How to Write a Winning Grant?

📍 Jakobi 2–114, Tartu

The event will be held in English.

Target group

The workshop is intended for early-career researchers applying for their first research grants (doctoral researchers in their third year or beyond) and supervisors. Researchers at an earlier stage of their careers (first- and second-year doctoral researchers) may also apply, but due to high demand, their chances of securing a place are limited.

General information

In the academic system, the ability to write successful project proposals is of utmost importance. In this in-depth workshop, we will focus on the fundamentals of writing successful grant applications, from formulating research questions and methods to budgeting and team building. In addition to the proposal writer’s perspective, participants will hear recommendations from proposal evaluators.

The practical exercises will help frame participants’ planned project proposals, whether for research or postdoctoral work. Several Estonian and international researchers from the social sciences and humanities, as well as the natural and exact sciences, will share their insights and tips for success.

Facilitators

• Eveli Kuuse, University of Tartu
• Mari Tõrv, University of Tartu
• Professor Giedre Motuzaite Matuzeviciute Keen, Vilnius University
• Ester Oras, University of Tartu
• Kati Orav
• Kelli Lehto, University of Tartu
• Hanna Hõrak, University of Tartu
• Laur Kanger, University of Tartu
• Velle Toll, University of Tartu

Accommodation and transport

Accommodation will be provided for participants travelling from Tallinn. Participants must arrange their own transport.

Registration

➤ Register HERE. The registration is open until October 18, 2026..

Maximum number of participants is 20.

Upon registration, participants are required to submit an approximately 300-word abstract of their project idea. The idea can be developed further during the workshop, and the facilitators and other participants will provide feedback at the end. The project may, for example, be a planned postdoctoral project or any another (international) grant application.

The abstract should address the following questions:

• What is the context or rationale for the project idea or research?
• What is the main research objective—that is, what should be achieved by the end of the project if everything goes according to plan?
• Which aspects of the research go beyond the current state of the art, and how is the idea or research innovative, groundbreaking or disruptive?
• How interdisciplinary is the idea or research?
• Which partners or expertise are already available, and what additional partners or expertise are needed?

For participants

Please note that this is an intensive workshop. Participants will be assigned homework related to their project idea on both the first and second days. If any circumstances may make participation difficult, please contact the designated contact person so that a suitable solution can be considered.

Contact

For further information, please contact Silvia-Kristiin Kask,silvia-kristiin.kask@ut.ee.

Estonian Doctoral School for Humanities and Arts.

The workshop is supported by

the project "Cooperation between universities to promote doctoral studies" (2021-2027.4.04.24-0003), which is co-funded by the European Union,

and by the Ministry of Education and Research Centres of Excellence grant TK215 “Estonian Roots: Centre of Excellence for transdisciplinary studies on ethnogenesis and cultural diversity”.