General application process
TU Dortmund University supports you from advising you on the appropriate funding format to managing the projects you have acquired. You will always have one main contact person:
- Prior to submission, the Research Funding Unit provides coordinating advice,
- after submission, the Department of Finance and Procurement (Department of External Funding Management and Research Legal Affairs).
You are welcome to make use of this advice as soon as you are considering submitting an application. It is not necessary to prepare a proposal; the idea is sufficient. In this way, formal and legal questions can be clarified in good time.
Before submitting an application, a formal review by colleagues in the Finance and Procurement department is usually required, which may take 10 working days. Please allow for this time when preparing your application.
Application processes depending on the funding body
The application processes vary greatly depending on the funding provider and format. For example, some formats require legally binding signatures from the university management and corresponding checks, while others do not. To be on the safe side, you should discuss the application formalities with the Research Funding Unit in advance. Please feel free to contact us by e-mail.
Application process for DFG collaborative projects
Grants Services provides support throughout the entire application process. Please contact us as early as the planning phase.
Application process for EU collaborative projects
The Research Funding Unit provides support throughout the entire application process. Please contact us at an early stage, already in the planning phase.
Application processes at TU Dortmund University
TU Dortmund University uses standard processes to ensure that researchers receive the best possible support when submitting applications and that all formalities and deadlines are observed and adhered to.
Often asked
Below you will find answers to frequently asked questions about the application process:
Some funding formats require the submission of own funds. Early consultation and involvement of the Department of External Funding Management and Research Legal Affairs at the beginning of the application process is essential.
In principle, the applicant's project management (formally the department) is responsible for providing own contributions; central funding pools are not available.
If own contributions must be made in the form of free third-party funds and these are not available at the applying department, smaller amounts (<100,000 euros) of free third-party funds may be provided in exchange for equivalent other funds from the project management after individual case assessment.
The sketch phase is the most decisive for the assessment! This is where the greatest selection is made. As a rule, the funding amount applied for in the outline phase cannot be exceeded in the full application.
A legally binding signature can only be provided by the Rectorate or, on behalf of the Rectorate, by the External Funding Management and Research Legal Affairs Department of the Finance and Procurement Division. The prerequisite for this is a formal review of the financially and formally final application by the External Funding Management(10 working days due to any necessary coordination).
The overheads, referred to by the DFG as a program allowance and by federal ministries as a project allowance , are used to cover the so-called indirect project costs (e.g. provision of offices and workstations, administrative facilities that support the project, etc.). The university decides autonomously on the use of the overhead, but it may only be spent on indirect costs - and not to reinforce the project funds. The overhead is therefore not available to the project leaders.
It is generally possible to submit applications to funding bodies that do not pay overheads. However, if funding bodies exempt the application for overheads, these must be applied for in full.
You can find the current version here: https: //service.tu-dortmund.de/group/intra/hilfestellung-zur-inhaltlichen-antragsgestaltung
The document is aimed at members of TU Dortmund University who are preparing applications for third-party funding. It is intended to provide support in the preparation of such applications, especially in the consideration of non-scientific review criteria, which are becoming increasingly important in addition to the research idea and expertise. The document provides information on the existing structures and support services at TU Dortmund University in relation to various cross-cutting topics. It also contains general information about TU Dortmund University, such as facts and figures, which can be used in the applications. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the funding advice team.
EU collaborative projects are characterized by the complementary composition of the consortium. If your consortium still lacks expertise, we offer support in the search for suitable partners, e.g. via the partner search function of the Funding & Tenders Portal.