General approach to coding
The strategic aim of coding using the Health Research Classification System is to capture the main objective of the research taking place during the lifetime of the award and not the background or future potential downstream applications of the research (often referred to in the first or last sentence of the abstract).
Every research award is classified using the two dimensions of the coding system, both Research Activity Codes and Health Categories.
All the assigned Research Activity Codes and Health Categories must also be allocated a percentage relevance to the research.
The percentage allocated for each code represents a proportion of the total award value. The total percentage allocated on each dimension must add up to 100% to ensure there is no double counting of award funds.
Use the minimum number of codes to reflect the main focus of the research.
Multiple codes and percentage allocations
Multiple codes should be equally apportioned across the assigned codes e.g. two codes should be apportioned 50% each. This means apportioning equal percentages should be limited to the following options:
Two codes = 50%, 50%
Three codes = 33.33%, 33.33%, 33.33%
Four codes = 25%, 25%, 25%, 25%
Five codes = 20%, 20%, 20%, 20%, 20%
Exceptions to this rule can only be made in circumstances where different emphases of research aims are specifically stated in the research objectives, and then only in the following combinations: 75%, 25%; 66.66%, 33.33%; 50%, 25%, 25%. No other percentage allocations should be used.
Note we are aware that different grant management systems handle one third percentage allocations in different ways (e.g. 33, 33.3, 33.33, even 34/33/33). For analyses, we recommend using a minimum of two decimal places.
See further guidance on: