Partner Funds

A number of funding streams are available to support joint projects between UCL academics and those at UCL's key global partner institutions.

Applications for the 2026/27 round will open from Spring 2026.

Global partners have matched the funds committed by UCL for the following funding streams, meaning larger overall pots of funding are available.

Please explore our partner funding streams by region (further down this page) for further information.

Please note that in order to increase the reach and breadth of access across UCL to the Global Engagement funding schemes (the Global Engagement Funds and Partner Funds) the following rules are in place:

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 25/26, you cannot apply as a lead applicant for any 26/27 GE seed funding schemes, but you will be eligible for the 27/28 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 25/26 project activity. Please contact us if you feel this applies to your activity.

Africa & Middle East

Funding stream	Application window	Description	Funding for	Link
UCL-Wits University Strategic Partner Funds	TBC	TBC	All UCL academic staff for activity with the University of Witwatersrand	TBC

If you have any questions or want to be kept informed about funding streams in Africa and the Middle East, please contact Mustafa Sakr (Global Engagement Manager).

East Asia

Funding stream	Application window	Description	Funding for	Link
UCL-Peking University Strategic Partner Funds	TBC	TBC	All UCL academic staff for activity with Peking University	TBC
UCL-Zhejiang University Strategic Partner Funds	TBC	TBC	All UCL academic staff for activity with Zhejiang University	TBC
UCL-Shanghai Jiao Tong University Strategic Partner Funds	TBC	TBC	All UCL academic staff for activity with Shanghai Jiao Tong University	TBC
UCL-Fudan University Strategic Partner Funds	TBC	TBC	All UCL academic staff for activity with Fudan University.	TBC
UCL - The Chinese University of Hong Kong Strategic Partner Funds	TBC	TBC	All UCL academic staff for activity with The Chinese University of Hong Kong.	TBC
UCL - UOsaka Strategic Partner Funds	TBC	TBC	All UCL academic staff for activity with the University of Osaka	TBC
UCL-Tohoku University Strategic Partner Funds	TBC	TBC	All UCL academic staff for activity with Tohoku University	TBC
UCL-Korea University Strategic Partner Funds	TBC	TBC	All UCL academic staff for activity with Korea University.	TBC
UCL - Yonsei University Strategic Partner Funds	TBC	TBC	All UCL academic staff for activity with Yonsei University.	TBC

If you have any questions or want to be kept informed about funding streams in Japan or Korea, please contact Keiko Tsunekawa (Global Engagement Manager) or for China, please contact Zhou Kuang (Global Engagement Manager).

North America

Funding stream	Application window	Description	Funding for	Link
UCL – Cornell Joint Research Seed Grants	TBC	TBC	All UCL academic staff for activity with Cornell University	TBC

If you have any questions or want to be kept informed about funding streams in North America, please contact Elena Paredes (Global Engagement Manager).

South & Southeast Asia

Funding stream	Application window	Description	Funding for	Link
UCL-AIIMS Strategic Partner Funds	TBC	TBC	All UCL academic staff for activity with AIIMS	TBC
UCL-AIIMS-IITD trilateral call for collaborative research in medical technologies	TBC	TBC	All UCL academic staff for activity with AIIMS and IITD	TBC
UCL - NUS Research and Innovation Collaboration Fund	TBC	TBC	All UCL academic staff for activity with National University of Singapore	TBC

If you have any questions or want to be kept informed about funding streams in South Asia, please contact Dr Amit Khandelwal (Senior Global Engagement Manager).

Australasia

Funding stream	Application window	Description	Funding for	Link
UCL-University of Sydney Strategic Ignition Grants	TBC	TBC	All UCL academic staff for activity with the University of Sydney.	TBC

If you have any questions or want to be kept informed about funding streams in Australasia, please contact Elena Paredes (Global Engagement Manager).

Europe

Matched partner funds with European institutions are currently under discussion. Further details will be published here in the future so please keep an eye on this page or sign up to our mailing list.

Collaboration with European partners is supported by UCL’s Global Engagement Funds and applications for collaborations with European researchers and institutions have historically had high success rates. The next call for applications will open in Spring 2025. Visit our Global Engagement Funds page for more information on how and when to apply.

Examples of previous activities supported by UCL's Global Engagement Funds include:

Case studies

Seeking a mathematical method for tracking marine microplastics - Dr Kang Ren (UCL Mechanical Engineering), UCL-SJTU Strategic Partner Funds
Walking in unwalkable cities in Africa - Dr Daniel Oviedo (UCL Bartlett), UCL-Osaka University Strategic Partner Funds
Understanding how party foot soldiers impact voters in Zimbabwe - Dr Adam Harris (UCL Political Science), UCL-Wits University Strategic Partner Funds
Calculating how earthquakes and tsunami cause damage in Japan - Professor Tiziana Rossetto (UCL Engineering), UCL-Tohoku University Strategic Partner Funds
Protecting Indian migrant labour from underground economy train tickets - Dr Kartikeya Tripathi (UCL Engineering), UCL-IIT Delhi Strategic Partner Funds
Understanding and treating social functioning impairment in dementia - Dr Andrew Sommerlad and Professor Gill Livingston (UCL Psychiatry), UCL-Osaka University Strategic Partner Funds