British Academy/ACU Grants for International Collaboration

History: Established in 2001, these jointly funded awards provide opportunities for high quality research collaboration between ACU member institutions in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries. Approximately ten awards are made each year.

Purpose: Funds are available to support international joint activities involving British scholars in collaboration with Commonwealth partners. Applications must be for projects involving genuine collaborative work between a defined group of scholars in one, or possibly two, other Commonwealth countries. Priority will be given to applications involving the initiation of a new programme where there is an expectation of continued collaboration, or a defined outcome such as planned joint publications.

Length of tenure: Up to one year only.

Eligibility: Grants are available for advanced research, at postdoctoral or equivalent level or beyond in the fields of the humanities and social sciences. Awards will not be made retrospectively; applications must be made in time for them to be considered well before the research is due to begin. Participants must be on the staff of a university in membership of the ACU at the time of application.

Value: Up to £5000, and intended to cover travel, maintenance costs and approved research expenditure incurred in the partner country or countries. The award is not intended to cover institutional overheads or permanent staff costs. Support will not be offered for an open-ended programme involving widespread international participation, or a programme of benefit primarily to the British partner.

Method of Application: It is expected that the 2010 round of applications will be announced in October 2009, and that electronic application will be possible for the first time. Applications must be submitted by the British partner.

The Notes for Applicants and the  Application Form for the 2009 competition are available online

Closing date:  The anticipated closing date for applications for these awards is 18 November 2009