ACU Early Career Conference Grants 2026-2027

Overview

The ACU Early Career Conference Grants 2026-2027 help emerging researchers, and the universities that employ them, benefit from attending and taking part in in-person conferences in Commonwealth countries outside their country of work. For emerging academics, conferences can have a profound impact on teaching and research. They offer a chance to share research, learn about the latest developments and build professional networks, so that researchers return better informed and better connected, with knowledge to share with colleagues and students.

What you get

Seven grants are available, each worth a maximum of GBP 2,000. They can cover the conference registration fee, flights, accommodation, visa costs, and travel and health insurance.

Who can apply

Applicants must be early career researchers or academics at an ACU member university. This means being within 7 years of the start of their academic career, with an exception for those who have taken career breaks, defined as time out of employment for personal or professional reasons including caring for children.

Requirements

Applicants must identify a conference they would like to attend in a Commonwealth country between February 2027 and January 2028. They need to be chairing a session, presenting a paper or presenting a poster at that conference.

Applicants cannot have previously travelled for work purposes, including conferences, outside their region of employment since the start of their academic career. Previous recipients of an ACU Early Career Conference Grant, formerly the Early Career Academic Grants, are not eligible.

How to apply

Applications are submitted online.

Key dates

The application deadline is October 13, 2026. The conference must take place between February 2027 and January 2028.