Association of Commonwealth Universities(ACU) Early Career Conference Grants 2023

Applications are invited from emerging academics taking part in conferences to apply for the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) Early Career Conference Grants which will enable them to share research, learn about latest developments and build valuable professional networks.

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.Early Career Conference Grants help to ensure that more emerging researchers – and the universities that employ them – can benefit from these valuable opportunities.This year's grants are being offered for both virtual (online) and in-person conferences.There are 25-40 grants available. The final number awarded will depend on the number of applications for each format (virtual/in-person).

Theme: Supporting research

About Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU)

The ACU is an international organisation dedicated to building a better world through higher education. We believe that international collaboration is central to this ambition. By bringing universities together from around the world – and crucially the people who study and work within them ? we help to advance knowledge, promote understanding, broaden minds, and improve lives. We champion higher education as a cornerstone of stronger societies, supporting our members, partners, and stakeholders. ... read more

ACU Early Career Conference Grants

Aim and Benefits of ACU Early Career Conference Grants

For virtual conferences, the grants cover:

• Conference registration fee of up to £600 GBP
• A data grant of £50 GBP for successful applicants who do not have reliable access to Wi-Fi.
• Free access to a half-day training session on how to deliver great virtual presentations

For in-person conferences, grants are a maximum of GBP 2,000 to cover:

• Conference registration fee
• Flights
• Accommodation
• Visa costs
• Travel and health insurance
• COVID-19 testing for travel

Requirements for ACU Early Career Conference Grants Qualification

 Applicants must:

• Be employed by an ACU member university with a job title of lecturer, post-doctoral researcher, professor, associate professor, or equivalent.
• Be within 7 years of the start of their academic (research/teaching) career.
• Not have previously travelled for work purposes (including conferences) outside their region of employment since the start of their academic career.
• Not be a previous recipient of an ACU Early Career Conference Grant (previously known as Early Career Academic Grants)

Application Deadline

How to Apply

• As part of the application form, applicants must:
• Give details of their chosen conference, including a copy of their abstract.
• State whether the conference is virtual or in-person (for hybrid conferences applicants must choose whether they wish to attend in-person or virtually).
• Choose the Sustainable Development Goal(s) which relate most closely to their research and describe how their research can contribute to achieving these goals.
• Explain the reasons for their choice of conference and how it links to their research interests.
• Explain how participating in the conference will benefit their career and professional development.
• Explain how they will share the knowledge gained by participating in the conference.
• Provide a detailed letter or email of support from their head of department commenting on the suitability of the conference and how participating in the conference will be beneficial.
• If applying for an in-person conference, give a breakdown of the costs for which they are applying for funding.
• To apply for a grant, you will need a MyACU account. If you already have an account, you can start your application right away. 
• If you do not have a MyACU account, please register. You'll then need to follow the login instructions in the registration email before starting your application.

For more details,visit ACU website