Direct comparison
Qr Funding Vs Project Grants: Key Differences & Comparison | CASRAI
QR (quality-related) funding and project grants are the two streams of the UK's dual-support system. QR is unhypothecated block funding allocated on REF results; project grants are competitive awards for specific research from research councils and charities.
Side-by-side comparison
| Dimension | QR funding | Project grants |
|---|---|---|
| Source | UK funding bodies (e.g. Research England) — the funding-body arm | Research councils (UKRI), charities and other funders |
| Basis of allocation | Allocated by formula on REF quality and volume profiles | Competitive — awarded on the merit of a specific proposal |
| What it funds | Whatever the institution prioritises within research | A specific, proposed project with defined aims |
| Flexibility | Unhypothecated — institution decides how to spend it | Restricted to the funded project and its budget |
| Time horizon | Ongoing, recurrent block funding between REF cycles | Fixed-term, tied to the project duration |
| Role in dual support | The block-grant half — stability and strategic capacity | The competitive half — targeted, project-specific support |
| Accountability | Accountable via REF performance and institutional governance | Accountable via grant conditions, reporting and outputs |
| Examples | Research England QR allocations to English universities | A UKRI research-council grant or a charity research award |
Common questions
FAQ
What is the UK dual-support system?+
It is the principle that UK universities receive research funding through two complementary routes: block-grant QR funding allocated by the funding bodies on the basis of REF results, and competitive project grants awarded by research councils and other funders. The aim is to combine a stable, flexible institutional base with targeted, peer-reviewed support for specific work.
Why is QR funding called "unhypothecated"?+
Because it is not tied to a specified purpose. Unlike a project grant, which must be spent on the funded project, QR funding can be directed by the institution towards its own priorities — supporting early-career researchers, seed-funding new ideas, or maintaining infrastructure — which gives universities strategic flexibility.
Does the REF directly award grants to researchers?+
No — the REF assesses research quality and produces profiles that funding bodies use to allocate QR block funding to institutions, not to individuals or specific projects. Competitive grants to researchers come separately from research councils and charities through their own application processes.
Going deeper
