ACU Early Career Conference Grants 2026 – Up to £2,000
The ACU Early Career Conference Grants 2026 support early career researchers and academics at ACU member universities to attend and participate in in-person conferences in Commonwealth countries outside their country of work. Seven grants of up to £2,000 are available for eligible conference-related expenses. Applications close on 13 October 2026 at 15:00 UTC.
Quick Overview
Programme: Early Career Conference Grants
Opportunity Type: Conference Grant
Organization: Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU)
Eligible Applicants: Early career researchers and academics at ACU member universities
Grant Amount: Up to £2,000
Number of Grants: Seven
Applications Open: 18 August 2026
Deadline: 13 October 2026 at 15:00 UTC
About the ACU Early Career Conference Grants
The Early Career Conference Grants help emerging researchers attend and participate in conferences in another Commonwealth country.
The programme is intended to give early career academics opportunities to share their research, learn about developments in their fields, and develop professional networks.
Award recipients are required to complete a report after finishing their grant-supported activity.
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What the Grant Covers
Seven grants are available, with each award providing up to GBP 2,000.
Eligible costs include:
✓ Conference registration fee
✓ Flights
✓ Accommodation
✓ Visa costs
✓ Travel insurance
✓ Health insurance
Applicants should select a conference and determine the relevant costs when preparing their application.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must be early career researchers or academics employed at an ACU member university.
For this grant, an early career researcher or academic is someone who is within seven years of starting their academic research or teaching career.
Career breaks are taken into account. The ACU defines a career break as a period away from employment for personal or professional reasons, including caring for children.
Applicants must also identify an eligible conference they wish to attend.
Conference Requirements
The proposed conference must:
• Take place in a Commonwealth country.
• Be outside the applicant’s country of work.
• Take place between February 2027 and January 2028.
• Be attended in person.
Applicants must also be actively participating in the conference.
They must be:
• Chairing a session, or
• Presenting a paper, or
• Presenting a poster.
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Who Cannot Apply?
Applicants cannot have previously travelled outside their region of employment for work purposes since the beginning of their academic career.
Work-related travel includes conference attendance.
Previous recipients of an ACU Early Career Conference Grant are also not eligible to apply. The programme was previously known as the Early Career Academic Grants.
Application Process
Applicants should first confirm that they meet the eligibility requirements and identify an eligible conference.
The application process includes:
• Review the official application guidance.
• Review the ACU grant FAQs.
• Access the online application form through the MyACU system.
• Submit the completed application before the closing date.
Applicants who already have a MyACU account can access the grant application through the platform.
Applicants without an account must first register for MyACU and follow the instructions provided in the registration email before accessing the application form.
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Application Deadline
Applications for the ACU Early Career Conference Grants opened on:
18 August 2026
The application deadline is:
13 October 2026 at 15:00 UTC
Applications must be submitted through the ACU online application system.
Official Link
Review the official grant details and follow the application instructions provided on the official page.
