Writing a data management plan
Most major research funders require some form of documentation at the application stage, to explain how research data will be managed.
Applicants are asked to describe any research data they intend to create, how data will be stored during the lifetime of a project and how valuable data will be shared after the project has ended. Applicants are also asked to say how much research data management will cost.
Some funders will expect a brief outline data management plan to be submitted with a grant application and a more detailed plan to be developed after funding is secured. If you would like the Research Data Service to review your data management plan please email it to us at data-bris@bristol.ac.uk.
For further information see our guides to:
- Anticipating the costs of research data management (PDF, 350kB)
- Research data evaluation guide (PDF, 313kB).
Useful tools
DMPonline is a platform for creating data management plans and provides access to templates for all the major UK and EU funding bodies.
To ask for a review of your data management plan (DMP), add data-bris@bristol.ac.uk as an editor (available under the 'Share' tab). You can also download a copy of your DMP and email it to data-bris@bristol.ac.uk.
UK and international funder policies at a glance
The key data management requirements of the major UK and international funders are shown in the dropdowns below, and more detailed planning guides are available at the bottom of the page.
| Policy area | Requirement |
|---|---|
| DMP required in grant application? | Yes |
| Funder provides DMP template? | Yes |
| Policy includes software? | Yes |
| Data publication timeframe? | Not stated |
| Data preservation timeframe? | Minimum 3 years after project end |
| Preferred data repository? | No |
| Policy compliance monitored? | Yes |
| Sanctions for non-compliance? | Not stated |
| Data management costs covered by funder? | Yes |
| Data management support service provided by funder? | No |
| Policy area | Requirement |
|---|---|
| DMP required in grant application? | Yes |
| Funder provides DMP template? | No |
| Policy includes software? | No |
| Data publication timeframe? | At publication of findings and within 3 years of project end |
| Data preservation timeframe? | Minimum 10 years after project end |
| Preferred data repository? | Yes - see list |
| Policy compliance monitored? | Yes |
| Sanctions for non-compliance? | Not stated |
| Data management costs covered by funder? | Yes |
| Data management support service provided by funder? | No |
| Policy area | Requirement |
|---|---|
| DMP required in grant application? | Yes |
| Funder provides DMP template? | No |
| Policy includes software? | Yes (stated in correspondence, not policy) |
| Data publication timeframe? | At acceptance for publication of main findings |
| Data preservation timeframe? | Minimum 5 years after grant end |
| Preferred data repository? | No |
| Policy compliance monitored? | Yes |
| Sanctions for non-compliance? | Not stated |
| Data management costs covered by funder? | Yes |
| Data management support service provided by funder? | No |
| Policy area | Requirement |
|---|---|
| DMP required in grant application? | No |
| Funder provides DMP template? | N/A |
| Policy includes software? | Yes |
| Data publication timeframe? | Within 12 months of data generation (metadata only) |
| Data preservation timeframe? | Minimum 10 years after last use |
| Preferred data repository? | No |
| Policy compliance monitored? | Yes |
| Sanctions for non-compliance? | Yes (non-specific) |
| Data management costs covered by funder? | Yes |
| Data management support service provided by funder? | No |
| Policy area | Requirement |
|---|---|
| DMP required in grant application? | Yes |
| Funder provides DMP template? | No |
| Policy includes software? | No |
| Data publication timeframe? | Within 3 months of grant end |
| Data preservation timeframe? | Not stated |
| Preferred data repository? | Yes (UK Data Archive) |
| Policy compliance monitored? | Yes |
| Sanctions for non-compliance? | Yes (final award payment withheld) |
| Data management costs covered by funder? | Yes |
| Data management support service provided by funder? | Yes |
| Policy area | Requirement |
|---|---|
| DMP required in grant application? |
Yes |
| Funder provides DMP template? | Yes |
| Policy includes software? | Yes |
| Data publication timeframe? | Not stated |
| Data preservation timeframe? | Not stated |
| Preferred data repository? | No |
| Policy compliance monitored? | Yes |
| Sanctions for non-compliance? | Not stated |
| Data management costs covered by funder? | Yes |
| Data management support service provided by funder? | No |
| Policy area | Requirement |
|---|---|
| DMP required in grant application? |
Yes |
| Funder provides DMP template? | Yes |
| Policy includes software? | No |
| Data publication timeframe? | Not stated |
| Data preservation timeframe? | Not stated |
| Preferred data repository? | No |
| Policy compliance monitored? | No |
| Sanctions for non-compliance? | Not stated |
| Data management costs covered by funder? | Yes |
| Data management support service provided by funder? | No |
| Policy area | Requirement |
|---|---|
| DMP required in grant application? | Yes |
| Funder provides DMP template? | Yes |
| Policy includes software? | Yes (Contact the relevant NERC data centre for guidance on how to preserve model code and model output.) |
| Data publication timeframe? | As soon as possible after data collection; maximum 2 year embargo permitted |
| Data preservation timeframe? | Not stated |
| Preferred data repository? | Yes (NERC Environmental Data Service - see list) |
| Policy compliance monitored? | Not stated |
| Sanctions for non-compliance? | Yes (award payments withheld and/or ineligibility for future funding) |
| Data management costs covered by funder? | Yes |
| Data management support service provided by funder? | Yes |
| Policy area | Requirement |
|---|---|
| DMP required in grant application? | Yes |
| Funder provides DMP template? | No |
| Policy includes software? | No |
| Data publication timeframe? | At acceptance for publication of main findings |
| Data preservation timeframe? | Minimum 3 years after grant end |
| Preferred data repository? | No |
| Policy compliance monitored? | Yes |
| Sanctions for non-compliance? | Yes (non-specific) |
| Data management costs covered by funder? | Yes |
| Data management support service provided by funder? | Yes |
| Policy area | Requirement |
|---|---|
| DMP required in grant application? | Yes |
| Funder provides DMP template? | No |
| Policy includes software? | Yes |
| Data publication timeframe? | Not stated |
| Data preservation timeframe? | Not stated |
| Preferred data repository? | No |
| Policy compliance monitored? | Not stated |
| Sanctions for non-compliance? | Not stated |
| Data management costs covered by funder? | Yes |
| Data management support service provided by funder? | Yes |
| Policy area | Requirement |
|---|---|
| DMP required in grant application? | Yes |
| Funder provides DMP template? | No |
| Policy includes software? | No |
| Data publication timeframe? | Within 6 months of publication of findings |
| Data preservation timeframe? | Minimum 10 years after project end |
| Preferred data repository? | No |
| Policy compliance monitored? | Not stated |
| Sanctions for non-compliance? | Not stated |
| Data management costs covered by funder? | Yes |
| Data management support service provided by funder? | No |
| Policy area | Requirement |
|---|---|
| DMP required in grant application? | Yes |
| Funder provides DMP template? | No |
| Policy includes software? | Yes |
| Data publication timeframe? | Not stated |
| Data preservation timeframe? | Not stated |
| Preferred data repository? | No |
| Policy compliance monitored? | Yes |
| Sanctions for non-compliance? | Yes (ineligibility for future funding) |
| Data management costs covered by funder? | Not stated |
| Data management support service provided by funder? | No |
| Policy area | Requirement |
|---|---|
| DMP required in grant application? | Yes |
| Funder provides DMP template? | No |
| Policy includes software? | Yes |
| Data publication timeframe? | At publication of findings |
| Data preservation timeframe? | Not stated |
| Preferred data repository? | No |
| Policy compliance monitored? | Yes (as part of end of grant reporting) |
| Sanctions for non-compliance? | Yes (ineligibility for future funding) |
| Data management costs covered by funder? | Yes |
| Data management support service provided by funder? | No |
Detailed planning guides are provided for researchers applying to the following major funders:
- Data Management Planning for AHRC funding applicants (PDF, 340kB)
- Data management planning for BBSRC funding applicants (PDF, 262kB)
- Data management planning for CRUK funding applicants (PDF, 215kB)
- Data management planning for EPSRC funding applicants (PDF, 287kB)
- Data management planning for ESRC funding applicants (PDF, 452kB)
- Data management planning for EC H2020 funding applicants (PDF, 245kB)
- Data management planning for MRC and NC3Rs funding applicants (PDF, 392kB)
- Data management planning for NERC funding applicants (PDF, 327kB)
- Data management planning for NIH funding applicants (PDF, 217kB)
- Data management planning for NSF funding applicants (PDF, 307kB)
- Data management planning for Royal Society funding applicants (PDF, 291kB)
- Data management planning for STFC funding applicants (PDF, 388kB)
- Data management planning for Wellcome Trust funding applicants (PDF, 236kB)