The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) promotes international collaborations for arts and humanities research in higher education institutions (HEIs) and research organisations including Independent Research Organisations (IROs). This is in line with why and how UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) brings global knowledge to the UK and UK expertise to the world.
Across our international research and innovation funding portfolio, we commit to:
- building equitable partnerships and networks that generate the shared expertise and tools needed to deliver research of the highest standard with global impact
- finding global solutions to global challenges via collaborations that bring novel, international perspectives to some of today’s biggest questions
- enabling equitable global partnerships and uncovering new, fairer and inclusive ways of conducting international research so that more and different groups can engage, contribute and benefit
- taking a global approach to skills and capability that creates international opportunities for our researchers and sets international standards and building a pipeline for future skills and knowledge
Types of international funding
At UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), we are committed to harnessing the power of research and innovation to deliver solutions that address global challenges. We recognise that true impact depends on partnerships built on the principles of equity, inclusivity, and diversity of thought. Our approach prioritises mutuality, shared capacity, co-creation, and transparency, ensuring that all contributors, regardless of geography or resources, are valued and empowered. We endorse a definition of equitable partnerships that emphasises the importance of “exhibiting mutual trust, participation, responsibilities and benefits for all partners, with equal value placed on each partner’s contribution.”
As a major funder of Official Development Assistance (ODA) research and innovation, we acknowledge the structural power imbalances that can exist within these collaborations and are actively working to redress them. Guided by evolving best practice and informed by voices of stakeholders and rightsholders from the Global South, UKRI is driving a model of partnership that is fair, accountable, and transformative.
Our commitment extends beyond ODA-funded projects. We aim to contribute to systemic change across the global knowledge ecosystem, tackling entrenched systemic and structural inequities and fostering research environments where collaboration is genuinely inclusive and impactful.
When working in an international context, AHRC expects all funded researchers and innovators to follow the principles of equitable partnerships outlined on the UKRI Good Research Resource Hub.
Bilateral partnerships
AHRC enables international research collaboration through bilateral partnerships and programmes with overseas research funding agencies. Through these partnerships we deliver a range of joint international funding opportunities which invite UK-based researchers to develop joint research proposals with collaborators based in another country.
With the aim of sustaining rich, diverse and creative research ecosystems within the UK and across the world, current bilateral programmes include:
- UK-German funding initiative in the humanities: delivered in partnership with the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, German Research Foundation
- UK-Ireland collaboration in the creative economy with Research Ireland – building on the bilateral digital humanities programme
- AHRC-SSHRC (Canada) Memorandum of Understanding and humanities AI sandpits
Multilateral partnerships
AHRC also promotes and supports international research collaboration through our participation in multilateral research funding agency partnerships.
We work with a wide range of partners to deliver joint multilateral funding opportunities which enable UK researchers to develop research consortia and research proposals with collaborators from multiple countries across the world. These opportunities combine national and international funding to support innovative arts and humanities research across borders.
AHRC is a member of several European and trans-Atlantic multilateral research funding initiatives including:
- Humanities in the European Research Area (HERA) currently chaired by AHRC’s Director of Research
- Joint Programming Initiative on Cultural Heritage and Global Change (JPI CH), Alliance for Research on Cultural Heritage in Europe and the proposed European Partnership for Resilient Cultural Heritage
- Joint Programming Initiative on Urban Europe (JPI UE)/ Driving Urban Transitions
- New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF)
- Trans-Atlantic Platform for Social Sciences and Humanities (T-AP)
Global development
AHRC remains committed to supporting research focused on global development. To date, we have invested over £110 million in more than 400 international research projects through ODA funding including through the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF), the Newton Fund and the International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF), each addressing different global development challenges.
Working collaboratively with partners in the Global South, these projects are providing interdisciplinary approaches to addressing a wide range of challenge areas, including:
- conflict prevention and resolution
- climate change
- sustainable cities
- creative industries
AHRC’s international placement scheme
The International Placement Scheme (IPS) is AHRC’s flagship global initiative that funds short research placements at world-leading cultural institutions for doctoral students, early career researchers (ECRs) and doctoral-level research assistants. Through privileged access to internationally renowned collections, facilities, programmes, and expertise, often unavailable in the UK, IPS enhances the depth, range, diversity, and quality of research, particularly in under-represented areas and methodologies.
The scheme fosters international collaboration and academic mobility, building strong global networks and long-term research relationships that transcend borders. It accelerates career progression, positioning IPS researchers as future leaders in their fields, and cultivates a vibrant international community of scholars who share knowledge, inspire innovation, and shape the future of arts and humanities research.
Embed international components in your proposal
There are multiple ways of embedding international components in proposals to AHRC funding opportunities.
Visit our embedding international elements into research proposals page for more information on:
- AHRC’s lead agency and money follows cooperation agreements
- how to include international components within applicant-led applications
By working internationally, AHRC enables UK-based researchers to collaborate with scholars from different cultures and disciplines. This leads to richer, more diverse insights, more innovative approaches, and stronger academic outputs.
AHRC’s international partnerships position the UK as a global leader in arts and humanities research. By tackling global challenges like climate change, migration and digital ethics, AHRC promotes research that addresses these challenges through cross-border collaboration, ensuring that the humanities contribute meaningfully to domestic and global solutions.
Contact us
Ask a question about our international partnerships and programmes
AHRC International Partnerships and Engagement team
Email: international@ahrc.ukri.org