Accepting a Grant

Authority to accept grant

Although an offer will normally refer to a chief investigator and a specific project, research funds are legally awarded to the UNSW. Most funding agencies require that a University delegate sign a grant award. Researchers are not permitted to sign grant acceptances on behalf of the University. Only the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) and approved delegates have the authority to accept research grants or fellowships and to accept conditions of award on behalf of the University.

Where an application has been successful the Grants Management Office will check that the applicant has submitted the appropriate documentation – generally the Grant Application Lodgement Form (GALF) and Grants Acceptance Form. Note, the Grants Management Office will generate and provide you with the Grants Acceptance Form. Please contact mygrants [dot] gmo [at] unsw [dot] edu [dot] au if you require a copy of this form for a grant you have been awarded. Example Acceptance Form.

Review of funding contract/conditions of award

The Grants Management Office reviews any proposed contract for the award or renewal or modification of a grant to ensure that the conditions are acceptable, usually in conjunction with the Legal Office (Research). If necessary, the Legal Office (Research) will negotiate any changes to the grant conditions on behalf of the University. Contract review is undertaken in consultation with the researcher who is kept informed of developments.

Documentation required

The bare minimum required by the Grants Management Office before a research project can be opened is

• GALF and Grant Acceptance Form
• Letter of Offer/Agreement
• Copy of Application

For major granting rounds such as the ARC and NHMRC, the funding body will send funding rules and agreements to the institution. UNSW also receives a copy of the award letter and we have a copy of the application. After award announcements are made we contact researchers who have been successful to request additional documentation.

When a grant has been made through a process other than the above i.e. when you may be undertaking contract research, you will need to provide the Grants Management Office with the additional documentation as listed above before funds can be released.