant in an ARC scheme must have a RMS account (ID and password). This includes:
- Chief Investigators
- Partner Investigators
- ARC Fellowship applicants (eg APD/APDI, ARF/QEII, etc)
These participants will be listed in the proposal application.
In addition, non-participants can have a RMS account and be assigned 'allocate rights' (ie full ), 'edit' or 'view'-only access rights to the application. This could apply to, for example, research or administrative assistants who might need to access a proposal or add information to a draft application. These non-participants will not be listed in the application.
How do I obtain a GAMS or RMS ID?
The ARC has two web-based application systems for use by applicants and grant holders:
- Research Management System (RMS) is used:
- To submit a proposal in a scheme round opening from March 2009 onwards
- To submit a pre-submission eligibility issue in a scheme round opening from March 2009 onwards
- Grant Application Management System (GAMS) is used:
- To submit an assessment in a scheme round that has already closed - this includes Australian Laureate Fellowships 2009, Future Fellowships 2009 and Discovery Projects 2010
- To submit a final report.
Using the RMS
All RMS users must have an RMS User Account. Each account has a single RMS User ID and password. RMS Users must have a current email address and maintain their email address details in RMS. As a new user, you can apply online through RMS, however your User Account request will need to be validated by Research Capacity and Compliance, so please contact us prior to submitting your online request.
Outcomes of your User Account request will be emailed to you by the ARC. You or your IT support area may need to add rms@arc.gov.au to your list of trusted email addresses to prevent the emails being marked as spam.
Please note: If you had a GAMS user account prior to January 2009, your GAMS ID and profile have been copied to RMS. Your RMS User ID will be the same as your GAMS ID with all letters capitalised, and the password reset. Instructions below to change your password and update your details
More information - training resource and contacts in your local area
Using the GAMS
If you have previously been allocated access to GAMS, your User ID and password should still be current. If you require or have forgotten your GAMS ID and password, please contact Melissa.Alagich@unisa.edu.au
If you are a first time GAMS user and need some assistance getting started, please contact a Research Capacity and Compliance team member
Applicants are urged to read the GAMS information first before attempting to enter information in the GAMS. GAMS desktop support is also available.
ARC Linkage Projects
If you are considering applying for an ARC Linkage Project grant, contact a Research Capacity and Compliance Officer to discuss your proposal and have access to further information.
ARC website's Frequently Asked Questions - pathway ARC homepage > National Competitive Grants Program [pillar] > Linkage Projects [left] > Instructions to applicants [in main page] > Frequently Asked Questions [in main page, for each round]
What is an ARC Linkage Project grant?
ARC Linkage Projects supports research and development projects which are collaborative between higher education researchers and industry, which are undertaken to acquire new knowledge, and which involve risk or innovation.
What project costs are supported?
ARC Linkage Projects support:
- Personnel, including Research Associates, technicians, laboratory attendants etc
- Australian Postgraduate Awards Industry (APAI) for postgraduate research students studying towards a Masters or PhD award (see Appendix 3 of the Funding Rules available on the ARC website)
- Australian Postdoctoral Fellowships Industry (APDI) for researchers with less than three years' postdoctoral experience (See Appendix 4 of the Funding Rules)
- Linkage Industry Fellowships - support for costs associated with short-term transfers for Chief Investigators or some Partner Investigators between eligible higher education institutions and Industry, where in the opinion of the ARC, an outstanding case is made (See Section 5.3 of the Funding Rules)
- Teaching relief for Chief Investigators, but only where the request is justified to the satisfaction of the ARC (See Section 5.5 of the Funding Rules)
- Equipment
- Maintenance
- Travel.
Who can be an Partner Organisation on an ARC Linkage Project?
A Partner Organisation may be any organisation which is not funded for research purposes. A full explanation is available in Appendix 2 (Page 27-30) of the Funding Rules
How much funding is available and what is the duration of Linkage grants?
Projects can be for a minimum of $20,000 pa to a maximum of $500,000 pa with duration from 12 months to 5 years. Full details are available on Page 12 of the Funding Rules
How is the Partner Organisation involved in the application and project?
The Partner Organisation must match fund the request you make of the ARC, which is made up of 20% Cash and 80% in-kind contribution. For example, if you request $100,000 from the ARC per annum, the industry partner must contribute a minimum of $20,000 cash and $80,000 in-kind. However, there are variation to this rule, please refer to the Funding Rules (Appendix 2)
The Partner Organisation is expected to be committed to the project for the duration of the grant. The applicant(s) determine, in collaboration with the partner organisation(s) which type of resources are appropriated and necessary for the project they wish to undertake. The contribution from partner organisations must be specific to the project and must not be part of a broader contribution to the institution. Guidelines for partner organisations and prospective applications about the eligibility of partner organisations is set out in Appendix 2 of the Funding Rules, together with information about an application, contributions and tax incentives.
What sorts of support constitute 'in-kind' contributions?
- Access to unique databases
- Analytical and other services
- Equipment
- Materials
- Patents and licences
- Salaries of industry partner staff
- Contribution of software
- Travel
- Use of facilities.
What are the expenditures which the Linkage funds can not be used for?
- Costs of capital works and general infrastructure
- Salaries of Chief Investigators and Partner Investigators
- Special Studies Programs
- Research support for investigators not resident in Australia
- International students' fees and HECS liability
- Computer facilities for molecular analysis
- Basic facilities
- Publication costs.
What funding is associated with the Australian Post graduate Award (Industry) - APAI?
The Commonwealth provides a stipend (living allowance of $23,556 pa) to a graduate who is studying for a Masters or PhD full time. Projects focus on a subject that is of importance to Industry. Please refer to the Funding rules for further information.
What funding is associated with the Australian Post-doctoral Award (Industry) - APDI?
The Commonwealth provides match funding for a Research Fellow salary. The Collaborative project focuses on a subject that is of importance to the partner organisation.
What funding is associated with the Linkage Industry Fellowships - LIF?
The Commonwealth provides support for costs involved in a temporary transfer from an eligible higher education institutions to an Industry Partner, or vice versa. For a single period of between 3 and 12 months during the life of the proposed project, up to a maximum of $100,000.
What are the benefits to the Partner Organisation?
- 50% Commonwealth funding
- inexpensive method of funding full time post graduate researcher on a project of direct benefit to industry
- demonstration of company involvement in formal, independent and state-of-art Research and Development
- access to leading research expertise and knowledge
- project can be carried out in University laboratories, equipment and facilities
- eligible for R&D tax concessions
- may be utilised as staff development opportunity for a company staff involved in project research
- provision of incentive to promising graduates to work with Queensland companies rather than take employment overseas following graduation
- method of funding R&D that is further from market, or testing of 'ideas' or independent development and validation of delivery models / mechanisms.
How many copies of the final application will I need to submit to Research Capacity and Compliance?
You will need to submit one original and three copies (four in total).
Who can have a RMS account?
Anyone who is a participant in an ARC scheme must have a RMS account (ID and password). This includes:
- Chief Investigators
- Partner Investigators
- ARC Fellowship applicants (eg APD/APDI, ARF/QEII, etc)
These participants will be listed in the proposal application.
In addition, non-participants can have a RMS account and be assigned 'allocate rights' (ie full ), 'edit' or 'view'-only access rights to the application. This could apply to, for example, research or administrative assistants who might need to access a proposal or add information to a draft application. These non-participants will not be listed in the application.
How do I obtain a GAMS or RMS ID?
The ARC has two web-based application systems for use by applicants and grant holders:
- Research Management System (RMS) is used:
- To submit a proposal in a scheme round opening from March 2009 onwards
- To submit a pre-submission eligibility issue in a scheme round opening from March 2009 onwards
- Grant Application Management System (GAMS) is used:
- To submit an assessment in a scheme round that has already closed - this includes Australian Laureate Fellowships 2009, Future Fellowships 2009 and Discovery Projects 2010
- To submit a final report.
Using the RMS
All RMS users must have an RMS User Account. Each account has a single RMS User ID and password. RMS Users must have a current email address and maintain their email address details in RMS. As a new user, you can apply online through RMS, however your User Account request will need to be validated by Research Capacity and Compliance, so please contact us prior to submitting your online request.
Outcomes of your User Account request will be emailed to you by the ARC. You or your IT support area may need to add rms@arc.gov.au to your list of trusted email addresses to prevent the emails being marked as spam.
Please note: If you had a GAMS user account prior to January 2009, your GAMS ID and profile have been copied to RMS. Your RMS User ID will be the same as your GAMS ID with all letters capitalised, and the password reset. Instructions below to change your password and update your details
More information - training resource and contacts in your local area
Using the GAMS
If you have previously been allocated access to GAMS, your User ID and password should still be current. If you require or have forgotten your GAMS ID and password, please contact Melissa.Alagich@unisa.edu.au
If you are a first time GAMS user and need some assistance getting started, please contact a Research Capacity and Compliance team member
Applicants are urged to read the GAMS information first before attempting to enter information in the GAMS. GAMS desktop support is also available.