The Research Support Fund assists Canadian postsecondary institutions and their affiliated research hospitals and institutes with the expenses associated with managing the research funded by the three federal research granting agencies: CIHR, SSHRC and NSERC.
The program (formerly known as the Indirect Costs Program) was introduced in 2003 as part of the federal government’s strategy to make Canada one of the world’s top countries in research and development. It currently has a budget of nearly $400 million and serves more than 150 post-secondary institutions across the country.
Every year, the federal government invests in research excellence in the areas of health sciences, engineering, natural sciences, social sciences and humanities through its three granting agencies. The Research Support Fund reinforces this research investment by helping institutions ensure that their federally funded research projects are conducted in world-class facilities with the best equipment and administrative support available.
Indirect costs are ones that the university incurs in making research possible, but which are not covered by a research project grant. Research Support Fund grants can be used to:
This funding helps to make Canada a world leader in research and development.
At a small liberal arts university, research administration is not housed in a large, dedicated office. It is woven into the work of staff who support many parts of university life. At King’s, the Financial Controller manages the financial requirements attached to research grants—monitoring accounts and preparing the financial reporting required by SSHRC. The Assistant to the Vice-President helps faculty navigate award opportunities, institutional approvals, as well as certain applications and reporting processes, including the administration of the Research Support Fund itself.
At institutions like King’s with small research support teams, indirect cost funding helps sustain the infrastructure that keeps the research enterprise functioning: the people who guide applications, ensure compliance, troubleshoot systems and help researchers identify opportunities to strengthen programs and partnerships. They answer questions about eligibility and portals, check budgets and forms, track deadlines and ensure research funds are administered responsibly, allowing researchers to spend more time on scholarship, student mentorship and community-engaged research rather than the operational burden that accompanies grant-funded activity.
The work is often invisible, but it is foundational to a healthy and growing culture of research.
The University of King’s College gratefully acknowledges the funding provided through the Research Support Fund, part of which is used to support the management and administration of the institution’s research enterprise.
Last updated May 20, 2026
Proposed
Management and Administration of the Institution’s Research Enterprise: 40.00% ($12,000)
Research Resources 60.00% ($18,285)
Total Research Support Fund (RSF) at the University of King’s College in 2026/27: $30,285
Percentage covered by the RSF grant: 100%
Source: University of King’s College, Office of the Vice-President
Part of the RSF grant is planned to be used to cover a portion of the salaries and benefits for staff who work on research grant administration including research services and financial services staff. The remainder is planned to be put toward research resources, specifically, the library. There the funding covers a portion of the salary and benefits of professional librarians.
Proposed
Management and Administration: 40.00% ($13,437)
Research Resources 60.00% ($20,150)
Total Research Support Fund (RSF) at the University of King’s College in 2025/26: $33,587
Percentage covered by the RSF grant: 100%
Source: University of King’s College, Office of the Vice-President
Part of the RSF grant is planned to be used to cover a portion of the salaries and benefits for staff who work on research grant administration including research services and financial services staff. The remainder is planned to be put toward research resources, specifically, the library. There the funding covers a portion of the salary and benefits of professional librarians.
Actual
Management and Administration: 40.00% ($13,437)
Research Resources 60.00% ($20,150)
Total Research Support Fund (RSF) at the University of King’s College in 2025/26: $33,587
Percentage covered by the RSF grant: 100%
Source: University of King’s College, Office of the Vice-President
Part of the RSF grant was used to cover a portion of the salaries and benefits for staff who work on research grant administration including research services and financial services staff. The remainder was put toward research resources, specifically, the library. There the funding covers a portion of the salary and benefits of professional librarians.
Proposed
Management and Administration: 40.70% ($13,000)
Research Resources 59.30% ($18,967)
Total Research Support Fund (RSF) at the University of King’s College in 2024/25: $31,967
Percentage covered by the RSF grant: 100 %
Source: University of King’s College, Office of the Vice-President
Part of the RSF grant is planned to be used to cover a portion of the salaries and benefits for staff who work on research grant administration including research services and financial services staff. The remainder is planned to be put toward research resources, specifically the library. There the funding covers a portion of the salary and benefits of professional librarians.
Actual
Management and Administration: 40.70% ($13,000)
Research Resources 59.30% ($18,967)
Total Research Support Fund (RSF) at the University of King’s College in 2024/25: $31,967
Percentage covered by the RSF grant: 100 %
Source: University of King’s College, Office of the Vice-President
Part of the RSF grant was used to cover a portion of the salaries and benefits for staff who work on research grant administration including research services and financial services staff. The remainder was put toward research resources, specifically the library. There the funding covers a portion of the salary and benefits of professional librarians.
Last updated May 19, 2023
Proposed
Management and Administration: 38% ($12,000)
Research Resources 62% ($19,402)
Total Research Support Fund (RSF) at the University of King’s College in 2022/23: $31,402
Percentage covered by the RSF grant: 100 %
Source: University of King’s College, Office of the Vice-President
Part of the RSF grant is planned to be used to cover a portion of the salaries and benefits for staff who work on research grant administration including research services and financial services staff. The remainder is planned to be put toward research resources, specifically the library. There the funding covers a portion of the salary and benefits of professional librarians.
Actual
Management and Administration: 38% ($12,000)
Research Resources 62% ($19,402)
Total Research Support Fund (RSF) at the University of King’s College in 2022/23: $31,402
Percentage covered by the RSF grant: 100 %
Source: University of King’s College, Office of the Vice-President
Part of the RSF grant was used to cover a portion of the salaries and benefits for staff who work on research grant administration including research services and financial services staff. The remainder was put toward research resources, specifically the library. There the funding covers a portion of the salary and benefits of professional librarians.
Proposed
Management and Administration 28% ($12,000)
Research Resources 72% ($30,877)
Total Research Support Fund (RSF) at the University of King’s College in 2022/23: $42,877
Actual
Management and Administration: 28% ($12,000)
Research Resources 72% ($30,877)
Total Research Support Fund (RSF) at the University of King’s College in 2022/23: $42,877
Percentage covered by the RSF grant: 100%
Source: University of King’s College, Office of the Vice-President
Part of the RSF grant is planned to be used to cover a portion of the salaries and benefits for staff who work on research grant administration including research services and financial services staff. The remainder went toward research resources, specifically the library. There the funding covers a portion of the salary and benefits of professional librarians.
Proposed
Management and Administration: 18.8% ($12,000)
Research Resources: 81.2% ($51,752)
Total Research Support Fund (RSF) at the University of King’s College in 2021 – 2022: $63,752.00
Percentage covered by the RSF grant: 100 %
Source: University of King’s College, Office of the President
Actual
Management and Administration: 18.8% ($12,000)
Research Resources: 81.2% ($51,752)
Total Research Support Fund (RSF) at the University of King’s College in 2021 – 2022: $63,752.00
Percentage covered by the RSF grant: 100 %
Source: University of King’s College, Office of the President
Part of the RSF grant was used to cover a portion of the salaries and benefits for staff who work on research grant administration including research services and financial services staff. The remainder went toward research resources, specifically the library. There the funding covers a portion of the salary and benefits of professional librarians.
Management and Administration: 17% ($12,000)
Research Resources: 83% ($57,300)
Total Research Support Fund (RSF) at the University of King’s College in 2020 – 2021: $69,300.00
Percentage covered by the RSF grant 100 %
Source: University of King’s College, Office of the President
Management and Administration: 17% ($12,000)
Research Resources: 83% ($57,300)
Total Research Support Fund (RSF) at the University of King’s College in 2020 – 2021: $69,300.00
Percentage covered by the RSF grant 100 %
Source: University of King’s College, Office of the President
Part of the RSF grant was used to cover a portion of the salaries and benefits for staff who work on research grant administration including research services and financial services staff. The remainder went toward research resources, specifically the library. There the funding covers a portion of the salary and benefits of professional librarians.
Management and Administration: 22% ($12,000)
Research Resources: 78% ($43,422)
Total Research Support Fund (RSF) at the University of King’s College in 2019 – 2020: $55,422.00
Percentage covered by the RSF grant 100 %
Source: University of King’s College, Office of the President
Part of the RSF grant was used to cover a portion of the salaries and benefits for staff who work on research grant administration, for example, financial services staff. The remainder went toward research resources, specifically the library. The grant was used to support focussed book and electronic purchases in our library in the areas of modern philosophy, ethics, and the history of science. The fund supports a significant database that benefits faculty and student research in the history of science, hosted on the Dalhousie server, which is contributing to a proposal for a new program in medical humanities. It also supports collaborative research and teaching. Some of the funds went to support areas of acquisition which would have been cut due to budgetary pressures.
Management and Administration: 22% ($12,000)
Research Resources: 78% ($43,422)
Total Research Support Fund (RSF) at the University of King’s College in 2019 – 2020: $55,422.00
Percentage covered by the RSF grant 100 %
Source: University of King’s College, Office of the President
Part of the RSF grant was used to cover a portion of the salaries and benefits for staff who work on research grant administration, for example, financial services staff. The remainder went toward research resources, specifically the library. The grant was used to support focussed book and electronic purchases in our library in the areas of modern philosophy, ethics, and the history of science. The fund supports a significant database that benefits faculty and student research in the history of science, hosted on the Dalhousie server, which is contributing to a proposal for a new program in medical humanities. It also supports collaborative research and teaching. Some of the funds went to support areas of acquisition which would have been cut due to budgetary pressures.
Management and Administration: 29% ($12,000)
Research Resources: 76% ($28,733)
Total indirect costs at the University of King’s College $40,733.00
Percentage covered by the indirect costs grant 100 %
Source: University of King’s College, Office of the President
Part of the RSF grant was used to cover a portion of the salaries and benefits for staff who work on research grant administration, for example, financial services staff. The remainder went toward research resources, specifically the library. The grant was used to support focussed book and electronic purchases in our library in the areas of modern philosophy, ethics, and the history of science. The fund supports a significant database that benefits faculty and student research in the history of science, hosted on the Dalhousie server, which is contributing to a proposal for a new program in medical humanities. It also supports collaborative research and teaching. Some of the funds went to support areas of acquisition which would have been cut due to budgetary pressures.
Management and Administration: 29% ($12,000)
Research Resources: 76% ($28,733)
Total indirect costs at the University of King’s College $40,733.00
Percentage covered by the indirect costs grant 100 %
Source: University of King’s College, Office of the President
Part of the RSF grant was used to cover a portion of the salaries and benefits for staff who work on research grant administration, for example, financial services staff. The remainder went toward research resources, specifically the library. The grant was used to support focussed book and electronic purchases in our library in the areas of modern philosophy, ethics, and the history of science. The fund supports a significant database that benefits faculty and student research in the history of science, hosted on the Dalhousie server, which is contributing to a proposal for a new program in medical humanities. It also supports collaborative research and teaching. Some of the funds went to support areas of acquisition which would have been cut due to budgetary pressures.
Management and Administration: 29% ($12,000)
Research Resources: 71% ($28,977)
Total indirect costs at the University of King’s College $40,977.00
Percentage covered by the indirect costs grant 100 %
Source: University of King’s College, Office of the President
Management and Administration: 29% ($12,000)
Research Resources: 71% ($28,977)
Total indirect costs at the University of King’s College $40,977.00
Percentage covered by the indirect costs grant 100 %
Source: University of King’s College, Office of the President
Part of the RSF grant was used to cover a portion of the salaries and benefits for staff who work on research grant administration, for example, financial services staff. The remainder went toward research resources, specifically the library. The grant was used to support focussed book and electronic purchases in our library in the areas of modern philosophy, ethics, and the history of science. The fund supports a significant database that benefits faculty and student research in the history of science, hosted on the Dalhousie server, which is contributing to a proposal for a new program in medical humanities. It also supports collaborative research and teaching. Some of the funds went to support areas of acquisition which would have been cut due to budgetary pressures.
Management and Administration: 24% ($12,000)
Research Resources: 76% ($37, 627)
Total Research Support Fund at the University of King’s College: $49,627.00
Percentage covered by the RSF: 100 %
Source: University of King’s College, Office of the President
Management and Administration: 24% ($12,000)
Research Resources: 76% ($37, 627)
Total Research Support Fund at the University of King’s College: $49,627.00
Percentage covered by the RSF: 100 %
Source: University of King’s College, Office of the President
Part of the RSF grant was used to cover a portion of the salaries and benefits for staff who work on research grant administration, for example, financial services staff. The remainder went toward research resources, specifically the library. The grant was used to support focussed book and electronic purchases in our library in the areas of modern philosophy, ethics, and the history of science. The fund supports a significant database that benefits faculty and student research in the history of science, hosted on the Dalhousie server, which is contributing to a proposal for a new program in medical humanities. It also supports collaborative research and teaching. Some of the funds went to support areas of acquisition which would have been cut due to budgetary pressures.