The University Secretariat and Legal Counsel manages a University Wide Policy Library, including Research Policies. Relevant research policy links are also listed below for convenience.
The purpose of this policy is to state the position of Queen's University on the recovery and distribution of the Indirect Costs of Sponsored Research activity. The policy was updated on April 11, 2025 and comes into effect May 1, 2025.
The Indirect Costs recovery rate will be 40% of the Direct Costs where funds will be supplied under a Research Agreement. This recovey rate is subject to the following exceptions:
- 35% of the Direct Costs where funds will be supplied under a Clinical Trial Agreement
- 25% of the Direct Costs where the External Sponsor is a commercial entity and the External Sponsor's funds are to be matched with funds from a government or not-for-profit agency that are contingent upon the External Sponsor's contribution, or
- a different recovery rate prescribed by the External Sponsor in published terms or policy, which are approved by the University.
The University does recognize that unique circumstances may arise in Research Agreement negotiations requiring a variation in the relevant Indirect Costs recovery rate. Approval by the Vice-Principal Research is required for variations in the published Indirect Costs recovery rates. Please see full policy for details, and when requesting a variance of indirect cost rate, use the folllowing form:
When applying to Tri-Agency programs eligible for indirect cost recovery via the Research Support Fund (RSF) to institutions, applicants do not need to include indirect costs in their funding application. All Tri-Agency programs are eligible for RSF credit except those listed here, and in those cases the relevant indirect cost rate will be posted with Queen’s approved rates. To learn about recovery rates approved by the University, visit the Searchable Funding Database. Use the search function to find a posting and click to access opportunity details.
For information on US Federal negotiated Indirect Costs, refer to US Grants and Contracts Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (PDF 828 KB).
If the information you need is not available, please contact us at research@queensu.ca.
Related procedures:
- Approval and Execution of Contracts and Invoices Policy
- Canada Foundation for Innovation Operations and Maintenance Policy
- Conflict of Interest Policy
- Collective Agreement for Post Doctoral Fellows
- Faculty Remuneration from Sponsored Research Grants
- Health and Safety Policy Statement
- Integrity in Research Policy
- Intellectual Property Guidelines: School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (PDF 209 KB)
- Intellectual Property Commercialization Policy
- Implementation of US Federal Awarding Agencies Conflicts of Interest Policy (PDF 262 KB)
- Off-Campus Activity Safety Policy
- Paying Travel Agents Using a Research Grant Policy
- Procurement Policy
- Report of the Advisory Research Committee (ARC): Ethical Conduct for Research involving Human Subjects
- Research Administration Policy
- Research Project Over-Spending and Pre-Spending Approval
- Residual Research Project Balances
- Special Research Projects Procedure
- Tracking and Managing Moveable Assets Policy
- Travel and Expense Reimbursement Policy
- University Animal Care Committee Policies
- University-Wide Policy Library
Canadian Federal Grants
- Tri-Agency Financial Administration Guide
- Tri-Agency Framework: Responsible Conduct of Research
- Tri-Agency Open Access Policy on Publications
- Tri-Council Agreement on the Administration of Agency Grants and Awards by Research Institutions
- Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans
US Federal Grants
Tools for Research at Queen's (TRAQ)
- Tools for Research at Queen's (TRAQ) Supportive Documents
- Transfer of Research Funded Assets
- TRAQ Final Budget Template (EXCEL 232 KB)
- TRAQ Signing Authority Form (PDF 374 KB)
- KHSC Clinical Engineering Services Study Request Form (PDF 914 KB)
- KHSC Clinical Laboratories Study Request Form (PDF 338 KB)
- KHSC Pharmacy Services Study Request Form (PDF 313 KB)
Financial Conflicts of Interest
- National Institutes of Health (NIH):
- Financial Conflict of Interest Form - MEMO Document (View on National Institutes of Health page)
- Financial Conflict of Interest Form - Consent & Disclosure Form (View on National Institutes of Health page)
- US Federal Grants (non-NIH):
- Disclosure and Consent Form for Significant Financial Interests (View on US Federal Grants page)
- Implementation of US Federal Awarding Agencies Conflicts of Interest Policy (View on US Federal Grants page)
Please see Research Legal Services for information on the following:
- Equipment Loan
- Grant Agreement
- Material Transfer Agreement Questionnaire
- Non Disclosure Agreement Queen's
- Standard Research Agreement