School of Law, Politics and Sociology

Research

Welcome to the LPS Research webpage. Please use the links below to find information about School procedures for external research funding bids, the LPS funding schemes, and ethical review guidelines.

Research Funding Procedure

Grant application procedure - external funding

You can find general advice on possible funding sources here. And also very useful advice on recent calls relevant to LPS on the Research Professional webpages here. 

Quick Guide

1. Six weeks before the funder deadline. Initiate administrative support by emailing a proforma to the Research Development Manager (RDM) Bente Bjornholt, the Director of Research and Knowledge Exchange (DRaKE) lpsdrake@sussex.ac.uk, the Assistant Research Manager (ARM) Helen Young, and your Head of Department.

2. The RDM will work with you to develop your application, including your proposal and budget.

3. Three weeks before the funder deadline. Send proposal to two reviewers (one must be a member of the LPS reviewer pool*).

4. Five days before the funder deadline. Submit project declaration and internal review forms to RDM and Head of School (HoS) for approval.

 

Detailed guide

1.       Initiate administrative support by submitting grant application notification

External research funding applications must come through the Research and Enterprise Services office. Applications from LPS are handled by Bente Bjornholt, our Research Development Manager (RDM).

Once you have a project idea and have identified a funder please submit a grant application notification proforma to the RDM, copying the Director of Research and Knowledge Exchange (DRaKE) lpsdrake@sussex.ac.uk, the Assistant Research Manager (ARM) Helen Young, and your Head of Department. This form must be submitted at least six weeks before the funder’s deadline (the only exception being when the time from call to deadline is less than six weeks).

This gives the RDM advance notice that you intend to submit a bid and enables your HoD to consider any teaching implications of the grant. It is important that you discuss any requests for teaching relief with your HoD at an early stage.

For joint bids with external applicants, please follow the timescales below as closely as possible. The School will seek to be flexible, with the caveat that all bids must be adequately reviewed to ensure quality and address planning implications, including teaching cover.

 2.       Develop proposal with advice and support from LPS

As you develop your proposal, you are encouraged to draw on colleagues’ advice and support in order to make your bid as strong as possible and increase its chances of success.

  • The RDM is responsible for advising on the preparation of applications for research funding, ensuring that they meet the funder’s criteria and are properly costed and priced, for approving applications, and for checking, re-negotiating, and accepting awards. Please see the timeline for support here. The RDM also manages the University authorisation process for applications to external funders (see below).
  • You are encouraged to ask colleagues for advice and to comment on draft proposals. Informal peer review is an excellent way of strengthening bids.
  • Departmental research and funding leads can provide advice and feedback on draft proposals. You are encouraged to discuss your ideas and show early drafts for comment.
  • The University Research and Enterprise Services pages contain useful advice on research support, research ethics, impact, and other issues.

3. Internal review of applications - £10,000 - £100,000.

If your bid value is £10,000 or over it must be reviewed and approved by two colleagues, one of which must be a member of the LPS reviewer pool (for bids below £10,000 this is not required, but is still encouraged). Your proposal must be submitted to a member of the reviewer pool at least three weeks before the funder deadline.

The applicant may choose which member of the reviewer pool to send the proposal to, usually someone in their department or field of research. Please send the names of the potential reviewers to Assistant Research Manager, Helen Young. She will approach reviewers and arrange the Peer Review.

The pool member will review the proposal and inform the RDM when they have done so.  

Two-stage applications must be reviewed at both stages by the same or by different reviewers. Please inform the RDM when the second stage review has been done. 

*The reviewer pool is made up of the following members of LPS:

This stage is not intended to hinder applications, but to ensure their quality. So long as reviewers are given sufficient notice internal review provides an opportunity to strengthen the bid. If a suitable member of the reviewer pool is unavailable and/or additional expertise is required to review a proposal, the applicant may request review by another member of faculty. This must be approved in advance by the DRaKE.

For collaborative bids where the LPS applicant is a co-investigator and the principal investigator is based at another institution this stage should still be completed, and comments from the reviewer addressed wherever possible.

4. Internal review of applications - £50,000 - £100,000

For bids between £50,000 and £100,000, please follow the same guidance as above, but please send the Assistant Research Manager your draft proposal, reviewers’ comments and your final version.

4. Internal review of applications - £100,000+

Bids over £100,000 need to be reviewed by the DRaKE (lpsdrake@sussex.ac.uk), as well as two other reviewers (see above).

The Assistant Research Manager (Helen Young) must be CCed into all correspondence with the reviewers and DRaKE.

All revised versions, along with a draft budget must be sent to DRaKE for content approval, CCing Assistant Research Manager.

After this is completed, formal approval will be initiated by RDM and completed by HoS.

Applicants on bids over £100k are strongly encouraged to present in draft feedback sessions that our Assistant Research Manager, Helen Young, can help organise. These sessions would bring together a group of colleagues who can provide feedback on specific parts of a given proposal and operate as research in progress seminars. While specific colleagues will be invited to provide comments, these sessions will be opened to everyone in LPS  to attend. The idea is to offer an opportunity for additional feedback and to discuss your project with people who are not your formal internal reviewers, thus strengthening the chances to obtain funding. 

5. Sussex authorisation of applications to external funders

The authorisation process for research and knowledge exchange activity is the same across the University and is operated through Research and Enterprise Services (RES). All proposals need the agreement of each investigator’s HoS and may also require the relevant Pro-Vice-Chancellor’s and VCEG’s agreement, depending on the assessed level of risk involved. Institutional authorisation is undertaken by the completion of a Project Approval Form (aka Declaration Form), which is routed to the appropriate authorisers.

The RDM instigates this process at least five days before the funder’s deadline in order to allow the HoS/DRaKE, the school finance office and Research and Enterprise Services sufficient time to sign-off on the bid. The RDM will report on the internal review to the authorising signatories.  

6. Outcome of applications

Once you hear about the outcome of your application please inform the DRaKE and RDM, including any reviewer and financial information. Post-outcome discussions of unsuccessful proposals are handled at departmental level. Please contact your Departmental Research Lead.

7. Ethical review

If your bid is successful it may require ethical review before the project can begin. Details on how to do this can be found here.

Impact Funding: LPS Knowledge Exchange Fund (HEIF)

The LPS Knowledge Exchange Fund (financed by the School’s HEIF allocation)

Knowledge exchange (KE) is about sharing and transferring knowledge beyond academia, for example with local communities, businesses, government officials, NGOs or members of the public. While KE may produce impact, it also serves a broader purpose in connecting research and researchers with people outside academic circles.

KE activities that may be eligible for funding include:

  • Public events, for example, seminars and workshops, involving knowledge exchange
  • Policy and research briefings
  • Developing stakeholder or practitioner networks
  • Media and social media outputs
  • Website developments
  • Podcasts to communicate research to new and wider audiences
  • The development of consultancy activities

The standard maximum amount for 2024-25 is £2,500. Applicants are asked to consider potential avenues for income generation or indicate the potential for activities to become financially self-sustaining. Applications can be submitted by individuals or in partnership. All research-active members of staff are eligible.

Applications should be no more than 2 pages in length and must include the following information:

  • Description of the activity, including proposed start and end date
  • Explanation of its objectives
  • Justification of how the activity will advance knowledge exchange and the benefits this will produce
  • A budget

Applications can be made on a rolling basis and we aim to respond to applicants within a month of receiving the application.

If you would like to discuss making an application, please email Moira Dustin and Amy Clarke, the LPS Knowledge Exchange and Impact Coordinators.

Applications should be sent by email to lpsresearch@sussex.ac.uk and should be submitted 4 weeks before the funding needs to be available, other than in exceptional circumstances.

Please note that all awards have to be spent by 1 July 2025 (please note this is a new deadline replacing 31 July), and unspent money cannot be rolled over.

We will ask for a short report on the funded activities for our annual HEIF report.

Impact Funding: AHRC Impact Acceleration Account

AHRC Impact Acceleration Account

The University of Sussex has been awarded an AHRC Impact Acceleration Account (IAA) from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC). The IAA, which totals £450k over three years (April 2022 – March 2025), will be used to accelerate the impact of research within the AHRC remit, across the University, helping to bring about economic, environmental and societal impact in the wider world beyond academia.

The fund provides advisory and financial support to enable researchers to undertake impactful projects, as well as connecting them to external partners in a wide range and scale of organisations, to work on real-world challenges. These might be researcher-led, or respond to specific issues faced by organisations such as (but not limited to): museums, galleries, theatres, social enterprises, NGOs, charities, local/regional/national government or Parliamentary teams/groups, and other organisations operating in the creative, cultural or other sectors.

In particular, the funding will be used to:

  • Enable researchers to make a real ‘step change’ in realising the impact potential of their research and partnerships, through targeted funding schemes. These include the Engagement Opportunity Fund (up to £1k), Fast-Track Fund (up to £3k) and Impact Builder Fund (up to £10k), outlined below.
  • Build an internal impact culture for our arts and humanities researchers, especially those at an early stage in their career, through 1:1 support, workshops and an effective ongoing relationship between research-supporting Professional Services and individual researchers.
  • Explore and develop new opportunities and innovative avenues to utilise arts and humanities research, with the aim of achieving impactful outcomes with external partners, particularly across our core strands: the Creative Economy; Cultural Heritage; Policy; Equality, Diversity & Inclusion; AI & Digital Transformation; and Place-making & Community.

The Fast Track Fund - Max. award: £3,000 - Open call (apply any time)

The Fast-Track is designed to provide agile, short-term, quick turn-around funds for Sussex faculty, enabling researchers to respond to opportunities as they arise, and providing flexible funding that caters for diverse and non-linear impact journeys.

The scheme is particularly aimed at building and strengthening relationships with one or more non-academic external organisations, to address a potentially impactful issue or project. This could range from initial engagement with stakeholders or participants (to integrate their needs and challenges into your research), to gathering evaluation data from your research engagement (to enhance and/or capture its impact).

Seed funds could ultimately lead to the co-production of grant proposals, support relationships between grant-funded activities, or continuing impact after a grant has ended.

The Engagement Opportunity Fund - Max award: £1000 - Open call (apply any time)

The Engagement Opportunity Fund is designed to enable researchers to participate in a one-off engagement opportunity with one or more key non-academic stakeholders, for the purposes of initiating or strengthening relationships that will lead to collaborative activity and/or impact.

This could include:

  • participating (as a speaker, exhibitor and/or attendee) in a conference or similar event in which the content/focus and majority of participants are non-academic, and where engaging within these contexts and networks will enable you to progress your impact aims;

  • attending a meeting with a non-academic organisation, to explore collaboration potential and user needs, and necessary preparations for these (e.g. developing a research brief to support your proposal).

We expect the majority of applications to include one or more of the following: event registration fees, travel, accommodation, subsistence costs, or to develop / print modest, targeted communications materials (where relevant).

The Impact Builder Fund - Max Award £10,000 - Cohort-based call (two application rounds)

The Impact Builder is designed to enable researchers working within the AHRC remit to deepen their existing collaborations with specific organisations.

The scheme is particularly aimed at supporting established impact projects and partnerships, who can demonstrate a track record of collaborative activity with specific non-academic partner(s), and outline how the Impact Builder Fund will strengthen and likely result in imminent – as well as longer-term, strategic – beneficial outcomes.

Find out about funding here and please email Amy Clarke and Moira Dustin if you are interested in finding out more or applying.

Internal Research Funding Schemes

Applications to the Sussex Research Schemes require a support statement from the DRaKE. Please allow at least 7 days before deadline. You are encouraged to share drafts of the applications with your colleagues to ensure quality.

Ethics

Ethical Approval of Research

This document is intended as a brief guide to Research Ethics Review for staff in the Social Sciences Cluster. It complements full, university-wide guidelines available at Research Governance. 

Research Governance Standard Operating Procedures Feb 2022

Ethical Guidelines and Research Governance

1. Introduction 
The University of Sussex is committed to promoting and upholding the highest quality academic and ethical standards in all its activities. A university-wide research governance committee framework has been established, to ensure that ethical review procedures take into account:

  • best practice with regard to ethical considerations in research
  • meeting all legislative, regulatory, and funder requirements
  • safeguarding the reputation of the University

Under the new framework, ethical governance of research undertaken in the School of Law, Politics and Sociology is overseen by Social Sciences Cluster Research Ethics Committee (C-REC). Direct responsibility for ethical review of research lies in part with the C-REC, and in part with the School, as outlined below. Ethical review within Schools and committees is overseen by the central University Research Governance Committee (URGC), which is responsible for broader policy decisions relating to research governance and ethics. The URGC also regularly reviews policies relating to the ethics of research to ensure that they are comprehensive, accessible, relevant and up-to-date.

2. Ethical review procedures
Research that does not involve humans or personal information about them, or animals, and presents no other risk, does not require ethical review. Please complete the Self-Assessment Checklist to determine this (available from the URGC website; see below).

Ethical review takes place online. To access the ethical review application form, please go to your Sussex Direct page and click on the ‘Research’ tab, where you will find a link to ‘Ethical Reviews’. You will need to start a new application form by clicking on ‘New’.

Students applying for ethics clearance need first to submit the online form to their supervisor for approval, before submitting it to the School Research Ethics Officer (low risk) or CREC committee (high risk) for review. Therefore please monitor the progress of your online application form, and remember to submit it at both of these stages.

Low risk projects
Ethical review of low risk projects is carried out at two levels:

Undergraduate (UG) and Postgraduate Taught (PGT) student projects are reviewed at School level, and reviewed by the School Research Ethics Officer (SREO), in consultation with course convenors and supervisors.

Staff and Postgraduate Research (PGR) student projects are reviewed by the social sciences C-REC (submit application forms by email to: c-recss@sussex.ac.uk )

High risk projects
All Staff and student (UG, PGT, PGR) higher risk projects are reviewed by the social sciences C-REC.

There is a separate, specialised committee that considers any research involving non-human animal subjects.

3. People and roles

  • Chair of the Social Sciences and Arts Cross School Research Ethics Committee and Interim Chair of the RGQAC Sponsorship Sub-Committee: Dr. Ruth Stirton

  • LPS School Research Ethics Officer (SREO): Prof. Susie Scott

  • Senior Research Ethics and Integrity Officer Social Sciences/Arts: Carol Cooley


4. Further information and resources
Full information about the University Research Governance Framework including Standard Operating Procedures, Guidance and Application Forms for ethical review can be found on the University Research Governance website.

University policies relating to Research Governance are to be found on the Research Policies page. These include guidance on intellectual property, external consultancy, and codes of practice.

Two further documents provide additional information of relevance to members of the School of Law, Politics and Sociology:

5. Other sources of guidance on research ethics: 

Bacon, J. & Olsen, K. (2003) Doing the Right Thing: Outlining the Department for Work and Pensions'  Approach to Ethical and Legal Issues in Social Research. 

British Educational Research Association (2004) Revised Ethical Guidelines for Educational Research. Southwell: BERA 

British Sociological Association (BSA)

University and Colleges Employers Association (2011) Heath and Safety in Fieldwork.
 
Department of Health (2005) Research Governance Framework for Health and Social Care.

Research Staff Induction Information

Research Staff

Getting started 

  • Induction - you will be given a local induction session to the School which will include general health and safety, and practical matters.

 Training 

  • Your department will have a seminar series, usually led by the research group

 Travel and attending conferences and events 

  • Reclaim costs via Unit4

Finance related 

  • For purchases and use of the school credit card, please contact the School Office.

 Appraisal 

 For Line Managers of Research Staff  

 Research Staff Reps 

  • You can contact other Research Fellows using the mailing lists. All Research Fellows are added to the lists.

 Human Resources 

 Useful Contacts  

 
Proforma

Grant Notification Proforma

Research Strategy

LPS Research Strategy 

Research and Scholarship Fund

Important - DO NOT incur any unauthorised expenses that would normally be covered by the research and scholarship fund – these will not be met for now. This is effective from 26 June 2024.

This fund is temporarily frozen for the autumn term 2024.

Don't forget you can apply for funding to support the following research/scholarship activities but you should apply at least 4 weeks in advance. Funding requests can be up to a maximum of £1000 per person per year. Please be aware that not all requests can be met, so please ensure you make clear how this funding will be used to best effect to support your research/scholarship activities:

  • Conference attendance
  • Methodological training
  • Data generation/fieldwork costs
  • Network-related travel
  • Impact activities

Law

Research and Scholarship Fund Expenditure Approval Form 2024/25 (Conference)

Research and Scholarship Fund Expenditure Approval Form 2024/25 (Research Expenses) 

Politics

Research and Scholarship Fund Expenditure Approval Form 2024/25 (Conference)

Research and Scholarship Fund Expenditure Approval Form 2024/25 (Research Expenses) 

Sociology and Criminology

Research and Scholarship Fund Expenditure Approval Form 2024/25 (Conference)

Research and Scholarship Fund Expenditure Approval Form 2024/25 (Research Expenses) 

LPS Devolved Expenses form

Contacts

Director of Research and Knowledge Exchange (DRaKE)

 

  lpsdrake@sussex.ac.uk

LPS Knowledge Exchange and Impact Leads

Moira Dustin

M.Dustin@sussex.ac.uk

Amy Clarke

Amy.Clarke@sussex.ac.uk

Research Development Manager (Research & Enterprise)

Bente Bjornholt

b.k.bjornholt@sussex.ac.uk

Senior Research Manager (Social Sciences Cluster)

Steven Colburn

S.J.Colburn@sussex.ac.uk

Assistant Research Manager (LPS)

Helen Young

H.K.Young@sussex.ac.uk

Research and Enterprise Coordinators (RECs)

Lindsey Allen-Cavell (PGR)

lpspgr@sussex.ac.uk

Mike J Davy (Research)

lpsresearch@sussex.ac.uk

Department Research Leads

Lizzie Seal (Sociology)

E.C.Seal@sussex.ac.uk

Tarik Kochi (Law)

T.Kochi@sussex.ac.uk

Paul Taggart (Politics)

p.a.taggart@sussex.ac.uk

Department Impact Leads

Lizzie Seal (Sociology)

E.C.Seal@sussex.ac.uk

Mark Walters (Law)

Mark.Walters@sussex.ac.uk

Elizabeth David-Barrett (Politics)

 E.David-Barrett@sussex.ac.uk

Director of Doctoral Studies (DDS)

Nuno Ferreira

N.Ferreira@sussex.ac.uk

Research Centre Directors

Elizabeth David-Barrett

Robert Barrington

Centre for the Study of Corruption

E.David-Barrett@sussex.ac.uk

R.Barrington@sussex.ac.uk

Tanya Palmer

Gillian Love

Dara Ruane

Liz McDonnell

Centre for Gender Studies

T.Palmer@sussex.ac.uk

G.Love@sussex.ac.uk

D.Ruane@sussex.ac.uk

E.J.Mcdonnell@sussex.ac.uk

Matthew Evans

Aisling O'Sullivan

Stephanie Berry

Sussex Centre for Human Rights Research

Matthew.Evans@sussex.ac.uk

A.O-Sullivan@sussex.ac.uk

S.E.Berry@sussex.ac.uk

 

Aleksandra Lewicki

Neil Dooley

Sussex European Institute

 

A.Lewicki@sussex.ac.uk

N.Dooley@sussex.ac.uk

Paul McGuinness

Nicholas Sinclair-House

Crime Research Centre

P.Mcguinness@sussex.ac.uk

N.Sinclair-House@sussex.ac.uk

 

Phoebe Li

Sarah Stephens

Judith Townend

The Sussex Centre for Law & Technology (SCLT)

Phoebe.Li@sussex.ac.uk

Sarah.Stephens@sussex.ac.uk

Judith.Townend@sussex.ac.uk