Application Guidelines
PLEASE READ THIS GUIDANCE THOROUGHLY TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE
- INTRODUCTION
Postgraduate Funding Rounds provide limited funds for postgraduate students to collect, analyse data, and produce the required research outputs in partial fulfilment of their study programme requirements.
- The funding specifically targets postgraduate students with limited/no resources to conduct research in fulfilment of their postgraduate programmes as provided for in the Postgraduate Award Scheme.
Call Opens: 21st June 2024
Call Closes: 19th July 2024: 2359hrs
IMPORTANT:
- Postgraduate Funding is extremely competitive and limited. Application does not guarantee funding. It is therefore advisable to have a backup plan in case the application is unsuccessful. Applications can be submitted any time after announcement of the call, until the stipulated deadline.
- Applications will NOT be received after the deadline.
- ELIGIBILITY
- Only registered University of Botswana postgraduate students who are required to complete a research project in partial or complete fulfilment of their study programmes are eligible.
- ONLY students with insufficient or no research funding at all are eligible to apply. Students with partial funding must present the full budget showing both the requested and available funds.
- Research funding recipients must maintain active registration/enrolment during their funding period.
MAIN REQUIREMENTS
- An application should have been successfully defended at departmental level and approved by the supervisor for implementation. This must be declared on the application form and confirmed by the supervisor on the application form.
- The applicant should have obtained ethics clearance/permit to receive an award letter and access funds.
- Applications with research will be considered for funding immediately upon receipt. Applications without ethical clearance/research permits will only be considered after receiving clearance.
- EXCLUSIONS
The following applications will not be funded and should not be submitted:
- Previously funded projects
- Projects that are part of another project.
- Collaborative project (with staff or students)
Concealing information or submitting false information for purposes of eligibility will be treated as misconduct and will be handled as such.
- FUNDING CATEGORIES
- Masters ≤ P20,000
- MPhil/PhD ≤ P40,000
Allowable Costs
- Postgraduate funding is meant to support data collection, analysis and production of research outputs as required for programme completion. Only costs towards these items are allowable.
- International conference costs are not allowable unless statutorily required for completion of study programme. No major equipment (computers, hardware etc.) is allowable. Applicants should ensure that the major infrastructure needed to complete their projects, is available within their departments or elsewhere before applying for funding. Where equipment is available elsewhere at a cost, applicants are allowed to budget for such costs. The applicant is responsible for ensuring that the proposed budget is adequate to cover the costs.
- Students as supervised trainees are expected to propose projects that are within their competence and are not allowed to hire research technical experts using internal funding.
- Research Assistant Costs are not allowed for students, except as a necessary risk management measure or other justifiable cause, based on the study methods and the practicalities of the project.
- All applicants are expected to demonstrate awareness and sensitivity to any existing health protocols in their proposed implementation methods.
- Applicants should use the latest research and other university rates in their budget.
IMPORTANT!!!
- The university will not pay/refund any research expenses incurred before funding approval.
- The University will also not fund a project that is already in progress/being implemented.
- Applicants are expected to ensure honesty in the information provided in relation to their application.
- APPLICATION PROCEDURE
- Applicants should complete and submit an application form and all required attachments as indicated in the Checklist.
- Application forms are continuously updated and should always be accessed from the website. Applications submitted using outdated forms will not be processed for funding.
- No unrequested additional document(s) should be submitted
- FORMATTING
- Applications should be typed in blank 11pt font, Times New Roman or Arial and 1-inch margins formatting. No tracked comments!
- Applications must be submitted in PDF and all documents must be legible.
- All multiple page documents should be numbered.
- Surname+Initial_document name_Round # (Example: KgosiP_Application Form_Round 21)
SUBMISSION
- Applications should be submitted electronically through the Research Management System (RMS) https://converis.ub.bw/converis/portal/overview
- The Online System Team will give postgraduate applicants access to the system upon receipt of the details.
- Students who have never used the RMS should activate their accounts by registering here>>.
- Submitted applications will be endorsed by the Supervisor and Head of Department online after submission. Applicants should keep track of their applications via the RMS after submission.
- ETHICAL REVIEW APPLICATION
- All UB research requires ethical review and approval regardless of whether funding is needed or not. Please contact research.ethics@ub.ac.bw for ethical application guidance.
- APPLICATION SUPPORT
- The ORD will run a pre-award application workshop, shortly after the announcement of this funding call. All prospective applicants are encouraged to attend this call.
Please contact the research funding office with any specific enquiries about this call at researchfunding@ub.ac.bw or call (355) - 5780/5796/2900.
Please send an email to researchsystem@ub.ac.bw or call 5524 / 2016 / 2900 for any RMS submission related assistance.