Gender Equality Partnerships 2026 Grants: Apply for Up to £25,000 to Advance Gender Equality in Higher Education

Higher education institutions seeking to create lasting institutional change and promote gender equality now have an exciting funding opportunity through the Gender Equality Partnerships 2026 grant programme. The initiative provides grants of up to £25,000 to support collaborative projects between eligible UK higher education institutions and partners in seven participating countries.

The programme aims to strengthen gender equality in higher education by supporting innovative partnerships that improve women’s access, participation, leadership, and employment opportunities. Through international collaboration, funded projects will address key barriers affecting women in higher education while promoting inclusive policies, leadership development, and sustainable institutional transformation.

Applications are now open, with the submission deadline set for 21 September 2026.

About the Gender Equality Partnerships 2026 Programme

The Gender Equality Partnerships programme supports collaborative projects that bring together UK higher education institutions and eligible overseas partners to address gender inequalities within higher education systems.

The programme recognizes that higher education institutions play a critical role in promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion while preparing future generations for leadership and employment.

By investing in institutional partnerships, the programme seeks to generate sustainable improvements that continue beyond the lifespan of individual projects.

Successful projects should demonstrate how they will contribute to long-term institutional reform while improving opportunities for women across education and employment pathways.

Funding Available

Successful partnerships can receive:

• Grants of up to £25,000
• Funding for collaborative institutional projects
• Support for initiatives promoting gender equality in higher education
• International partnership opportunities between UK institutions and eligible overseas partners

Programme Objectives

Projects must address one or more of the programme’s overarching objectives.

These objectives include:

1. Promote Sustainable Institutional Change

Projects should contribute to long-term institutional transformation by strengthening systems, structures, and policies that support gender equality across higher education institutions.

2. Improve Opportunities for Women

Applicants should demonstrate how their project will:

• Increase women’s access to higher education
• Improve participation in academic programmes
• Support women’s career progression
• Strengthen pathways into employment

The programme places significant emphasis on creating lasting opportunities for women within education and beyond graduation.

Expected Project Outcomes

Funded projects are expected to contribute toward measurable outcomes such as:

• Strengthened institutional mechanisms that support women’s leadership
• Improved gender-responsive governance and institutional policies
• Better institutional practices promoting gender equality
• Increased participation of women in higher education
• Greater participation and progression of women in STEM disciplines
• Stronger education-to-employment pathways
• Integration of intersectional approaches into institutional strategies
• More inclusive higher education systems

Applicants should clearly explain how their project will contribute to one or more of these outcomes.

Priority Project Themes

Applicants may develop projects around one or more of the following priority themes.

Addressing the Underrepresentation of Women in Leadership

Projects may focus on:

• Leadership development programmes
• Institutional leadership reforms
• Increasing women’s representation in senior academic positions
• Capacity-building initiatives

Strengthening Pathways into Employment

Projects may include:

• Career readiness programmes
• Employer partnerships
• Internship preparation
• Graduate employability initiatives
• Industry collaboration

Creating Safe Higher Education Spaces

Institutions are encouraged to develop projects that:

• Improve campus safety
• Address gender-based discrimination
• Promote inclusive learning environments
• Strengthen safeguarding systems
• Improve institutional wellbeing services

Enabling Women’s Participation in STEM

Applicants may design initiatives that:

• Increase women’s enrolment in STEM programmes
• Improve retention rates
• Support mentorship opportunities
• Encourage research participation
• Reduce barriers affecting women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics

Applicants should also consult the official Call Guidance document for country-specific thematic priorities.

Eligible Countries

For the 2026 funding round, UK institutions may establish partnerships with eligible institutions in the following countries:

• Bangladesh
• Ghana
• Kenya
• Mexico
• Saudi Arabia
• South Africa
• Ukraine

Each project must include one eligible UK institution and one eligible partner from one of these participating countries.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for funding, applicants must satisfy several important eligibility requirements.

UK Lead Institution

The lead applicant must:

• Be a UK higher education provider
• Hold degree-awarding powers
• Submit the application through the official online platform

Overseas Partner

The overseas partner must be:

• A higher education institution
• Or another eligible organization specified within the official Call Guidance

Joint Project Development

Applications must be:

• Jointly developed by both institutions
• Designed collaboratively
• Submitted by the UK lead institution

Projects developed independently without genuine partnership may not satisfy programme requirements.

Grant Value

The programme provides:

• Maximum funding: £25,000

Applicants should prepare realistic budgets that clearly demonstrate how grant funding will support the proposed project.

Project Duration

Successful projects will run for: 17 months

Project commencement date: 1 January 2027

Applicants should ensure their proposed implementation timeline aligns with this project duration.

Application Process

Applications must be submitted through the official Good Grants platform.

Applicants should:

1. Register on the online platform.
2. Download the application documentation.
3. Review the offline application sample.
4. Jointly prepare the proposal with the overseas partner.
5. Complete the online application.
6. Submit the application through the UK lead institution.

Only UK lead institutions can initiate and submit applications.

Applicants should use the application form titled:

“Going Global Partnerships – Multi-country – Gender Equality Partnerships 2026.”

APPLY HERE

Clarification Questions

Applicants requiring additional information may submit clarification questions before the official deadline.

Questions should include the subject line:

“GEP Grants 2026 – clarification question.”

Important Dates

Why Apply?

Participating institutions will benefit from:

• International institutional collaboration
• Funding for gender equality initiatives
• Opportunities to strengthen institutional capacity
• Development of inclusive governance systems
• Enhanced leadership opportunities for women
• Improved STEM participation
• Better employment pathways for female graduates
• Sustainable institutional reforms
• Increased global partnerships

The programme provides an opportunity for universities to strengthen their international engagement while contributing to meaningful and lasting improvements in gender equality across higher education.

Click HERE to learn more.

Application Deadline

Applicants must submit their completed applications by:

21 September 2026 at 11:59 a.m. BST

Applicants wishing to request clarification should submit their questions no later than:

24 August 2026

Late applications may not be accepted.

Conclusion

The Gender Equality Partnerships 2026 programme offers an important opportunity for UK universities and eligible international partners to collaborate on projects that advance gender equality within higher education. With grants of up to £25,000, institutions can develop innovative initiatives that improve women’s leadership opportunities, strengthen participation in STEM, create safer learning environments, and build stronger pathways into employment. By encouraging international collaboration and sustainable institutional reform, the programme seeks to create long-term impact across participating countries. Eligible institutions are encouraged to begin preparing their joint proposals early, review the official guidance carefully, and submit their applications before the 21 September 2026 deadline.

Discover more global Grants on OFY.