Record Keeping and Document Retention

Guidance on financial data retention periods

Some funders will state particular requirements for retaining financial documents related to claims. These will be detailed in the grant terms and conditions, and are summarised for the main funders below.

In the absence of specific retention conditions, all documents related to grant expenditure should be retained in line with the University’s policies

Financial Records Data Retention Periods

Documents that require to be held for retention periods that differ from the University's retention periods will need to be held locally, unless they have been electroncially scanned to the corporate finance system.  

Funder Retention Period
The Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) Research Councils UK T&Cs - All accounting information relating to the grant must be kept for 6 years after the submission date of the final expenditure statement
Arthritis Research UK Not less than 10 years after the end of the period of the award
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) Not specified
The British Academy (BA) Not specified
British Heart Foundation Not specified
Cancer Research UK Not specified

The Carnegie Trust for Universities of Scotland

Not specified

Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)

Research Councils UK T&Cs - All accounting information relating to the grant must be kept for 6 years after the submission date of the final expenditure statement
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Research Councils UK T&Cs - All accounting information relating to the grant must be kept for 6 years after the submission date of the final expenditure statement
European Commission 5 years from date of final payment (3 years from date of final payment for grants <60k EUR); original documents (digital and digitised documents are considered original)
Leverhulme Trust  Not specified
Medical Research Council (MRC) Not specified
Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) Research Councils UK T&Cs - All accounting information relating to the grant must be kept for 6 years after the submission date of the final expenditure statement
The Royal Society Not specified
Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Research Councils UK T&Cs - All accounting information relating to the grant must be kept for 6 years after the submission date of the final expenditure statement
The Wellcome Trust Until release of final 10% payment (clause 5.7)
UKRI All accounting information relating to the grant must be kept for 6 years after the submission date of the final expenditure statement