Strategic projects supported through the Education Fund must have an institution-wide impact on students' educational experience. Projects therefore have a highly competitive two-stage application process.

The first stage, open now, is submission of an Expression of Intent (EoI) form which is due by midday Friday 23 May (12pm UK time). The purpose of the EoI is to capture the essence of what projects wish to do and achieve. The EoI therefore asks for brief outline information, and information requested in the EoI forms the basis of a full strategic project application. From the EoI stage, a number of proposals will be selected to proceed to a full application.

Only proposals selected through the EoI process are eligible to proceed to a full strategic application.

Strategic projects can apply for two years of funding, for an overall funding period starting 1 August 2025 and ending by 31 July 2027. Projects can apply for:

• up to a maximum of £10,000 spending per financial year - and
• up to a combined total of £20,000 across the two years.

These figures for maximum spending per year and in total are exceptional. The higher the amount applied for, the greater is the expected strategic impact.

Project proposals must involve collaboration between at least two academic and/or central service departments, and engage with students throughout the project lifecycle.

Interested applicants are encouraged to speak to their Head of Department and relevant Faculty Education Chair(s) at the earliest opportunity before applying (see 'Approvals').

For proposals supported to proceed beyond the EoI stage, the full strategic project application builds on the EoI form and will require more extensive information and approvals. This includes (not limited to):

• a named staff co-lead for all departments other than the lead applicant's, and co-lead(s) Head of Department approval.
• detailed budget breakdown for each financial year
• evaluation and dissemination plans
• results of a literature review, to situate the proposal in relation to relevant research
• senior sponsorship, at a minimum approval from the relevant Faculty Education Chair(s) for all departments included in the application.

Since the Fund's purpose is to support strategic priorities, at every stage applications will need to address how project outcomes would be embedded, sustained and scaled up, and how projects engage with relevant existing activity at Warwick.

Strategic proposal EoIs will be reviewed by the funding sponsors and Faculty Education Chairs. We will notify EoI applicants of outcomes by Friday 13 June, with full applications due by Friday 11 July. Full strategic proposals will be reviewed by the Education Fund Executive Committee chaired by the Pro-Vice Chancellor for Education. Some proposals submitted as part of the EoI process, and not selected to proceed to a full strategic application, may be invited to apply for seed funding instead.

Projects should start no earlier than August 2025 to allow time for the application review process and must plan to apply for ethical approval promptly (if ethics required).

Financial years and spending timescales

Financial years run from 1 August to the following 31 July, and funding cannot be rolled forward from one financial year to the next. For the 2025/26 funding call, Year 1 runs 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2026, and Year 2 runs 1 August 2026 to 31 July 2027. In Year 2 of a strategic project, some proposed project activity can extend beyond the 31 July spending deadline as long as this activity would not involve any cost. The spending deadline of 31 July at the end of a financial year cannot be extended.

Funding awarded will be transferred to the Project Lead’s department at the start of the project (for that financial year). The Project Lead is responsible for ensuring that funding is spent within the financial year in which it has been awarded, and that all expenditure complies with University Financial Regulations and Procedures.

Since funding cannot be transferred from one financial year to the next, unspent funds remaining at the end of the respective financial year(s) will be forfeited. Please note that any overspend of the award must be met by the Project Lead’s department.

The purpose of seed funding is to test ideas and/or provide proof of concept for initiatives that, by addressing strategic priorities, have the potential for institutional-level impact when sustained and scaled up.

Applications for seed fund projects are very competitive but have only one application stage. Applications are due by midday (12pm UK time) of Monday 30 June. Click here to access the seed fund application form

Seed fund projects can apply for up to £5,000 for one year of activity, from 1 August 2025 through 31 July 2026. Projects must be delivered within the 2025/26 financial year, with all funds spent by 31 July 2026. This spending deadline cannot be extended. Applications must provide a detailed budget breakdown.

Projects must involve collaboration between at least two academic and/or central service departments, and engage with students throughout the project lifecycle, since the Fund’s purpose is to support strategic priorities including at seed funding stage.

For all departments other than the lead applicant's, projects will need a named staff co-lead and that department's Head of Department approval.

Interested applicants are encouraged to speak to their Head of Department and relevant Faculty Education Chair(s) at the earliest opportunity before applying (see 'Approvals').

Projects should start no earlier than August 2025 to allow time for the review process, and must plan to apply for ethical approval promptly (if ethics required).

Given the focus on strategic priorities and potential for broad impact, applications will need to address how project outcomes would be embedded, sustained and scaled up, and how projects engage with relevant existing activity at Warwick. Applications for projects that are inherently limited in their scope and potential impact are very unlikely to be successful.

Financial years and spending timescales

Financial years run from 1 August to the following 31 July, and funding cannot be rolled forward from one financial year to the next. Some proposed project activity can extend beyond the fixed 31 July 2026 spending deadline as long as this activity would not involve any cost.

Funding awarded will be transferred to the Project Lead’s department at the start of the project. The Project Lead is responsible for ensuring that funding is spent within the financial year in which it has been awarded, and that all expenditure complies with University Financial Regulations and Procedures.

Since funding cannot be transferred from one financial year to the next, unspent funds remaining at the end of the respective financial year(s) will be forfeited. Please note that any overspend of the award must be met by the Project Lead’s department.

All projects must engage with students throughout the project lifecycle to ensure that staff and student perceptions and interests are understood and aligned accurately. Staff and students should work together from the earliest possible stage to develop, implement and evaluate projects.

If wished, applications can include a student co-lead, alongside the staff lead, but this is not required.

Student participatory practices can take a range of forms, including student co-creation, student advisory boards and focus groups to name only a few. All applicants are asked how they plan to engage with students throughout the proposed project. Student payment information is included in the Budget section of this guidance.

For all projects, funding is provided mainly to pay for students’ time and general project costs. It may also be used to cover additional staffing costs (e.g. project manager), subject to approval as part of application review. Buy-out of staff time is not permitted.

In addition, project funding will not normally cover:

• purchase or use of equipment
• fees to publish material in a journal or on a platform
• conference attendance costs.

The standard rate we support for student co-creators or similar roles is FA4 spinal point 16. Ensure you budget for the Unitemps bill rate, which is higher than the hourly pay rate that the students will receive since it includes holiday pay plus the Unitemps fee. Click here to see the Unitemps rates (as of March 2025). Please note that Unitemps rates normally increase every year in August.

Also consider whether over the course of your project, students will be paid at the pre-AWR or the higher post-AWR rate. Broadly, the post-AWR rate is paid after 12 weeks of work. See Unitemps for more information.

For student focus groups or surveys, participants can receive a voucher to acknowledge their time and participation. Voucher provision should be in accordance with university guidelines and approved via your Department Administrator and have the appropriate ethical clearance. Under current guidelines, departments can approve vouchers of up to a maximum of £25 per person for research participants.