Is this course right for me?

Target Audience: Research and research-enabling staff who already have success in securing smaller bids and are looking to progress into large external interdisciplinary bids.

This is a live IN-PERSON event.  

This workshop is designed for participants that already have an interdisciplinary research project idea/proposal.

Overview

Interdisciplinary collaboration is a growing priority for major funders, from UKRI cross-council schemes to Horizon Europe. However, developing competitive proposals as a team requires a distinct set of skills: they must communicate a shared vision, align diverse expertise, and demonstrate how their collaboration adds real value.

Scriptoria will deliver an in-person grant writing masterclass designed specifically for teams moving from seed funding to large, interdisciplinary external grants, as part of the University of Strathclyde’s Collaborative Cultures programme. This workshop focuses on helping participants turn their early-stage collaborations into fundable project concepts, equipping them with the tools and strategies to build clear, compelling proposals that highlight both scientific excellence and strong team collaboration.

Drawing on our experience training thousands of researchers at more than 60 leading universities and research organisations worldwide, the session will provide both strategic guidance and practical, hands-on exercises tailored to the specific stage of this programme.

Content

Over the course of the workshop, participants will learn how to craft compelling proposals that are clear, engaging, and easy for reviewers to understand. We will cover the essential components of a successful application, from the lay summary to the narrative CV.

Sessions are practical and interactive, using real-life examples from participants’ subject areas to reinforce the theory. Throughout, participants will also have opportunities to share experiences and insights from their collaborative projects, learning from each other’s approaches and challenges. Participants will also learn how to plan, write and edit proposals collaboratively, using a structured, start-to-finish process that combines project management tools, writing strategies and editing techniques to produce well-organised, high-quality applications efficiently. Participants receive a full set of electronic resources — including slides, exercise answer keys, a grant proposal template, and an editing checklist.

The key learning outcomes covered by this course include:

• Demystifying the funder evaluation process – understanding who reviews your proposal and what they look for, and why the lay summary is so important
• Defining your vision – explaining the significance of your research and its potential impact beyond the life of the grant
• Highlighting you and your team’s strengths – showcasing expertise and value in a narrative CV
• Streamlining the writing and editing process – applying professional project management techniques to proposal writing

Accessibility   

We are committed to ensuring our events and courses are accessible to all staff:

For on-campus activity:

• Full access information for the venue is available via AccessAble 
• Hybrid provision is not available
• There will be audience participation
• You are asked to attend the whole session
• There will be several breaks throughout the session
• The session is relaxed – this means you can stretch, move around, stim etc.
• In line with current University health and safety guidance, attendees may wish to use face masks. The room will have either mechanical ventilation or passive ventilation (i.e. open windows)
• Digital copies of resources will be emailed to participants in advance of delivery upon request
• Contact Collaborative Cultures (collaborativecultures@strath.ac.uk) to request printed materials in different formats
• Please contact osdu-equity@strath.ac.uk to discuss any further access requirements

Cancellation Policy 

When applying for a course, you should note that there will be a £50* charge to your Department / School if you do not attend your place on the course. There will be no charge as long as you cancel your booked place before the event or notify our staff at osdu@strath.ac.uk that you can no longer attend.

A Department / School is welcome to send someone else in your place if they wish without incurring a charge, providing that person has the necessary prerequisites for the course. In the case of courses split over more than one day, you are expected to attend ALL parts of the course.

*This is the standard charge for cancellation or non-attendance of a course of 1-day duration or less. For some courses, there may be a higher cancellation charge and if this is the case you will be advised of this at the time of booking. 

Prerequisites