Participant support costs and human subject payments (research incentives) have very distinct definitions and different budget and processing considerations. Please see below for information on these two types of payments.

Participant Support Costs


As defined in 2 CFR 200.1, means direct costs for items such as stipends or subsistence allowances, travel allowances, and registration fees paid to or on behalf of participants or trainees (but not employees) in connection with conferences or training projects. Amounts must be reasonable, based on type and duration of the activity, and outlined in the program solicitation.

Participants perform no work or services for the project or program other than for their own benefit. A participant is not involved in providing any deliverable to the University or a third party. Participants may include students, scholars, scientists from other institutions, individuals from the private sector, teachers, and state or local government personnel. UNT Employees are not eligible to receive participant support.

Participant support costs may include the following expenses:
    • Event registration fees
    • Stipend (predetermined amount regardless of actual costs) for housing and subsistence allowance
    • Travel costs when the sole purpose of the trip is to participate in the project activity
    • Event support costs for lodging and food expenses paid directly to the event facility, only if the payment is made on behalf of, or reimbursed directly to, the participant
    • Meals and incidentals when on participants are on travel status
    • Training materials
All costs that are reimbursed or paid on behalf of the participant must be incurred within the project period and be specifically allowed by the sponsoring agency. Participant support costs are budgeted in a separate line and must be accounted for separately.Funds provided for participant support costs that are not spent cannot be rebudgeted for use in other categories except with the prior written approval of the sponsor. In most cases, unspent participant support funds must be returned to the sponsor.

Food and Meals for Participants (NSF)
NSF allows for a subsistence allowance or per diem to be paid to Participants to use for meals as Participant Support. If a meal is provided to a Participant at the conference or training, it can be provided as Participant Support as long as:
    • The per person cost of the meal is less than the Per Diem meal allocation for the meal and location; and
    • The Participant is not also receiving a Per Diem allowance OR the amount of the Per Diem allowance is reduced by the meal allocation.
Costs for meals for non-Participants and the portion of the actual meal cost that exceeds the per diem for the Participant(s) is not allowed as Participant Support on NSF Awards. Only the cost of meals for Participants up to the per diem amount are allowable as Participant Support. NSF Grant Proposal Guide

Human Subject Payments


Also known as Research Incentives. These payments include cash, checks, gift cards, gift giveaways, food, drawings, etc. given to participants in research that are consistent with the approved IRB protocol

These are incentive payments to encourage individuals to participate in research study and provide private data/information through intervention or interaction. This includes participation in surveys and interviews. These payments/incentives must be directly related to research activities and the budget justifications should include a correlation between the payment and the research activity.

  • Human Subject Payments shall be treated as Other Direct Costs in the budget
  • The full F&A rate is applicable.

For more information, please contact rochelle.sykes@unt.edu.