We are proud to be a member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities.

The ACU is an accredited Commonwealth organisation with a shared commitment to build a better world through higher education. With over 500 member universities across 50 countries, the ACU believes that using the combined expertise of its members and international collaboration is the key to tackling global challenges.

Contact us

Vaughan McKee
Global Partnerships Officer

vaughan.mckee@york.ac.uk

There are numerous opportunities for staff and students to get involved in. This includes scholarships, fellowships, research grants, mobility funding, summer schools and access to the ACU’s networks and communities, all of which aim to build a pan-Commonwealth network of shared knowledge and expertise.

Addressing challenges across the Commonwealth

The ACU is committed to tackling global challenges and seeks to connect talented individuals from across the Commonwealth. It has defined five key areas where members can get involved:

Alongside the key areas of collaboration, the ACU gives staff and students the chance to learn from expertise from across the Commonwealth and beyond.

ACU member universities join a community dedicated to championing higher education’s contribution to sustainable development within the sector. The ACU’s strategic partnerships provide a platform for members to influence policy at the highest level and engage with Commonwealth ministerial meetings and the UN.

The ACU encourages participation in events that highlight the strengths of its members and contribute to the knowledge and understanding of others in the network. 

ACU Fellowships

ACU Fellowships enable university staff to collaborate with colleagues at other member universities across a broad range of disciplines. Each Fellowship is worth up to £5,000.

Higher Education and the SDGs Challenge Grants

The ACU Higher Education and the SDGs Challenge Grants fund collaborative work for professional and academic staff at member universities. Four grants of £2,500 are available.

The ACU’s networks

The Commonwealth Climate Resilience Network brings together universities that are looking to tackle the challenges brought by climate change, and collaborates with the Commonwealth youth for sustainable urbanisation network. The Commonwealth Peace and Reconciliation Network offers grants to ACU members to support collaborative work, and the Higher Education and the SDGs Network is a forum of members who are directly engaging in the SDG agenda.

The Supporting Research Community delivers training for early career researchers, and creates a support network for research staff. Recognising the role human resources play in higher education, the HR in the Community network offer Community Challenge Grants to those who support essential work within HR at universities.

Latest news

Routledge / Round Table Commonwealth Studentships

PhD studentships provide support for research projects on Commonwealth related themes. Two studentships are available each year, one for UK-registered students and one for Commonwealth students in other countries.

The studentships have a maximum value of £5,500 each.

Applications will close on 31 July.

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Contact us

Vaughan McKee
Global Partnerships Officer

vaughan.mckee@york.ac.uk