How to find the perfect international funding opportunity

There are many potential sources of international funding for academic researchers. Be aware, though, that it is very competitive. Your academic institution will have its own internal resources and support for navigating the process so be sure to tap into that. Speak to administrative staff and colleagues in your faculty or centrally, at your university’s research office, to get their help and advice. 

Your university is likely to also have its own funding newsletter to circulate opportunities, but since the landscape is vast, it may not cover all options or cater for all disciplines – maybe yours is one of those they don’t cover. 

So, where else can you go to find funding opportunities that are right for you? 

• Funder websites. If you have identified a potential funder, bookmark their website so that you can easily browse past and upcoming funding announcements. 
• Aggregated funder search engines. For more general funding research, there are dedicated grants and funding search engines that you can explore. For example, grants.gov provides a centralised location for grant-seekers to find and apply for United States government-funded research opportunities. Similarly, you can find European Commission funding for international projects and partnerships on their website. 
• Research Professional Africa. This is a platform that allows access to the latest global coverage of funding opportunities. These span the full spectrum of research disciplines and sponsors for which African researchers are eligible. Just be aware that to access it, your academic institution will need to be subscribed to the platform. 
• Google.com. When in doubt, google it! 

You’ll probably find dozens, if not hundreds, of opportunities that look promising but be sure to check the fine print for the following key information that will save you countless hours and energy:

• Eligibility. Confirm that you and your institution meet all the eligibility requirements.
• Deadline. Is there enough time before the application deadline? Be realistic and apply only if you’re able to do yourself justice with the best possible application. Ensure that you collate and supply all the required supporting documents.
• Goals. What are the aims and goals of the funder and how closely do you align with those? Is your work a good fit with their strategic goals?

Now all that remains is to find those funding opportunities that are a great fit for you. They’re certainly out there, so just keep at it. Happy hunting!

Thank you for reading. We'd like to invite you to connect with our growing community on LinkedIn where we share insights and discuss ideas related to a range of topics relevant to researchers and academics at different stages of their careers.

Connect with us on LinkedIn here.