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.
University
Applications for the final Erasmus+ Staff Mobility Scheme are now open
Are you interested in spending a short period of time teaching or training in another European country?
The International Programmes Office, on behalf of the European Commission, administers the Erasmus+ Staff Mobility scheme. The scheme provides funding to enable staff to undertake a period of teaching or training in a participating European country.
The University of Manchester – GREAT scholarships 2023
If you're considering a postgraduate degree in the UK, then a GREAT scholarship can help.
The University of Manchester, in partnership with the British Council and the GREAT Britain Campaign, is offering eight scholarships to students in Bangladesh, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Thailand and Turkey who're applying for one-year master’s programmes and will enrol in the 2023/24 academic year.
The GREAT Scholarships 2023 programme, launched by the British Council and 49 UK universities, supports postgraduate students accessing world-class UK higher education opportunities.
The programme offers a minimum of £10,000 to students pursuing a one-year postgraduate programme in the UK. Students can apply for courses in a range of subjects at the 49 institutions across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
A scholarship application form will be emailed to all relevant offer-holders by the International Office from November 2022.
For more information on the GREAT Scholarships 2023, visit Study UK.
Closing date: 1st June 2023
Manchester-Melbourne-Toronto (MMT) Research Fund
The University of Manchester, the University of Melbourne, and the University of Toronto are contributing matching funds to support collaborative bilateral and trilateral research initiatives through a joint call for proposals.
The overall aim of the MMT Research Fund is to encourage and provide initial support for the development of high-quality research activities that include early career researchers. Funding is available from each of the three institutions to develop bilateral or trilateral research projects. The Fund seeks to support proposals that will lead to long-term research collaborations with a view to enabling principal investigators to subsequently apply for external funding to support the next phase of their joint research.
The Fund is open to applications from all research areas and up to 15 proposals will be selected for funding.
Proposals demonstrating strong relevance to strategic priorities at the participating institutions and that aim to provide opportunities for collaborative doctoral training and mobility at a future stage are encouraged.
Closing date: 1st June 2023
Manchester, KTH Royal Institute of Technology and Stockholm University Joint Research Fund
We’re pleased to announce the launch of the third round of our joint research seed fund with KTH Royal Institute Stockholm and Stockholm University. The call opens on 8 May 2023.
The fund will support collaborative research projects, with the aim of catalysing new collaborations and building teams of researchers with the capability to secure external funding to continue their research.
In the previous round, we received 11 applications and made 7 awards. This time, we’re particularly keen to support projects which involve all 3 partners.
Closing date: 14th June 2023.
Further details
Manchester-Indian Institute of Science Research Fund
The University of Manchester and the Indian Institute of Science are pleased to announce a new research fund to support collaborative research projects and to build on their existing partnership.
About the fund
The fund aims to establish new collaborations, facilitate work on proof-of-concept ideas, and in the long term, build international teams well positioned to apply for external research funding.
Proposals may include targeted research support such as joint workshops, researcher exchanges, and forming or developing a collaborative network. To be eligible, a proposal must include a Principle Investigator from each institution and at least one other researcher on each team. We encourage early career researchers to apply.
The fund is open to proposals across all research areas. Projects will be funded for up to 18 months starting August 2023.
Proposals with the potential for sustainability beyond the initial funding period are encouraged.
Current calls
The first call for applications opened on Tuesday, 2 May 2023 and closes on Monday, 3 July 2023.
How to apply
- read the information in the call document (Word document, 67KB);
- submit a single application using the online application form.
For more information
If you have any questions, contact:
The University of Manchester contact
- Alex Gaskill, International Research and Partnerships Development Manager, Faculty of Science and Engineering, email alexander.gaskill@manchester.ac.uk.
Indian Institute of Science contact
- Amita Sneh, Consultant, Office of International Relations, email iro.admin@iisc.ac.in
External
UKRI - China UK One Health research for epidemic preparedness and AMR
Apply for funding through a China UK Flagship Challenge funding opportunity to support China-UK research teams in the field of One Health research for epidemic preparedness and antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
We are looking for internationally competitive, full-scale collaborative and innovative partnerships.
Collaborative research teams from China and the UK must submit parallel applications to MRC on behalf of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and MoST detailing a joint research programme across the two countries
Closing date: 7th June 2023
JSPS Funding Opportunity: Call for the JSPS London Short Term Pre/Postdoctoral Fellowships (second and final call for 2023)
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) is the leading research funding agency in Japan, established by the Japanese Government for the purpose of contributing to the advancement of science. Our Pre/Postdoctoral Fellowship for Foreign Researchers (Short Term) provides the opportunity for short-term visits for UK, European, North American and Canadian researchers ordinarily based in the UK or Ireland to do cooperative research with leading research groups at Japanese Universities and Institutions. The programme is designed to provide researchers with first-hand experience of the research and living environment in Japan, whilst expanding academic exchange between Japan and the UK or Ireland. Researchers from any field; Computer, Engineering, Health, Biological, Life, Natural and Physical Sciences, Mathematics, Humanities and Social Sciences etc. are eligible to apply. Awards will cover visits of 1 to 12 months.
Eligible applicants also need to be either within 2 years of finishing their PhD at the time of applying to start their fellowship in Japan or have obtained their PhD at a university outside of Japan within the last 6 years (on or after 2nd April 2017).
Please visit the JSPS London website for further information
Closing date: 27th June 2023
MRC - Pre-announcement: funding for early stage development of new healthcare interventions
Apply for funding to the Developmental Pathway Gap Fund (DPGF), to generate critical preliminary data to build confidence in the development strategy for a new medicine, repurposed medicine, medical device, diagnostic test, or other medical intervention development.
The idea for a new product that can improve human health should have already been conceived and supported by other funding. This should be utilised to produce the critical preliminary data needed to support the onward development of the product.
The Gap fund sits beyond the smaller and shorter Impact Accelerator funding and before the substantive and longer Developmental Pathway Funding Scheme.
You can apply for academically led translational projects that aim to undertake a focused package of work that will bridge the gap between inception of a new idea and substantive funding through schemes such as the MRC Developmental Pathway Funding Scheme to:
- help prevent disease
- help improve speed and accuracy of diagnosis of disease
- develop new treatments of disease
- help to improve outcome monitoring of patients receiving treatment
- help to improve the management of diseases and conditions
All human diseases and medical interventions are eligible for support, both in the context of UK healthcare and addressing global health issues.
Closing date: 12th July 2023
MRC Pre-announcement: applied global health partnership
Apply for funding to support a partnership to enable research that will address global health challenges and inequities.
We will accept proposals of all sizes, including large projects and small to medium-scale applications.
We are looking to develop a portfolio of high-quality partnerships, which will be diverse, promote multidisciplinarity and strengthen global health research capacity.
Closing date: 27th July 2023
2023-24 Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships Competition
The Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships program is designed to support world-class postdoctoral researchers. The fellowship provides $70,000 per year for two years. The program is open to both Canadian and international researchers who have recently completed a PhD, PhD- equivalent, or health professional degree. Applications must be completed in full collaboration with the proposed host institution.
Closing date: 30th September 2023
BBSRC International Travel Award Scheme (ITAS)
Closing date: rolling call
To help scientists to 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.
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).
Academy of Medical Sciences Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) – Networking Grant
The scheme is currently closed to applications, applications should reopen later in 2022. The aim of the grants are to:
- Pump prime new interdisciplinary partnerships;
- Forge new links and generate innovative approaches to addressing global challenges;
- Establish sustainable partnerships to conduct excellent research with impact;
- Strengthen research and training capacity and capability in developing countries.