Peer review is used as the method of assessment for responsive mode, conditional mode and managed mode research proposals to ensure that projects which are funded are of high technical merit, and are relevant, timely and cost effective. Given below, in schematic form, are the steps involved in the assessment of responsive mode proposals. This is followed by a more detailed explanation of the procedures. The arrangements for the assessment of conditional mode and managed mode proposals are analogous to these, although managed programmes may have additional steps eg calls for outline proposals. International referees may be used.
Referees complete a standard assessment form for ease of interpretation.
Those proposals on which at least two of the referees are not strongly supportive are rejected, and the proposer notified. The proposals passing the first stage will then be grouped together and considered by a panel of reviewers selected from the college. In the second stage the review panel ranks the set of proposals according to their quality. Evaluation panels have been appointed to review research, education and training activity. In turn, the investigator is responsible for ensuring the best use of resources in order to achieve the aims and objectives of the research.