We recognise that you may face unforeseen delays to your research during the term of your grant. This guidance outlines when we will allow grant extensions and suspensions and how you can request these.
You’ll need to let the relevant Research Grants Manager know about any grant extensions and suspensions required. You can find their contact details on our funding scheme pages.
Explore our funding schemesA no-cost extension extends the duration of the grant and sets back the grant end date to meet research deliverables.
We would usually expect no more than one no-cost extension per award. The extension should be limited to a maximum of 12 months from the original end date, except where it relates to taking parental or other long-term leave as per our policy.
If activity on a grant didn’t start until a later start date and no expenditure has been made on the grant in those months, we recommend you amend the start date to a later date.
Our costs guidance outlines the acceptable circumstances in which you can use any grant underspend.
Read our parental or long-term leave policy
Find out more about costs guidance for grants
We may consider a no-cost, time-only request in the following circumstances.
delays in the appointment of staff
parental or other long-term leave
changing to part-time working once the grant is active
delays in setting up trials (eg opening sites)
delays in recruitment for patient trials or surveys
major equipment failures
major laboratory or building issues
unforeseen problems with specimen, sample or data collection, data access and approvals or acquiring ethical approvals or permits
lack of availability of facilities required for the project
attendance at conferences to share findings if the purpose relates to the grant and there is added impact
publications or other research outputs to be finalised
All extensions must be requested in writing before the end of the grant period.
Generally, requests should be made in the final year of the grant, except for extensions due to parental or other long-term leave, which should be made before any period of leave is taken.
You should complete the no-cost extension form and send it to one of the Research Grants Managers listed on the corresponding scheme.
Download the no-cost extension form(PDF, 63.1 KB)
A suspension usually means that both grant activity and payments are suspended, resulting in a dormant period with no activity nor expenses incurred. Typically, suspensions may be considered for:
fellows who take parental or other long-term leave where there are no other research staff members on the grant
major building issues where all work has ceased and is unlikely to recommence soon
A suspension must be requested before the end of the grant period and before any period of leave is taken in the case of parental or other long-term leave.
You should email your request to your Research Grants Manager, outlining:
the reason for the suspension
the date the grant will recommence
the new end date
A costed extension extends the original end date with additional funds awarded to meet existing or additional research deliverables.
Costed extensions are only considered in very limited circumstances and only by invitation. Typically, costed extensions may be considered for:
fellows who take parental or other long-term leave with other research staff members continuing to work during their leave of absence
PhD students who take parental or other long-term leave (note that we will pay in addition if needed and if underspend has been exhausted)
delays in setting up trials (eg opening sites)
delays in patient recruitment in trials
Please contact your Research Grants Manager as early as possible before the grant end date to discuss a potential cost extension.
Whether you’re just starting your application or already hold funding, we offer guidance and support throughout your research career.
We fund individual projects and fellowships, large-scale team science programmes, multidisciplinary collaborations and international consortia.
