ACU Early Career Conference Grants 2027/28

The Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) Early Career Conference Grants 2027/28 support emerging researchers and academics who want to attend and actively participate in academic conferences in Commonwealth countries outside their country of work.

The programme is particularly valuable for early-career academics seeking to present their research, gain international exposure and develop professional networks.

📌 Scholarship Overview

ItemDetailsHostAssociation of Commonwealth Universities (ACU)OpportunityEarly Career Conference GrantsNumber of grants7Maximum award£2,000 per grantEligible applicantsEarly-career researchers/academicsInstitution requirementMust work at an ACU member universityConference locationA Commonwealth country outside the applicant's country of workConference periodFebruary 2027 – January 2028

💰 What the £2,000 Grant Can Cover

The grant may be used toward:

• Conference registration fees

• ✈️ Flights

• 🏨 Accommodation

• Visa costs

• Travel and health insurance

🎓 Who Is Eligible?

Applicants must:

• Be an early-career researcher or academic employed by an ACU member university.

• Generally be within 7 years of starting their academic research/teaching career.

• Career breaks may be taken into account. These can include periods away from employment for personal or professional reasons, such as childcare.

• Identify an eligible conference taking place between February 2027 and January 2028.

• Be travelling to a Commonwealth country outside their country of work.

• Play an active role at the conference by either:

  • Chairing a session

  • Presenting a paper, or

  • Presenting a poster

🌍 Why This Opportunity Is Valuable

For an emerging academic, the grant can provide more than financial assistance. Conference participation can help you:

Present research → Receive expert feedback → Build academic networks → Discover collaborations → Strengthen your research profile

It can also allow knowledge gained at an international conference to be shared with colleagues and students at your home institution.

🇺🇬 Is It Relevant to Ugandan Academics?

Potentially, yes. The key question is whether your university is an ACU member university and whether you meet the early-career criteria.

For example, if you are an eligible early-career academic working at an ACU-member university in Uganda, you could potentially use the grant to attend and present at a qualifying conference in another Commonwealth country.

⚠️ Key Requirement to Remember

Simply attending a conference is not enough. You must have an active conference role—chairing a session, presenting a paper, or presenting a poster.

Also, the conference must take place outside your country of work and within the February 2027–January 2028 period.