Commonwealth Universities -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.
The ACU Early Career Conference Grants help to ensure that more emerging researchers and the universities that employ them can benefit from these valuable opportunities.
ACU Early Career Conference Grants 2027 | DETAILS
The Early Career Conference Grants are for academics attending both virtual and in-person conferences. The conference must take place between 1 April and 30 September 2026. Up to 40 slots is available for the ACU Early Career Conference. The grant will cover conference registration, flights, accommodation, data, visa costs and others.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the ACU Early Career Conference Grants 2027, 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)
Benefits
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
Application Procedures
How-to-Apply: Interested applicants for the ACU Early Career Conference Grants 2027 are to register online and then follow the instructions in the registration email to start your application.
Application requirements:
As part of the application form, applicants must:
Provide details of their chosen conference, including a copy of their abstract
State whether the conference is to be delivered virtually 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 (100-200 words)
Explain the reasons for their choice of conference and how it links to their research interests (100-200 words)
Explain how participating in the conference will benefit their career and professional development (100-200 words)
Explain how they will share the knowledge gained by participating in the conference (100-200 words)
Attach a detailed letter or email of support from their head of department
If applying for an in-person conference, give a breakdown of the costs for which they are applying for funding
Application Deadline: 28th November, 2026
Visit the Official Website for Further Details
FAQs
FAQ 1: What is the Association of Commonwealth Universities Early Career Conference Grants 2027?
The Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) Early Career Conference Grants is a funding program designed to support early-career researchers in attending and participating in international academic conferences within Commonwealth countries. The grant helps emerging academics share their research, gain exposure to new ideas, and build professional networks that enhance their teaching and research careers.
FAQ 2: What expenses does the ACU Early Career Conference Grant cover?
The grant provides funding of up to £2,000 to cover essential conference-related expenses. These include conference registration fees, flights, accommodation, visa costs, and travel and health insurance. This financial support helps reduce the burden on early-career researchers attending international conferences.
FAQ 3: Who is eligible to apply for the ACU Early Career Conference Grants 2027?
To be eligible, applicants must be early-career researchers or academics employed at an ACU member university and be within seven years of starting their academic career. They must also be presenting a paper, poster, or chairing a session at a conference in a Commonwealth country. Additionally, applicants should not have previously received this grant or travelled outside their region for academic work.
FAQ 4: How can I apply for the ACU Early Career Conference Grants 2027?
Applicants must submit their applications through the ACU online portal by creating or logging into a MyACU account. The application typically requires personal statements, conference details, and a reference letter from a supervisor or head of department. Successful applicants will also need to submit a report after completing their conference attendance.