In working out what to write in each section of the application form or attachment, you will need to refer closely to various sources of information, most of which have already been mentioned:

·        the appropriate online ESRC Je-S research grants proposal form (you can print out a blank. partially or fully completed application form as a pdf file)

·        the accompanying online Je-S notes for guidance covering each section of the form and the mandatory and optional attachments

·        the advice on constructing a good proposal on the ESRC Today website

·        the current ESRC Research Funding Guide which includes an extensive account of ESRC rules governing the eligibility of applicants, allowable expenditure and so on.

The main differences between the forms for the ESRC small grant and first grant schemes are that the first grant full proposal form includes the nomination of reviewers, and the first grant outline and full proposal forms include the nomination of a mentor and plans for professional development. The guidance below covers all the sections of a small grant and first grant outline and full proposal, at the time of writing (summer 2010). The first grant outline proposal requires less detail on costings than the full proposal or the small grants proposal.

If you are interested in detailed guidance on what needs to go into each section of the application form and attachments, plus the rationale (in italics) for this guidance, download the ESRC proposal guidance file here.