Applying for a DFG Research Training Group 

Are you planning to submit a proposal for a DFG Research Training Group (RTG/IRTG)?

We will be happy to support you throughout the entire process – from the initial idea and the draft and full proposal stages to the review process and the decision by the DFG. We also provide support with renewal proposals.

Please contact us at an early stage. This enables us to provide the best possible support with scheduling, internal coordination, the strategic development of your proposal and budget planning.

Please feel free to contact us. Team

• Overview of process and timeline

  Applying for a DFG Research Training Group involves several stages and requires coordination within the University. Our guidance documents and tools will help you plan the process:

  • RTG process overview
    Information on all proposal stages, the necessary process steps and internal coordination procedures at the University of Münster.
  • RTG schedule planner
    Enter your intended start date for funding to calculate when the individual stages of the proposal process are likely to take place.

• Concept development stage

  At this stage, you develop your initial idea, assess whether the funding programme is suitable for your project and assemble the academic consortium. We will be happy to advise you on the funding programme and the strategic preparation of your project.
  Please contact us during this early stage so that we can discuss the next steps and agree on a realistic timeline for your proposal in a Kick-off meeting.

• Draft proposal stage

  During the draft proposal stage, we support you with the strategic and formal development of your proposal, budget planning and the necessary internal coordination processes.

  We provide the following resources:

  • Draft proposal checklist
    A detailed checklist for ticking off the key, mandatory process steps for full and renewal proposals.
  • RTG proposal table assistant 
    Our table assistant supports you in preparing the tables and calculations required for your proposal. It includes examples of tables, requested modules and budget calculations.
  • Toolbox for research funding proposals
    Our toolbox offers information on cross-cutting themes relevant to applications and the corresponding central services at the University of Münster, for example concerning the topics equity and research data management.
  • We provide you with strategic recommendations for optimising your proposal and review it in terms of formal requirements and the cost calculation. In collaboration with Department 6.4, we review CVs and lists of publications. 
  • We coordinate the review of your proposal by the Rectorate Research Council.

  • Project finance overview (DE)
    This spreadsheet enables you to provide a summary of the financial data for the proposed RTG. It serves as the basis for discussing funding arrangements with the Rectorate, supplemented in individual cases by a face-to-face meeting.
  • We will obtain the required signature from the Rectorate for the receipt document, and prepare a covering letter if needed.

• Establishment proposal and renewal proposal stage

  Once you have been invited to submit a full proposal, we support you with its further development, budget planning and the necessary internal coordination processes. The same applies to renewal proposals.

  We provide the following resources:

  • Full proposal checklist
    A detailed checklist for ticking off the key, mandatory process steps for full and renewal proposals.
  • RTG proposal table assistant 
    Our table assistant supports you in preparing the tables and calculations required for your proposal. It includes examples of tables, requested modules and budget calculations.

  • Toolbox for research funding proposals
    Our toolbox offers information on cross-cutting themes relevant to applications and the corresponding central services at the University of Münster, for example concerning the topics equity and research data management.

  • We provide you with strategic recommendations for optimising your proposal and review it in terms of formal requirements and the cost calculation. In collaboration with Department 6.4, we review CVs and lists of publications. 

    We coordinate the review of your proposal by the Rectorate Research Council.

  • Project finance overview (DE)
    This spreadsheet enables you to provide a summary of the financial data for the proposed RTG. It serves as the basis for the budget meeting with the Rectorate.
  • We will obtain the required signature from the Rectorate for the receipt document, and prepare a covering letter if needed.
  • We are happy to take part in trial runs for on-site reviews on request and provide you with feedback on talks and poster presentations.