STFC requirements

What does the STFC expect?

Further sources of help

• DATA MANAGEMENT PLAN REQUIRED AT APPLICATION? Yes, a data management plan is required at the application stage for most funding schemes, with the exception of Public Engagement.
  • Guidance is provided on what the plan should cover. The plan should not be longer than two pages of A4.
  • The STFC advises that Digital Curation Centre (DCC) guidance is followed.
• HELP WITH COSTS? Any resources required to preserve and share the data should be specified and justified.
• WHEN AND WHERE TO DEPOSIT DATA: The length of any period of exclusive access to data (e.g. to allow the study team to exploit the results of their research) should be specified and justified.
  • Where there are accepted norms within a field, they should normally be followed. Data underpinning published research outputs should generally be available within six months of the output’s publication.
  • Data should normally be deposited in an appropriate repository – for example, an institutional repository, or a subject-specific database.
• ACCESS AND DATA SHARING: Data should be made openly available, unless there are specific reasons (e.g. legal or ethical ones) why this should not happen.
  • Where possible, the original data should be retained for a minimum of ten years from the end of the project. Where data is not re-measurable, efforts should be made to retain it indefinitely.
  • Data should be accompanied by sufficient metadata to enable reuse.

• STFC Scientific Data Policy
• STFC Data Management Plan Guidance
• STFC Data Management Review Guidance
• UKRI Guidance on Best Practice in the Management of Research Data
• Data Management Planning: STFC Funding Applicants – a guide prepared by the University of Bristol Research Data Service (PDF)
• A BBSRC data management plan template is available via DMPonline