Early Career Conference Grants

The Early Career Conference Grants support emerging researchers at ACU member universities, providing up to GBP 2,000 to attend conferences in Commonwealth countries. This funding covers essential expenses such as registration fees, flights, accommodation, visa costs, and health insurance. These grants aim to enhance professional development, foster networking opportunities, and facilitate knowledge sharing among early career academics. Eligible applicants must be within 7 years of starting their academic careers and actively participate in the conference.

Grants for early career researchers at member universities to attend and take part in conferences.
Early Career Conference Grants help to ensure that emerging researchers – and the universities that employ them – can benefit from the valuable opportunity of attending and taking part in in-person conferences in Commonwealth countries outside of their country of work.
For emerging academics, taking part in conferences can have a profound impact on their teaching and research. These events are a chance to share research, learn about the latest developments in an area of work, and build valuable professional networks.
Researchers find themselves better informed and better connected with new knowledge that can be shared and multiplied among colleagues and students.
All awardees will be required to complete a report on completion of their award.
What does the grant include?
​Grants are a maximum of GBP 2,000 which can be used to cover: Conference registration fee Flights Accommodation Visa costs Travel and health insurance

Eligibility

Be an early career researcher/academic at an ACU member university. Be within 7 years of the start of their academic (research/teaching) career, with the exception of those who have had career breaks. A career break is a period of time out from employment for personal or professional reasons, including to care for children. Identify a conference that they would like to attend in a Commonwealth country, taking place between October 2025 to April 2026. Applicants need to be either chairing a session, presenting a paper, or presenting a poster as part of their conference attendance to be considered for a grant.Review the application guidance and FAQs.

Ineligibility

Have previously travelled for work purposes (including conferences) outside of their region of employment since the start of their academic career.Be a previous recipient of an ACU Early Career Conference Grant (previously known as Early Career Academic Grants).