Grants for disability inclusion in education

Disability Inclusion Partnerships (DIP) is delivered under the Going Global Partnerships programme of the British Council. It supports partnerships between UK universities and higher education institutions in partner countries to strengthen disability-inclusive policies, systems and practices. Projects should remove barriers to participation, strengthen institutional capacity, improve inclusive learning environments, generate evidence, and promote sustainable institutional change while applying an intersectional approach and engaging relevant stakeholders.

After the application deadline, all submissions undergo an eligibility assessment. Applications that do not meet the required eligibility criteria are rejected before the assessment stage.

Key participation requirements include:

• Each proposal must be submitted as a partnership consisting of:
  • one UK Lead Institution; and
  • one Lead Institution from the overseas partner country.
• Both Lead Institutions must have the capacity to administer a grant.
• The proposal must be jointly prepared by all partners but submitted by the UK Lead Institution, which signs the Grant Agreement with the British Council if successful.
• The UK Lead Institution must be a higher education provider with degree-awarding powers.
• The overseas Lead Institution must be a higher education provider or a locally recognised not-for-profit research or education institution.
• Associate Partners may also participate, including higher education providers, NGOs, government organisations, businesses, employer organisations, charities, and civil society organisations.

Project eligibility requirements:

• Projects must comply with Official Development Assistance (ODA) requirements, where applicable.
• Proposals must address development challenges in the partner country and contribute to at least one Sustainable Development Goal.
• Applications must include a Gender Equality Statement.
• All proposals are checked for compliance with British Council policies, including alignment with restrictions relating to military or security-related activities.

The grant programme provides funding for projects promoting disability inclusion. Grants of up to £25,000 are available for projects with a 17-month implementation period, starting on 1 January 2027.

Eligible costs may include:

• travel, accommodation and subsistence;
• meetings, workshops, seminars and training events;
• consultancy services (up to 20% of the total project budget);
• specialist equipment, software licences and project materials;
• publication costs, digital platforms and online delivery;
• monitoring and evaluation activities;
• staff costs directly related to project delivery;
• banking and exchange rate-related costs.

The following costs are not eligible:

• standard office equipment and furniture;
• office software;
• mobile phones and phone bills;
• construction or rental of physical infrastructure;
• scholarships;
• entertainment expenses, gifts and alcohol;
• profit-generating costs.

Additional funding conditions:

• Matched funding is encouraged but is not required.
• Funding limits apply to specific budget categories:
  • staff costs — up to 30% of the grant;
  • UK expertise costs — up to 20%;
  • travel costs — up to 20%.
• Grant funds are paid to the Contracting Institution after the Grant Agreement is signed and are managed according to the approved project budget, including transfers to project partners where applicable.

The grant programme supports partnership projects between UK higher education institutions and partner-country institutions that promote disability inclusion in higher education. Projects are expected to address barriers to participation, strengthen institutional change, and improve inclusive policies and practices.

Supported activities include, among others:

• developing or strengthening disability-inclusive policies, systems and practices within higher education institutions;
• developing, testing or implementing new approaches, models, resources and tools;
• collaborative work to identify barriers and develop sustainable solutions;
• knowledge exchange and sharing of evidence and expertise between partner institutions;
• activities that improve accessibility in learning, teaching, research and student support;
• strengthening institutional capacity and governance.

Projects are expected to adopt a whole-institution approach to disability inclusion, consider gender equality and intersectionality, and contribute to sustainable institutional change.

Funded projects are expected to contribute to at least one of the following outcomes:

• strengthened institutional leadership and capacity;
• more accessible and inclusive learning environments;
• improved evidence on barriers and enabling factors;
• implementation of disability-inclusive policies and institutional frameworks;
• stronger collaboration with external stakeholders;
• greater participation and voice of persons with disabilities in decision-making;
• wider integration of intersectional approaches into institutional policy and practice.

The grant programme follows a structured timeline covering the application, assessment, contracting, implementation, and reporting phases.

Key milestones include:

• 20 July 2026 — call for applications opens for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).
• 11 September 2026 — deadline for submitting clarification questions.
• 21 September 2026 (11:00 a.m. BST) — proposal submission deadline.
• October–November 2026 — application assessment period.
• By mid-November 2026 — announcement of successful applicants.
• Within three weeks after the results announcement — grant agreement signing, subject to due diligence procedures.
• Within 30 days of signing the grant agreement — grant payment is issued.
• 1 January 2027 — project implementation begins.
• Late January 2027 — introductory meeting with British Council in-country staff to agree communication arrangements.
• 15 September 2027 — submission of the first progress report.
• 31 May 2028 — completion of project implementation.
• 15 July 2028 — submission of the final report.

The guidance also notes that the timeline may be amended by the British Council due to unforeseen circumstances. Where changes to the project schedule are required, an official request must be submitted in advance.

Applications must be submitted through the online grant platform. Applicants are required to register and use the designated application form for the grant competition.

Main steps:

• Register on the online grant application platform.
• Review the application documentation, including the downloadable sample application form.
• Complete the "Going Global Partnerships – Multi-country – Disability Inclusion Partnerships 2026" application form.
• Submit the completed application through the online platform.

Important:

• Only the Lead UK Institution is permitted to start and submit the online application.
• Registration on the online platform is required before an application can be submitted.

Applications are assessed through a multi-stage evaluation process. First, submissions are checked for eligibility and completeness, after which they are reviewed by an expert assessment panel. The highest-ranked applications are selected for grant contracting.

Applications are evaluated across four main categories, with a maximum total score of 100 points:

• Project Quality and Relevance (40%):
  • alignment with partner-country priorities;
  • evidence-based project rationale;
  • clearly defined outcomes;
  • engagement of key stakeholders and partners;
  • consideration of inclusion and shared project governance.
• Methodology and Design (30%):
  • quality and feasibility of the implementation plan;
  • clearly defined outputs and objectives;
  • integration of equality, diversity and inclusion principles;
  • identified risks and mitigation measures.
• Resources (10%):
  • value for money and justified budget;
  • appropriate allocation of resources;
  • relevant experience of the project team and partner institutions;
  • fair distribution of responsibilities and funding.
• Sustainability (20%):
  • long-term impact and sustainability potential;
  • integration of project results into institutional practice;
  • dissemination and knowledge-sharing plans;
  • support for partner capacity development beyond the grant period.

Each category is assessed using a 0–20 scoring scale:

• 20 points — exceptional performance;
• 16–19 — very high standard;
• 11–15 — high standard;
• 6–10 — adequate standard;
• 1–5 — limited compliance;
• 0 — criteria not met.

As part of the assessment process, applicants are also screened against international sanctions and other compliance databases. Applications that fail these screening requirements may be deemed ineligible.

Before submitting an application, applicants should ensure that all required documents and supporting materials are complete and comply with the call requirements.

The application package should include:

• the application form and all supporting documents, completed in English;
• support letters from each Lead Institution, issued on official letterhead and signed by the Head of Department or another senior authorised representative;
• a detailed budget request prepared using the required budget template;
• short biographies of all project team members (approximately 150–200 words per person), outlining their relevant expertise, experience, and project role;
• where applicable, letters from Associate Partners.

Applicants should also confirm that:

• the proposal has been agreed by both Lead Institutions;
• the Lead Institutions have the capacity to administer the grant and comply with British Council requirements relating to integrity, anti-bribery, anti-fraud, and professional conduct.

The grant recipient is responsible for complying with the monitoring and reporting requirements set out in the Grant Agreement. Reporting must be carried out in accordance with the grant conditions and covers both the financial management and implementation of the project.

Key requirements include:

• Monitoring and reporting must comply with the provisions of the Grant Agreement.
• The grant recipient is required to submit:
  • financial reports;
  • activity (narrative) reports on project implementation.
• The format, content, and reporting deadlines are established in the Grant Agreement.

Participation in the grant programme requires compliance with the British Council's contractual requirements and all obligations set out in the Grant Agreement. The Lead Institution is responsible for grant administration, project delivery, reporting, and compliance with all grant conditions.

Key provisions include:

• The British Council acts as the contracting authority and signs the Grant Agreement with the Contracting Institution (Lead Institution).
• The Lead Institution must be eligible to receive and manage grant funding and is responsible for fulfilling all grant obligations.
• Other project partners are named in the Grant Agreement, while the Contracting Institution is responsible for communicating the relevant contractual requirements to them.
• Applicants are subject to the UK Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and must indicate whether the Act applies to their organisation.
• By submitting an application, applicants agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of the Grant Agreement and the call requirements without further negotiation or amendment.