The ACU Early Career Conference Grant funds early career researchers at Commonwealth universities to attend and present at international conferences — up to £2,000 covering registration, flights, accommodation, and visa costs. Deadline: 13 October 2026.

What Is This Grant?

The ACU Early Career Conference Grant gives early career researchers at Commonwealth universities up to £2,000 to attend and present at an in-person conference in a Commonwealth country outside their country of employment.

Seven grants are available in this round. The funding covers conference registration, flights, accommodation, visa costs, and travel and health insurance.

Applications open: 18 August 2026
Deadline: 13 October 2026 at 15:00 UTC

Who Can Apply?

• Be an early career researcher or academic at an ACU member university
• Be within 7 years of starting your academic career; career breaks (including parental leave) do not count toward the 7 years
• Have identified a conference in a Commonwealth country taking place between February 2027 and January 2028
• Be actively participating, chairing a session, presenting a paper, or presenting a poster

You cannot apply if:

• You have previously travelled for work purposes outside your region of employment since the start of your academic career (including attending conferences abroad)
• You are a previous recipient of an ACU Early Career Conference Grant (or its predecessor, the Early Career Academic Grant)

This grant specifically targets researchers who have not yet had the opportunity to present internationally — which makes it particularly valuable for early career academics at Nigerian and African universities who haven’t yet had externally funded international conference experience.

What the Grant Covers

Up to £2,000 covering:

• Conference registration fee
• Flights
• Accommodation
• Visa costs
• Travel and health insurance

A completion report is required after the conference.

How to Apply

• Create or log into your MyACU account.
• Review the application guidance and FAQs on the ACU website
• Submit through the MyACU platform when applications open on 18 August 2026

Quick Facts