North America

Further information on the Birmingham International Engagement Fund can be found at: Internal Funding Opportunities.

BIRMAC Seed Fund

The University of Birmingham and McMaster University are delighted to launch the annual BIRMAC Project and Ideas Fund.

In October 2021 the University of Birmingham and McMaster University signed a formal agreement to create a framework for collaboration and partnership between the two institutions. McMaster University and the University of Birmingham have historic similarities, shared interests and recognise that to achieve exceptional research outcomes and the best possible student experience, constant nurture and support is necessary and cannot be done in isolation.

To help support academic collaboration between our two globally-leading universities, we have established the Projects and Ideas Fund: a seed fund created with matching funding from each university designed to identify, establish and develop first-rate research projects and student outcomes.

Fund Overview

The fund’s objective is to support new initiatives by providing bridge funding between ideas and the first grant, or academic initiative. The funding is designed to enable individuals to identify complementary strengths, leverage synergy, and design new outstanding research and education projects and opportunities for academic excellence across all disciplines.

The funding will seed and enable the development of deep partnerships through joint initiatives, which for example could include (but is not limited to):

• Intensive academic research and/or education workshops leading to future long-term collaborations.
• Short-term visits for both young and established academics, or senior staff, enabling new and innovative long-term collaborations.
• Research-oriented teaching opportunities, such as for instance the development of new experiential seminars, bringing together PhD Candidates and Post-Doctoral Fellows.

Application Process

Applications open 20 January 2025.

Academics and professional services staff wishing to access funding must submit an application using the online application form.

Find an academic to support your project.

University of Birmingham

McMaster University

Please submit one application per project.

Full details can be found in the BIRMAC Project and Ideas Fund Application Guidance Document.

The deadline to submit your application is 31 March 2025 at 11:59pm EST/ 04.59am GMT. The outcome of your application will be announced on or after 30 April 2025.

Should you wish to discuss the fund further please contact Mary Elliston at M.E.Elliston@bham.ac.uk

Details of the BRIDGE 2025 SEED Fund can be found here - Annual BRIDGE Seed Fund 2025 - University of Birmingham

Please see - Global South Fellowship Program.

The Fulbright Commission was established in 1948 to foster mutual educational understanding between the US and the UK through academic exchange. Today, the Fulbright Program operates globally with the assistance of binational commissions and foundations in 49 countries, and US embassies in more than 100 other countries. The University of Birmingham is proud to participate in many of the available schemes that Fulbright has to offer.

Each academic year the University of Birmingham hosts a Fulbright Distinguished Chair, the most prestigious Fulbright award. This generous six-month secondment enables a prominent US professor to be based at the University of Birmingham, with access to all the University’s research collections, and will provide an opportunity to undertake research and build links in the UK.

For further information regarding the Fulbright Distinguished Chair Award, please visit the Fulbright website. 

Previous Recipients

“Everyone should have a Fulbright experience. The world would undoubtedly be a better and more tolerant place if they did. My time in the UK transformed my professional and personal life. I am deeply grateful for having had the opportunity.”

- Professor Donald Behringer, Fulbright US Scholar, 2015-16

The University also offers a Fulbright-University of Birmingham Scholar award annually, whereby a researcher based at a US institution may visit the University of Birmingham for a period of 3–9 months to conduct research in any subject.

For further information regarding the Fulbright Scholarships at the University of Birmingham, please see the Fulbright website. 

We are also happy to host holders of Fulbright Scholar Awards (all disciplines) who wish to conduct research in the conducive environment of the University and its campus.

Previous Recipients 

Alumni Spotlight

“I can't imagine a more supportive and professional environment than the one I had at the University of Birmingham's Department of Social Policy, Sociology and Criminology. I have to believe this is exactly what Senator Fulbright envisioned when he imagined a way to create cultural and intellectual experiences between nations through universities."

- Dr Charles Gallagher, LaSalle University. Fulbright US Scholar to the University of Birmingham, 2016-17

Marshall Scholarships finance young Americans of high ability to study for a degree in the United Kingdom. Up to fifty Scholars are selected each year to study at graduate level at an UK institution in any field of study.

At the University of Birmingham we are committed to supporting and growing academic engagement with the US as one of our key strategic international territories. We offer a range of fellowship opportunities for US students and faculty to come to the University of Birmingham and gain valuable transatlantic experience. Please see our Postgraduate Funding database.