General Notices

Members of the campus community are invited to explore a range of funding and development opportunities offered by the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU), designed to support students, researchers and institutional initiatives.

Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarships (QECS)

The QECS programme offers a unique opportunity to pursue a two-year Master’s degree in a low or middle-income Commonwealth country. These scholarships are ideal for individuals committed to driving positive change in their communities, while gaining international experience, expanding their networks and broadening their academic and cultural perspectives. For more information, click here

Application deadline: June 3, 2026 

Supporting Research Community Training Grants

These grants provide funding for ACU member institutions to design and deliver training programmes for early- and mid-career researchers, including doctoral candidates. The initiative supports the development of essential research and professional skills. Click here for more information.

Application deadline: April 8, 2026

ACU Gender Grants

ACU Gender Grants support initiatives that promote gender equity and equality on campus. Up to five grants of £2,000 are awarded annually to member universities to advance impactful gender-focused projects. Click here for more information.

Application deadline: May 8, 2026

Expert Group Fellowships

The ACU Expert Group Fellowships, support policy-focused research aligned with key Commonwealth priorities and sustainable development goals.

The fellowship programme brings together academic leaders from ACU member institutions to address critical policy gaps and strengthen collaboration with policymakers, civil society and practitioner communities.

What the fellowship offers:

-          Funding of up to GBP £13,000

-          Support for interdisciplinary, policy-relevant research projects

-          Opportunities to contribute to Commonwealth-wide policy dialogue and implementation

-          Engagement with partners such as the Commonwealth Secretariat and Expert Groups

Projects will be delivered between June and October 2026 (indicative), with selected projects contributing to high-level engagements such as the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

Call Opens: 28 April, 2027

Application Deadline: 26 May, 2027

For more information and to apply, click here

Expert Group Grants

The ACU Expert Group Grants provide funding for university-led projects that address key development challenges and strengthen connections between academia, government and communities across the Commonwealth.

These grants are aligned with Commonwealth priorities and support practical, impact-driven initiatives across thematic areas of sustainable development.

What the grants offer:

-          Up to GBP £4,000 per project

-          Three grants per Expert Group (total of nine awards available)

-          Support for innovative, collaborative and applied projects

Applications open: 28 April, 2026 Application deadline: 26 May, 2026