Skip to main content

Budgets should provide the sponsor with an accurate assessment of all cost items and cost amounts that are deemed necessary and reasonable to carry out your project. They should be based upon your description or the statement of work. Budget justification provides more in-depth detail and reason for each cost and is often considered by reviewers as a good indicator of the feasibility of the research.

Direct Costs

Direct costs are those that are directly associated with the delivery of the approved project and that are required to achieve the expected results. 

Indirect Costs

Indirect costs are costs that cannot be attributed directly or easily to a specific research project, but they are nevertheless just as real and necessary for conducting research. These costs are also called “overhead”.

Budget development basics

Basic components of a research budget, two models of a research budget, other considerations and resources

Overhead FAQs

Frequently asked questions regarding indirect costs / overhead