Preparing your funding application

Updated 19/08/2024

If you are planning to participate in, or have been offered, external funding for a research project or consultancy activity, please submit the Funding Expression of Interest (FEOI) form to research.funding@federation.edu.au, as per the timelines below.  This is the first step to gaining approval and registering your application/proposal within the university systems.

For more information including links to forms, policies and procedures, please visit the Research Funding home page.

All prospective research funding applications/proposals (whether FedUni lead or external lead), and associated budgets must be approved by your Research Centre, prior to submission to the funding body. Please discuss your funding application plans with your Centre Director or nominee.

Please contact the Research Funding Team at research.funding@federation.edu.au if you have any questions.

Pre-award timeline

(excluding Federation University lead ARC/NHMRC)

As soon as possible 15 business days prior to external deadline 10 business days prior to external deadline 5 business days prior to external deadline External deadline
Discuss your funding application plans with your Centre Director or nominee and arrange appropriate mentoring and support. Completed Funding Expression of Interest (FEOI) due to Research Funding. Final draft of Application/Proposal and Budget Costing Pro forma due to Research Funding for Internal Compliance and Budget review. Submission ready Application/Proposal, final Budget Costing Proforma, and Centre Director or nominee signed Funding Submission Coversheet (FSC) due to Research Funding for *PVC-R approval. Approved Application/ Proposal submitted to funding body on or before this date.

*Applications/proposals may be rejected at the discretion of your Centre Director or the PVC-R. Rejected applications/proposals will not proceed to submission in the current funding round. Possible reasons for rejection include incomplete application, non-compliance, ineligibility, application limits, lateness and poor viability.

Research Classifications

The Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC) is a set of three related classifications developed for use in the measurement and analysis of research and experimental development (R&D) statistics in Australia and New Zealand. The three classifications are:

A review of ANZSRC was undertaken to ensure the classification reflects current practice and to improve coverage, coherence and consistency across the classification. Subsequently, ANZSRC 2020 has been jointly developed by the ABS, Stats NZ, the Australian Research Council (ARC) and the New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), and replaces ANZSRC 2008.

As a result of this release Federation University researchers will now be required to use and report the 2020 codes for R&D activity.

Further information can be found on the ABS website: https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/classifications/australian-and-new-zealand-standard-research-classification-anzsrc/latest-release

Fields of Research (FoR) codes

The ANZSRC FoR codes allows the R&D activity to be categorised according to the methodology used in the R&D. Generally it is “What are you researching?”

Access to the codes:

  • You can download the 2020 FoR codes spreadsheet (which also includes a concordance worksheet for 2008 to 2020 codes),
  • or visit the Stats NZ interactive version if you prefer.

Both versions contain definitions and exclusions information which will assist you in understanding how best to classify your research.

Download ANZSRC 2020 FoR codes (Excel, 1.1 MB)

To assist in selecting the appropriate 6 (six) digit code you should work through the hierarchical levels:

  • determine the division in which the largest component of the research project is being performed – 2 digit code;
  • determine the most relevant group within that division – 4 digit code;
  • determine the most relevant field within that group – 6 digit code.

Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)

The ANZSRC SEO classification allows the R&D activity to be categorised according to the to the intended purpose or outcome of the research. It is generally “Why are you researching it?”

Access to the codes:

  • You can download the 2020 SEO codes spreadsheet (which also includes a concordance worksheet for 2008 to 2020 codes),
  • or visit the the Stats NZ interactive version if you prefer.

Both versions contain definitions and exclusions information which will assist you in understanding how best to classify your research.

Download ANZSRC 2020 SEO codes (Excel, 548 KB)

To assist in selecting the appropriate 6 (six) digit code you should work through the hierarchical levels:

  • determine the division in which the largest component of the research project is being performed – 2 digit code;
  • determine the most relevant group within that division – 4 digit code;
  • determine the most relevant field within that group – 6 digit code.

Type of Activity (ToA) classification

Type of Activity (ToA) allows R&D to be categorised according to the type of research effort. It is a flat classification with four categories:

  • pure basic research;
  • strategic basic research;
  • applied research; and
  • experimental development.

Access to classifications:

  • You can download the ToA codes spreadsheet which includes a definition for each classification and explanatory notes.

Download ANZSRC 2020 ToA (Excel, 66 KB)

Back to top

Back to top