The funding lifecycle: from application to project start

Each year we receive a record number of applications from across the Leonardo, Grundtvig and Transversal programmes.  We know the time and effort that you put into each application and we wanted to give you an overview of what happens at each stage of the process.

The timeline of a project

For Leonardo Transfer of Innovation, Leonardo Mobility and Leonardo and Grundtvig Partnerships as well as Grundtvig Senior Volunteering the project timeline is very similar.  We’ll be doing a follow up post on the timeline for Grundtvig In-Service Training, Grundtvig Visits and Exchanges and Transversal Study Visits.

1. Call released – September 2011

The call for proposals for all parts of the Lifelong Learning Programme is released in late Summer/early Autumn.  For this round of funding the call was released in September.  This gives you seven months to complete your application.

2. Application deadline – February/March 2012

3. Assessment – February to May 2012

When your application is first submitted to us it goes through a number of checks to make sure it is eligible.  For example, did we receive the application on time? Is the application form completed in full?

Each eligible application is then assessed by two independent external assessors which mark the application against a range of detailed criteria set by the European Commission. The mark your application receives is then matched against the minimum score, or threshold.  If an application falls below the threshold level it will be rejected and will not be funded.

4. UK National Agency decision – May 2012

The last stage before a decision is reached is the National Evalution Committee (NEC).  The NEC comes together to review the applications above the threshold and it is a chance for those on the committee to share any concerns and for any questions to be answered.  The NEC reach a final decision on the successful applicants and this list is then sent to the European Commission.

The Commission carry out a final set of checks and give the final decision on which organisations we fund.

5. Project Start – June 2012

If you have submitted an application this year, we wish you luck, you will hear whether you are successful in early Summer.

This will be the start of your European journey.  Make sure you keep us up to date during each stage, you can find great resources on our websites to help you make the most out of your project.

When can I next apply for funding?

If you are not successful first time around, don’t give up, the next call for funding will be in September 2012.  We would love to fund all eligible applications but we only have an allocated amount of funding.  If you aren’t successful we will provide detailed feedback on the areas that could be improved in your application and support you to develop your idea further.

We will be holding a range of events such as our Information Days to help you gain a deeper understanding of the opportunities available through the Leonardo, Grundtvig and Transversal Programmes. You will also get the chance to talk to organisations that have received guidance to help you develop your project idea and submit your application.