NIH F31 Budget Guide for Predoctoral Applicants


Filling out the NIH F31 Application – Budget Guide:

This article covers the budget portion of NIH F31 applications. For a comprehensive guide, please see KB0034036.

The following guidance can also be used for the predoctoral phase of NIH F99/K00 applications. The postdoctoral phase needs to use NRSA postdoctoral rates.

 

Detailed Budget Format

A detailed budget is a required component for a complete Kuali PD record. 

A simplified budget template for F31s is available for download from the Forms page on Blink. Any workbook format (xls/xlsx/xlsm) is acceptable as long as costs are itemized and formulas are intact.

NIH fellowship awards do not include a separate reimbursement for indirect costs. Costs for administering fellowships are covered by the Institutional Allowance. 

 

Projected Budgets

Select the Projected Budget in accordance with the years of support you are requesting from the NIH.
The following budgets assume no childcare costs (over 95% of UCSD F31 applicants do not request childcare costs). Childcare costs may be requested if eligible. See NOT-OD-24-116.
Projected budgets are subject to change without notice and based on changes/adjustments from predoctoral stipend level, institutional allowance, and UCSD Graduate Division tuition and fees.
 
 
* Per NRSA Policy, health insurance is paid from the institutional allowance.
 
 
There are two locations within the ASSIST application where you need to enter budget information: R&R Cover and Fellowship Supplement.
 

R&R Cover

Once you have accessed the NIH F31 application in ASSIST, see Form SF424 (Application for Federal Assistance) under the R&R Cover tab. 

Fill out Line 15 (Estimated Project Funding) based on the selected budget projection chart.

For Lines A and C, enter the total from the Total row (green on the Projected Budget). 

For Lines B and D, enter $0. 

 
 

Fellowship Supplement

Fill out Line 27 (Budget Section: Tuition and Fees) using the Net NRSA Tuition and Fees row (blue on the Projected Budget) from your selected projected budget table. Unused years should be left blank (do not enter zeros).

 
 
 
 

Budget Projection FAQs:

Where does the Stipend amount come from?

NIH sets the predoctoral stipend level.

Where does the Institutional Allowance amount come from?

NIH sets the Institutional Allowance.

Where did the Tuition and Fees numbers come from?

Tuition and Fees Chart from Graduate Division T/F page. Everything except for the health insurance fee is included in the total of tuition and fees. Health insurance is not an allowable cost for the tuition and fees request for NIH. Health insurance may be paid out of the institutional allowance. For the current application cycle, a projected 3.5% increase was applied to out years.

Are you sure the numbers on the table are correct? Some of the projected years exceed $16,000.

Yes, the numbers on the table are correct. Please use them as written. Do not enter $16,000 per year.

NIH policy is that they will award 60% of the actual tuition level at the applicant institution, up to $16,000 per year. This means that the actual tuition levels should be entered on the budget and NIH will award 60% of that amount up to a maximum payment of $16,000.

Example 1: If a budget is entered with tuition and fees = $16,000, then NIH will award $9,600 because 60% of $16,000 is $9,600, which is below the maximum amount.
Example 2: If a budget is entered with tuition and fees = $30,000, then NIH will award $16,000 because 60% of $30,000 is $18,000, which exceeds the maximum amount.