Application Deadline:
15 October 2026
About Organisation
The Worldwide Universities Network (WUN) is an international partnership of research-intensive universities working together on major global challenges. WUN uses the geographic, cultural and academic diversity of its member institutions to develop collaborative research and education initiatives. Its network brings researchers together across regions and disciplines, creating opportunities for comparative research, knowledge exchange and long-term partnerships. The organisation’s Research Development Fund is one of its key mechanisms for supporting collaborative research among member universities. WUN reinvests part of its membership resources into research initiatives designed to develop innovative projects and strengthen international academic collaboration.
About the Grant
The WUN Research Development Fund (RDF) 2026 provides grants of up to £10,000 to researchers at WUN member universities. The fund is designed to encourage collaborative research across the network and help researchers develop projects that can lead to larger research programmes, publications and future external funding. The 2026 round is being operated as a transition towards WUN’s future research-support approach and will fund a smaller number of projects than previous rounds. A maximum of one application may be submitted by each lead member university, while member universities can participate as co-investigators in other proposals.
Who can Apply?
The fund is open to researchers at WUN member universities across career stages. Proposals must be endorsed by the relevant local WUN Academic Advisory Group member. Each project must involve at least three WUN member universities across at least two WUN regions. Non-WUN universities and external partners may participate, but the project must retain an active core of WUN member institutions. WUN particularly encourages projects led by early career researchers. Applicants should contact their university’s WUN Coordinator before preparing their submission because universities may establish internal deadlines and procedures.
How to Apply?
Researchers should first contact their local WUN Coordinator to confirm their university’s internal deadline and application process. Eligible teams should then develop a collaborative research proposal involving at least three WUN member universities from two or more WUN regions. The final application must be submitted through WUN’s online application portal by 15 October 2026 at 21:00 UK time. Proposals require endorsement from the local WUN Academic Advisory Group member.
Application Deadline
The application deadline is 15 October 2026
Last Date To Apply
For more information, please visit the grant website here.
