You are here: Home / Research Office / Grant Management / Post award management and reporting / ARC grants

Ongoing management and reporting of ARC Funded Grants

Funding Agreement and Obligations

The University and the ARC enter a funding agreement for all new grants. Investigators are required to read and be aware of their obligations under the relevant funding agreement. Funding Agreements have been referred to as Funding Contracts, Conditions of Grant and Conditions of Award in some ARC programs.

A summary of the funding agreement for the ARC Discovery, Linkage and linkage Infrastructure and Equipment are provided below.

ARC Discovery Projects

ARC Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities (LIEF)

ARC Linkage Projects

Please refer to the ARC website - http://www.arc.gov.au/applicants/fundingrules.htm for funding agreement on all ARC funded schemes.

Variation to Funding Agreement/Contract

Over the duration of a project changes in circumstances may necessitate a Variation of the Funding Contact/Agreement.

A Variation of Funding Contract/Agreement must be requested through the University Research Office.

If you are required to advise the ARC about any changes to your grant, please contact the relevant Research Office personnel who will liaise with the ARC on your behalf.

Back to Top

Transfers of ARC Linkage Grants

The transfer of linkage grants into and out of the University of Sydney is managed by staff from the Research Office and Sydnovate. The Research Office should be contacted as early as possible once the possibility arises of a named investigator on a Linkage grant moving to or from USyd as approval to transfer is not automatic. Due to the involvement of partner organisations/agreements and scholarship students this process is usually complex. From time to time it may be better not to transfer administration of the grant to or from USyd. Relevant considerations in making a decision are listed below. We will need all of the information below in order to come to a decision about a transfer:

Ø Remainder of funding and funding period: if less than one year transfer of administration will not usually be recommended given the complexity and time involved in negotiating new partner agreements. Where possible the preference in this circumstance is for the existing administering institution to continue and subcontract funding/activities to the other participating university.

Ø Involvement of research students (eg APAIs) & staff paid from the grant: if the supervisor is transferring with students then revised IP assignments will usually be required

Ø Intellectual property (Project IP generated to date)
Number of collaborating partners: the higher the number the greater the complexity in re-negotiating agreements, and thus the less attractive it is to transfer administration

Ø Other named investigators and their employing university: ARC rules require the university of the first named investigator to be the administering institution. If the sole named investigator is relocating then we will almost certainly need to transfer administration

Ø Strategic and/or relational benefits: there may be occasions where the benefit to the university outweighs the other costs involved with the transfer

Ø Contractual Arrangements (ie: novate/terminate/new agreement) and terms and conditions of existing agreements (ie. compliance with USyd policies)

Back to Top

Progress reports

Progress reports must be submitted to the Research Office two weeks before the ARC submission date. Progress Reports for Discovery and Linkage Projects (including Fellowships) are required to be submitted to the Research Office by 17th January each year.

Please note:

  • If you have finished your project but will carry over funds into the following year please complete a progress report.
  • Ensure that your progress report is consistent with any request to carry forward funds.
  • Linkage Projects in Round 2 which have been underway for less than one year do not need to submit a Progress Report.
  • Discovery Project Fellowship reports should be forwarded to
  • Link to Progress Reports
Back to Top

Final reports

Final reports for ARC Discovery Projects and Large Grants are required by the ARC within 6 months of the completion date. Please confirm with your finance officer that all funds have been expended before completing the final report.

Final Reports should be completed using the ARC Grants Management System (GAMS). You are also required to advise the Research Office that your Final Report is ready for submission to the ARC. The electronic submission via the Research Office is the University’s sign-off on the grant. No paper copy of the Final Report is required.

Back to Top

ARC Conditions of Award: Requirements for Progress Reports, Final Reports, Annual Reports and Carry Forward requests

You should note that the ARC reserves the right to suspend payment of further instalments of any current grant until the appropriate reports have been received and assessed as satisfactory. Furthermore, as the ARC increases its focus on the outcomes of funded research, it is essential that researchers keep up to date with their reporting responsibilities particularly those intending to apply for new Discovery-Projects in the current round.

Back to Top