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

International Partnership PhD Studentships

This programme will allow you to gain a global perspective on your specialist area of research. You'll be based at Manchester but will spend time with a partner university, learning from leading academics and benefitting from research expertise and facilities at both institutes.

These studentships will cover an annual stipend at UKRI rate, tuition fees, a £5,000 p/a Research Training Support Grant (RTSG), and a £1,000 contribution towards your postgraduate research travel costs.

Available projects are advertised in partnership with a range of global universities and research institutes including:

• KTH Royal Institute of Technology (Sweden)
• Université libre de Bruxelles (Belgium)
• University of Helsinki (Finland)
• University of Lausanne (Switzerland)
• University of Padua (Italy)

Further details

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

Further details 

Looking for EU funding opportunities - and want to stay up to date without missing a deadline?  Introducing EU funding & me: the European Commission’s Mobile App for Easier Access to EU Funding

When searching for EU funding, staying informed is just as important as finding the right call. Opportunities are published regularly, deadlines approach quickly, and keeping track of everything can become challenging.

The European Commission has launched EU funding & me, a new mobile app that brings the full power of the EU Funding & Tenders Portal directly to mobile devices, helping you stay one step ahead.

Each year, more than €38 billion in funding opportunities are made available, and the portal supports over 2 million registered users. With the new app, users can seamlessly transition to mobile without losing functionality.

Download EU funding & me now and explore EU funding on the go!

📱 The app enables users to browse EU funding opportunities, view details of calls and programmes, access project results, and stay informed with the latest funding‑related news.

🔗 Read the full press release (PDF) 

Horizon Europe Support Fund

A new fund to support you in preparing applications for Horizon Europe

Research Committee announces its first new investment towards the delivery of From Manchester, for the world.

EU research funding provides significant opportunities to access new knowledge and partners and contributes to the University’s ambition to be recognised as the best place for ambitious collaborative research. This fund provides financial support for external grant writing, consortium fees, other activities to support EU bids and complements other internal research strategy investment for pump-priming interdisciplinary research and for curiosity-driven research (call forthcoming before end February).

Research Committee is identifying funding mechanisms which will support the delivery of From Manchester, for the world and this new fund will be adapted and refined following an assessment of its impact.  

Introduction and Aims

EU research funding provides significant opportunities to access new knowledge and partners and contributes to the University’s ambition to be recognised as the best place for ambitious collaborative research.

Recognising the challenges in developing EU funding bids, Research Committee has launched a fund to support the submission of Horizon Europe applications by providing support for:

• External grant writing support for applications to all pillars of Horizon Europe, and in exceptional cases applications in pillar one which are consortium based.
• Consortium fees for applications to all pillars of Horizon Europe.
• Other appropriate interventions with the direct aim of supporting/preparing EU funding bids.

How to Apply

Applicants should read the information about the eligibility requirements, value and duration, and the application and approval process below and submit the Horizon Europe Support Fund application form for the home Faculty of the lead investigator via the link below.

• 2026 Horizon Support Fund Application - FBMH
• 2026 Horizon Support Fund Application - Humanities
• 2026 Horizon Support Fund Application - Science and Engineering

Queries relating to the fund including guidance on grant writing support services should be directed to the home Faculty of the lead applicant:

• Biology, Medicine and Health: FBMH.RDI@manchester.ac.uk
• Humanities: guilherme.fians@manchester.ac.uk (February 2026) and christopher.flanagan@manchester.ac.uk (from March 2026 onwards) 
• Science and Engineering: FSE.RDI@manchester.ac.uk

Rolling monthly deadlines until funding is fully allocated (note we expect to support up to 15 projects in total): 4pm 31 March 2026, 4pm 30 April 2026, 4pm 29 May 2026. 

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 

Further details

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 

Further details

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

There are currently 469 calls open for submission. 

BBSRC International Travel Award Scheme (ITAS)

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.

Further Details

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).

Further Details