EAIE Doctoral Research Grants

Support your doctoral research on internationalisation in higher education with up to €4500 in funding. Applications are open to both EAIE members and non-members.

The EAIE Doctoral Research Grants support early-career scholars conducting doctoral research on internationalisation in higher education. In 2025, up to five grants of up to €4500 each will be awarded to help cover research-related expenses such as travel, data collection tools and access to academic resources. The grant is open to doctoral candidates from around the world whose work is relevant to the European context and the EAIE community. In addition to funding, the programme offers visibility, engagement opportunities and a platform to contribute to the broader field of international higher education.

How does it work?

Below is a quick overview of the application process. For the full details and requirements, please review the Frequently Asked Questions.

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Prepare

Gather all required documents, including proof of status, supervisor’s letter, budget worksheet, and other documents, before starting your application.

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Submit

Complete the application and upload your documents by 01 August 2025. Applications are reviewed and assessed by an EAIE Board-appointed advisory group.

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Announcement

Winners will be notified, and an announcement will be made in September. Grant funding will be disbursed in three instalments over the course of a year.

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Start your research!

Begin your research activities, attend the 2026 EAIE Conference and share your progress through reports and presentations with the EAIE community.

 

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Frequently asked questions

If you haven’t found the answer to your question, please contact us.

How many Doctoral Research Grants are available each year?

In 2025, the EAIE will award up to five Doctoral Research Grants to support doctoral candidates researching internationalisation in higher education.

What do the EAIE Doctoral Research Grants cover?

Each grant provides up to €4500 in support of research that forms part of the official requirements for completing a doctoral degree. After thoroughly considering all elements of the application, the EAIE Grants Advisory Group will propose the total amount to be awarded.

In addition to the grant amount, successful applicants will receive 12 months of free access to the Journal of Studies in International Education and a fee waiver to attend and present their research at the 2026 Annual EAIE Conference and Exhibition in Glasgow.

The grant may cover expenses such as travel for data collection or conferences, data collection and analysis tools, such as surveys and data analysis software, and access to books, journals or other paid academic literature.

The grant does not cover activities unrelated to the formal requirements of the doctoral degree, such as professional development activities or additional research not required for degree completion. It also does not cover tuition fees, salaries, fringe benefits, institutional overheads, support costs, costs incurred before the grant period, or the purchase of equipment or hardware, such as laptops or cameras.

Who is eligible for a grant?

Applicants must be officially recognised as current doctoral students or candidates by their degree-awarding institution and must be researching internationalisation in higher education.

Applicants are not eligible if they are not enrolled in a doctoral programme, if their research does not relate to internationalisation in higher education, or if they currently hold any elected or appointed EAIE position. Current EAIE staff are also not eligible. In keeping with the EAIE’s commitment to creating an inclusive environment in which everyone feels welcome and able to contribute, individuals from underrepresented backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Underrepresentation can be viewed in various contexts, including but not limited to,ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, ability, age and mother tongue. The application includes a section for biographical information, where applicants are invited to highlight aspects of their identity and background that relate to representation.

The EAIE will only review one grant application per applicant at any one time. 

What are the requirements and output for the grant?

The grant recipients are required to submit a mid-term report by 31 March 2026 and a final report by 30 September 2026, each no more than 2000 words. The mid-term report should describe research progress and anticipated spending, while the final report should cover research outcomes and a full accounting of the use of funds.

Grant recipients are also required to attend and present their research at the 2026 EAIE Annual Conference in Glasgow, either through a session or as a poster. Recipients must also produce one further output for the EAIE community, such as a blog post or Research Snapshot. Any research presentations or publications that result from the research must acknowledge the support of the EAIE grant.

When are the grant funds disbursed?  

The grants are disbursed in three instalments: 

  • October 2025: 40% 
  • March 2026: 40% upon acceptance by the EAIE of the mid-term report 
  • September 2026:  20% upon acceptance by the EAIE of the final report 

What are the key dates?

  • 01 August 2025: Application deadline
  • 03 September 2025: Decision notifications sent to applicants
  • 09–12 September 2025: Public announcement of Doctoral Research Grant winners
  • October 2025: 40% grant funds disbursed
  • 01 March 2026: Mid-term report due
  • March 2026: 40% grant funds disbursed
  • 30 August 2026: Final report due
  • 08–11 September 2026: Presentation at EAIE Annual Conference in Glasgow
  • 30 September 2026: 20% grant funds disbursed

What do I need to do to apply?

To apply, you must complete the online application form and upload the following documents:

  • Official proof of your status as a current doctoral student or candidate
  • A recommendation letter from your doctoral research supervisor
  • A completed budget worksheet
  • Proof of ethics approval from your institution (if your research involves human participants or data)

How is the grant application assessed?

Applications that are complete and that meet the eligibility criteria will be reviewed in detail by the EAIE Grants Advisory Group. This group evaluates applications based on several factors, including:

  • Alignment with one or more aspects of the EAIE Taxonomy
  • Relevance to the European higher education context
  • Relevance to policy and/or practice in the field of international higher education
  • The quality of the applicant’s academic background and/or research experience, as evidenced by the letter of recommendation from the doctoral research supervisor and the applicant’s list of prior publications

Recommendations from the Advisory Group will be submitted to the EAIE Board for the final decision on funding.

Doctoral Research Grants Advisory Group

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