Guidelines

Our guidelines govern the research and travel grants that we award. Please read the guidelines carefully before you apply a grant from NSfK. If you still have questions after having read the guidelines, please contact the NSfK Secretariat.

§ 1 – Objective

The aim of the Nordic Research Council for Criminology (NSfK) is to promote criminological research in the Nordic countries. NSfK provide financial support for the following categories, further specified in these Guidelines:

  1. research projects
  2. working group meetings and contact seminars
  3. travel grants

Applications regarding support for research, working group meetings, contact seminars and travels are evaluated according to guidelines for funding approved by the Council.

Applications for research projects, working group meetings and contact seminars (see § 3 and §4) is reviewed by the Council in the beginning of March.

Applications for travel grants (see § 5) are reviewed by the chairperson of NSfK throughout the year.

Financial support is awarded within the framework approved by the Council at its annual meeting.

No support is provided for already completed research projects.

The research must be carried out in one or more of the Nordic member countries.

§ 2 – The applicant

Individual researchers as well as groups may apply for financial support from NSfK. The researcher must be based in a Nordic country. NSfK research grants will not be transferred outside the Nordics.

The research grants are not intended to finance Master’s degree studies. Under special circumstances, undergraduates writing their thesis may receive travel grants.

§ 3 – Awarding research support

Research support may for instance include:

  • salary or grant to the applying researcher or researcher’s staff
  • expenses for purchase of research materials (e.g. study trips)
  • expenses for data collection, processing and analysis
  • expenses for translation
  • publishing or language editing of research reports

New research projects, including research projects not previously supported by the Nordic Research Council for Criminology will be regarded in the decision process.

The following guidelines apply to the awarding of research projects:

A) Salary or grant to the researcher:

  • It is expected that the researcher who is awarded a grant will take full- or part-time leave during the period in which he or she receives research support from NSfK.

B) Support for overhead expenses:

  • Funds to cover overhead expenses may normally be awarded at a level not exceeding 20 % of the salary or grant.

C) Support for purchase of literature, computer equipment, software:

  • Support for purchase of literature, computer equipment, etc. is given only in exceptional cases.

§ 4 – Guidelines for awarding of support for working groups and contact seminars

Support may be awarded for the holding of working group meetings for researchers planning or initiating a joint research project, or who wish to establish research related cooperation in another form.

Contact seminars gather researchers, policy makers and practitioners from the Nordic countries. The Contact seminars serve as a cross-professional expert forum in various areas of common concern for the Nordic countries.

The following guidelines apply for working group and contact seminar grants:

  • The grant is meant for covering direct meeting expenses (travel, accommodation, meeting facilities and meals.) Max. 20 % of the grant received can be used for overhead costs (including salary costs of the organizers of the meeting).
  • The budget of the meeting should be at a reasonable level (i.e. average hotels, economy class flight tickets, no daily allowances, reasonable meal costs).
  • The working groups and contact seminars must involve researchers and practitioners from at least three of the Nordic countries.

§ 5 – Travel grants

By travel grant is meant support for expenses for transport, accommodation etc. in connection with shorter or extended travels. The grant can be awarded only once a year to one person.

Travel grants are awarded on the basis of the cheapest possible means of transport. Only in exceptional cases defined in the application can travel grant be used to cover costs for use of private vehicle.

In addition, the following guidelines must be followed when applying for a travel grant:

A) Support for participation in conferences:

  • Travel grants for up 8 200 NOK may be awarded by the chairperson to cover travel and accomodation connected to a researcher’s participation in a conference within or outside the Nordic countries.
  • The applicant must present a paper at the conference describing his or her own criminological project of Nordic relevance.

B) Research trips:

  • Support up to 16 400 NOK may be awarded by the chairperson to cover full or partial expenses for trips in one or more Nordic countries when the trip is undertaken for research purposes.
  • Priority is given to early career researchers and/or researchers without possibilities for institutional funding.

C) Research stay abroad:

  • Travel and living expenses up to 16 400 NOK may be awarded by the chairperson for carrying out research related travel outside the Nordics.
  • Priority is given to early career researchers and/or researchers without possibilities for institutional funding.
  • An individual travel grant of max. 8 200 NOK can be given to a PhD student for participation in an academic course in a foreign university.

§ 6 – Payment of grants and reporting

An agreement is signed with the Nordic Research Council for Criminology before funds are disbursed. In the case of travel grants, the recipient is reimbursed after documentation and report from the trip is approved by the Chair..

The agreement includes detailed conditions that apply to the grant, including, but not limited to:

  • A financial (documentation of costs from the researchers institution) and a scientific report to the Secretariat as to how the grant has been used. The deadline for financial and scientific reporting is  three months after the date by which the project will be completed. .
  • That possible grant leftover has to be returned.
  • Any previously received grants must be completed and reported before an applicant  can be considered for new funding.

Our guidelines govern the research and travel grants that we award. Please read the guidelines carefully. If you still have questions, please contact the NSfK Secretariat.

These guidelines have been revised in accordance with the Council’s decisions in March 2024. The guidelines take effect June 3rd 2024.