Funding opportunities
There are a number of internal and external funding opportunities, which aim to facilitate the development of international research collaborations. See more information below.
Faculty
International Partnering Travel Award (IPTA) 2025
The Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health (FBMH) is pleased to announce the International Partnering Travel Award (IPTA). The purpose of the award is to provide funds for FBMH research teams to build relationships with groups of overseas researchers and technical specialists, through a series of secondments to international institutions. Collaboration with overseas researchers leads to huge benefits for our research and innovation community. It is therefore important that we continue to ensure that strong linkages are developed and sustained across our research themes. This new award aims to support the development of long-term relationships between FBMH research teams and groups of international collaborators. An award of up to £30,000 will be allocated over three years.
Scope
Applications are invited from research teams to support FBMH colleagues to undertake secondments in overseas research institutions. Awards can be used to fund travel and accommodation costs for PhD students, Post-Doctoral Research Assistants (PDRAs) and Experimental Officers only. Funds to cover the costs associated with lab space and consumables should be covered by the host institution.
The IPTA will fund secondments (for PhD students, PDRAs and Experimental Officers), which will enable collaboration between teams of research groups, rather than partnerships between individual research groups. The focus of this award is to facilitate a ‘team research’ approach to the development of international partnerships. Secondments should enable high-level collaboration between laboratories, with a view to submitting joint applications to larger international research funding sources as well as the production of high-quality research outputs.
Deadline for submission: Midday 31st October 2025
Bicentenary PhD Studentships and Fellowships
The University of Manchester has been at the centre of discovery for the past 200 years and, as we look forward, our researchers will continue to pursue solutions to the most pressing global challenges that affect our world, our societies and our health.
To celebrate our bicentenary and drive discovery and innovation in bioscience, biomedical and health research, we are proud to announce the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health Bicentenary PhD Studentships and Fellowships.
Commencing in October 2025, the University is making a major investment into postgraduate research including 70 fully funded PhD studentships in the Faculty over the next two years.
Join us at the forefront of world leading research spanning our Faculty and Schools, with studentships targeted across four major interdisciplinary research themes.
As a Bicentenary PhD Studentship Postgraduate Researcher, you will join world leading research teams, and benefit from vibrant training and research environments, dedicated support through our Doctoral Academy, and become part of an inclusive, supportive, and thriving PhD student community.
Visiting Scholar Program - Manchester Cell-Matrix Centre
This is a funding stream as part of the Wellcome DRP (Discovery Research Platform) to the Centre, where visiting post-docs/PhDs/Technologists can spend a couple of months at the University of Manchester.
Empowering the Next Generation of Scientists. Opportunity to be hosted in Manchester for hands-on training in cutting-edge matrix biology techniques.
Who Can Apply:
PhD students, postdocs, research associates, & technologists from:
- Lower and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs)Under-resourced groups or institutions
- Under-represented backgrounds
For more information email:
Julia.Schoonover@Manchester.ac.uk
University
Equity and Merit Scholarships for international master’s students
The UN's Sustainable Development Goals set the direction toward a better, more sustainable future for all. Our Equity and Merit Scholarships aim to empower young professionals in the Global South to deliver solutions to meet these interlinked goals.
Equity and Merit Scholarships are for academically excellent students who have the potential to make a significant contribution to sustainable development in their home countries.
The awards are intended for those who cannot afford to study in Manchester without a scholarship. We are committed to a policy of equal opportunity and all applications are considered on their merit. We particularly encourage women to apply.
We offer two types of scholarship:
- Full-time, on-campus master’s (one-year duration).
- Part-time, distance learning master’s (three to five years duration).
There are 30 scholarships (20 for full-time study and ten for online study) available for a range of courses in engineering, environment, health sciences, development, education, textiles and law. The scheme is open to applicants from Ethiopia, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe.
The scholarships cover full tuition fees, and for students who will be studying in Manchester, the award includes return international airfares, living expenses and visas.
Application opens 1st August 2025
External
ERC Starting Grants – Deadline 14th October 2025
Read the full details of the scheme and guidance documents.
The ERC Starting Grant 2026 webinar recording is now available - ERC Starting Grant 2026 Webinar this webinar offers participants detailed and practical information about the ERC Starting Grant scheme.
Please contact your Research Support Team for advice on budgets and submission rules.
All proposals must include a letter of commitment from the host institution, the letter for this call is attached.
All Horizon Europe calls are issued via the Participant Portal you will need to register to set up or view a proposal - the University’s PIC is 999903840 – please do not set up a new PIC when creating a proposal.
Please note the resubmission rules (pages 8/9 of the Information for Applicants):
Daiwa Foundation Awards
Awards of £9,000-£18,000 are available for collaborative projects that enable British and Japanese partners to work together in the context of an institutional relationship.
In order to fund as many applications as we possibly can, given our limited budget, we typically award an average of £9,000 to successful Award applications. Our funding rarely covers an application’s budget in full, but is meant to be a “contribution” to the proposed project.
- £9,000-£18,000 Organisational collaborative project, all fields
- Deadlines: twice a year, 30 September (notification of results to be sent by 30 November) and 31 March every year, notification of results to be sent by 31 May
Daiwa Foundation Small Grants
- £3m,000-£4,000 all fields
- Application from UK researchers to UK office or Japanese researchers to Japan office
- Deadlines: twice a year, 30 September and 31 March every year, notification of results to be sent by 31 May
Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation
Butterfield awards: £10,000 per year up to three years
Deadline: 15 December every year to start the project in the middle of March
Travel grants: £2,000 to £2,500 for more than two weeks
Deadline: 31st March, 15th September and 15th December for consideration by our Trustees in May, November and March respectively.
The Sakura Science Exchange Program
The Sakura Science Exchange Program (SSEP, sponsored by JST -Japan Science and Technology Agency) that offers students/staff access to short-term overseas activities during their undergraduate and postgraduate studies. This also extends to post-docs and junior faculties.
Course A: Science and Technology Experience Course
Course B: Collaborative Research Activities Course
Course C: Science and Technology Training Course
This Japanese government initiative would cover travel expenses, allowing Manchester students to participate without financial burden.
The SSEP operates with multiple application deadlines throughout the year. You can find application details here
Horizon Europe 2025 MSCA Doctoral Networks call now open
The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Doctoral Networks will implement doctoral programmes, by partnerships of universities, research institutions and research infrastructures, businesses including SMEs, and other socio-economic actors from different countries across Europe and beyond, including Third Countries.
Proposals for doctoral networks can reflect existing or planned research partnerships among the participating organisations.
The deadline for this call is 28 November 2025 (4pm UK time) and the projects are expected to start in August 2026.
Further details for this call and on how to apply can be found on the call page on the EU Funding & Tenders portal as well as the MSCA Doctoral Networks page.
The University MSCA DN guidance note is attached.
Further Information
- Horizon Europe – Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Doctoral Networks 2025 – Call info day
- UKRO 2025 MSCA Doctoral Networks Information Webinar
- UKRO Factsheet – Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
- MSCA National Contact Point
Horizon Europe
There are currently 469 calls open for submission.
BBSRC International Travel Award Scheme (ITAS)
Closing date: rolling call
To help scientists add an international dimension to their BBSRC-funded research by making and establishing new contacts with international counterparts. Applicants must hold an active BBSRC grant.
UKRI Collaborate with researchers in Brazil
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and FAPESP have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to support collaborative applications. It provides for a lead agency agreement whereby participant UKRI research councils receive and assess joint applications from eligible UK and Brazil-based researchers from the state of São Paulo on behalf of both organisations.
Closing date: Open - no closing date
MRC Pre-announcement: Japan research collaboration in neuroscience, neurodegenerative diseases and dementia
Closing date: TBC
Apply for funding to work with researchers in Japan in the fields of neuroscience, neurodegenerative diseases and dementia. MRC will provide matched funding with the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED).