Funding FAQs

The Global Research Fund (GRF) and the Global Research Collaboration Fund (GRCF) are complementary schemes, both reviewed by a panel of senior faculty members from across LSE.

• GRF is designed for individual Principal Investigators seeking to build international collaborations with nominated research partners.
• GRCF, on the other hand, supports larger interdisciplinary teams - involving at least three LSE researchers - to develop new international partnerships and consortia that address complex global challenges requiring cross-disciplinary expertise.

Together, these funds offer pathways for researchers to expand their global networks and tackle pressing issues through collaboration.

PIs and CoIlaborators:

• You must be a member of Faculty, Research and Policy Staff, and LSE Fellows as listed in LSE HR Role Profiles, including in practice roles. *Education Career Track (ECT) staff are not eligible.
• You must have a contract of employment with their Academic Unit at LSE in place for the entire project duration and be able to demonstrate continued links with LSE into the future. Projects cannot be used to extend LSE contracts of employment.
• Current Students, Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA), Emeritus, and Guest Teacher role holders may not apply. 
• You may only apply once per round across both schemes.
• Applicants must confirm that they have the full support of their host academic unit as part of their application.
• You may not hold more than one project on the same scheme at any one time (either as PI or Co-I). 

Yes, domestic partners may be included if the consortium has an international dimension.

Yes, non-academic partners can participate, provided academic institutions are also involved in the collaboration.

No, these grants are not intended to fund conference attendance as the primary project activity. The costs of presenting at conferences are expected to be met through researchers’ individual research allowances or other appropriate sources. While conference participation may form part of a project, the principal focus must remain on collaborative engagement and the proposed outcomes.

These seed funds are intended to support collaboration and partnership development rather than direct research activities. While fieldwork, data collection, or research assistance may be considered, they must clearly contribute to the collaborative objectives and will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. For funding focused on direct research, please refer to other schemes available through LSE and external sources.

No, written approval is not required. However, you should explain any existing links with partner institutions in your application. 

Recommended outcomes include joint publications and joint funding proposals. Refer to the scheme guidance for more details. 

GRF and GRCF are research-focused, supporting international research collaborations. The Global Partnership Development Fund is education-focused, supporting activities like joint degree development, student exchanges, and mobility initiatives.