Global Engagement Funds

The Global Engagement Funds support UCL staff to collaborate with colleagues across the world.

The Global Engagement Funds application window closed on 21 June 2024 for projects taking place in the 2024/25 academic year.

Offered as part of the wider Research, Innovation and Global Engagement (RIGE) funding streams, UCL Global Engagement Funds (GEF) provide seed funding to UCL staff to support and catalyse quality research, education, capacity building, global policy and/or public engagement, in collaboration with overseas organisations, with the potential for global reach and real-world impact.

Applications from all fields are welcome. Funding can support a wide variety of activities and research initiatives with global partners in any country. For examples of projects previously funded by GEF, please see the case studies further down this page.

Please note that some small changes have been introduced ahead of the 24/25 launch of UCL Global Engagement funding schemes (the Global Engagement Funds (GEF) and Partner Funds) in order to increase the reach and breadth of access across UCL.

You can submit a maximum of two proposals across these funding streams, either as a lead applicant or co-applicant. For example, you could submit 1 GEF proposal and 1 partner proposal, or 2 GEF proposals, or 2 partner proposals.
You can receive a maximum of 1 award per scheme as a lead applicant. For example, you could receive 1 GEF award and/or 1 partner award.
If you were the lead applicant of a proposal that received GE seed funding in 23/24, you cannot apply as a lead applicant for any 24/25 GE seed funding schemes, but you will be eligible for the 25/26 schemes. Please note: A special exception can be made where there is strong potential for significant impact and/or scaling up of collaboration with a global partner based on the outcomes of 23/24 project activity. Please contact us if you feel this applies to your activity.

Eligibility

Applications are open to UCL staff members with the following roles:

Professor or equivalent
Reader/Assistant Professor or equivalent
Senior Lecturer/Principal Researcher/Principal Research Associate or equivalent
Lecturer/Senior Research Associate or equivalent
Post Doc/Researcher/Research Associate or equivalent
Professional Service & VP Office staff are also eligible to apply
Please note that Early Career Researchers are eligible and encouraged to apply – ECR led projects made up 44% of GEF awards during the last round. ECRs wanting to find out more can watch this advice video with Professor Tara Keck, Vice-Dean International, Life Sciences (Zoom login required. Enter this passcode to watch: c@ret5w& ).

Applicants must have an open-ended UCL contract or a fixed-term contract which lasts until at least July 2025. If an applicant has a fixed-term contract that does not last until July 2025 they can apply if their contract covers the dates in which the project/initiative is due to take place and must have a co-applicant who is a UCL staff member with an open-ended contract.