The United Kingdom is one of Ukraine’s most committed bilateral partners in 2026: £11.5 billion under the 100 Year Partnership agreement, £240 million per year in FCDO bilateral aid, and over £109 million from the Integrated Security Fund over three years. Alongside these large-scale commitments, several direct grant programmes with confirmed open deadlines are available right now – for researchers, early-career scientists, students, and civil society organisations. This article UK–Ukraine Grants covers 7 currently open UK funding programmes with deadlines confirmed for 2026. The largest provides up to £1,500,000 for civil society organisations working on veterans’ policy. The most urgent deadline falls on 14 May 2026.
More open opportunities on GetGrant
GetGrant updates its database of grants and programmes for artists, journalists, NGOs, entrepreneurs, and researchers every day, with AI-powered matching to your profile.
For Civil Society Organisations and the Veterans Sector (UK–Ukraine Grants 2026)
Open call from the British Embassy Kyiv – up to £1,500,000 for organisations supporting veterans’ policy in Ukraine
1. UK Integrated Security Fund – Veterans’ Affairs in Ukraine
Funder: FCDO / British Embassy Kyiv | gov.uk · Who can apply: International organisations, INGOs and Ukrainian CSOs, including consortia
About the programme
The British Embassy Kyiv has issued a call for proposals from non-profit organisations under the UK Integrated Security Fund (ISF). Up to £1,500,000 is available to support national-level policy development, coordination and implementation on veterans’ affairs in Ukraine, covering the period from 1 July 2026 to 31 March 2027. The UK’s aim is to primarily strengthen the Ministry of Veterans Affairs (MoVA), with a focus on cross-governmental coordination including the Ministry of Defence, social protection services and community-level delivery. Projects must have sustainable outcomes and clearly define the systemic change they aim to achieve.
Requirements and conditions
Open to international organisations, INGOs and Ukrainian CSOs, including consortia. Minimum project budget £1,000,000; maximum £1,500,000. Co-financing is a merit. Submit the standard Project Proposal Form with an Activity Based Budget (ABB) in GBP by email.
| Deadline: | 15 May 2026, 17:00 (Kyiv) |
| Amount: | £1,000,000 – £1,500,000 |
| Eligible: | IOs, INGOs, Ukrainian CSOs (consortium eligible) |
| Contact: | Kyiv.Projects@fcdo.gov.uk |
For Researchers and Scientists (UK–Ukraine Grants 2026)
Five programmes with confirmed May–July 2026 deadlines for researchers based at, or affiliated with, UK institutions
2. Philip Leverhulme Prize 2026
Funder: The Leverhulme Trust | leverhulme.ac.uk · Who can apply: Early-career researchers at UK universities (any nationality); nomination submitted by the institution
About the programme
One of the Leverhulme Trust’s most prestigious awards for early-career researchers whose work has already made an original and significant contribution to knowledge and shows exceptional future promise. Up to 30 prizes of £100,000 are awarded annually across six subject areas spanning the sciences, social sciences, and humanities. The prize funding is entirely flexible and may be used for any legitimate research purpose – equipment, travel, research assistance, workshops or conferences. For Ukrainian researchers already holding a position at a British university, this is a meaningful route to substantial flexible funding. The institution submits the nomination on behalf of the researcher.
| Deadline: | 14 May 2026, 16:00 |
| Amount: | £100,000 (flexible use) |
| Requirement: | Within 10 years of PhD; permanent post at UK university |
| Format: | Institutional nomination, not a direct application |
3. British Academy / Leverhulme Small Research Grants
Funder: The British Academy & Leverhulme Trust | thebritishacademy.ac.uk · Who can apply: Postdoctoral researchers ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom
About the programme
One of the British Academy’s most popular schemes, receiving more applications than any other Academy programme each year. Grants fund primary research in the humanities and social sciences, covering direct research costs such as fieldwork, archival travel, workshop organisation and visits from or to partner scholars. A key advantage of this scheme for the Ukrainian research community: co-applicants may be based anywhere in the world, meaning Ukrainian-based researchers can participate as co-applicants on projects led by a UK-resident lead. Two rounds per year – spring and autumn.
| Deadline: | 3 June 2026 (independent scholars: 27 May) |
| Amount: | up to £10,000, up to 24 months |
| Eligible: | Postdocs ordinarily resident in UK; co-applicants from any country |
| Disciplines: | Humanities and social sciences |
4. UKRI Future Leaders Fellowships – Round 11
Funder: UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) | ukri.org · Who can apply: Early-career researchers and innovators based at UK host organisations (any nationality)
About the programme
Future Leaders Fellowships is one of the UK’s flagship instruments for early-career researchers and innovators. Open to all nationalities and disciplines, the fellowship supports those making the transition to research independence. For Ukrainian researchers already based at British universities or research organisations, this is a direct route to sustained independent funding for up to seven years. The essential requirement is that the applicant holds an official affiliation with an eligible UK host organisation for the full duration of the award.
What is funded
The fellowship covers salary, research expenses and staff costs for four years, with the option of a three-year extension totalling up to seven years. UKRI does not set a fixed budget ceiling – applicants propose and justify individual cost items.
| Deadline: | 16 June 2026, 16:00 UK time |
| Duration: | 4 years + optional 3-year extension |
| Covers: | Salary + research expenses + staff costs |
| Requirement: | Host organisation must be in the United Kingdom |
5. Wellcome Early-Career Awards
Funder: Wellcome Trust | wellcome.org · Who can apply: Early-career researchers in any discipline relating to human health and wellbeing
About the programme
Wellcome Trust is one of the world’s largest independent scientific funders, with an annual expenditure of over £1 billion. The Early-Career Awards support researchers who have completed their PhD and are ready to develop a distinct independent research identity. Open to any discipline provided the research can improve human life, health or wellbeing. The administering organisation must be in the UK, Republic of Ireland, or an eligible low- or middle-income country (LMIC) as classified by the World Bank, excluding India and mainland China. Ukrainian research institutions may qualify – applicants are advised to confirm directly with Wellcome.
| Deadline: | 21 July 2026, 15:00 BST |
| Amount: | Salary + up to £400,000 research expenses |
| Duration: | Usually 5 years |
| Requirement: | Up to 3 yrs postdoc; administering org in UK / Ireland / LMIC |
6. Wellcome Career Development Awards (UK–Ukraine Grants)
Funder: Wellcome Trust | wellcome.org · Who can apply: Mid-career researchers leading their own independent research programme
About the programme
Career Development Awards are designed for researchers who have already demonstrated independent scientific leadership and are ready to build a substantial research programme with a team. Wellcome provides up to eight years of funding – one of the longest continuous grant periods offered by any major funder globally – covering salary, up to four full-time equivalent staff, and research expenses. Administering organisation eligibility is the same as for Early-Career Awards: UK, Republic of Ireland, or eligible LMIC. Three funding rounds per year.
| Deadline: | 28 July 2026, 15:00 BST |
| Duration: | Usually up to 8 years |
| Covers: | Salary + up to 4 FTE staff + research expenses |
| Requirement: | Administering org in UK / Ireland / LMIC (excl. India, mainland China) |
For Students and Future Leaders (UK–Ukraine Grants 2026)
The UK Government’s flagship international scholarship for Ukrainian citizens opens applications in August 2026
7. Chevening Scholarships 2027–28 (UK–Ukraine Grants)
Funder: UK Government / FCDO | chevening.org · Who can apply: Ukrainian citizens with an undergraduate degree and a minimum of two years’ work experience
About the programme
Chevening is the UK Government’s fully funded international scholarship programme for outstanding future leaders. Funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and partner organisations, the programme has awarded more than 60,000 scholarships from over 160 countries. Each year around 1,600 scholars receive a fully funded one-year master’s degree at any accredited UK university. After completing their studies, scholars commit to returning to Ukraine for at least two years.
What the scholarship covers
Full tuition fees; monthly living stipend (£1,378 outside London; £1,690 in London); economy return flights; arrival and departure allowances; visa application fee; travel grant for Chevening events across the UK.
The next application round opens in August 2026. The deadline is expected in October 2026. Use the time now to research eligible courses, draft your leadership essays and confirm your two referees.
| Applications open: | August 2026 |
| Covers: | Tuition, stipend, flights, allowances, visa fee |
| Eligible: | Ukrainian citizens, bachelor’s degree, 2+ years work experience |
| Condition: | Return to Ukraine for minimum 2 years after the award |
Summary Table: UK–Ukraine Grants 2026
| Programme | Amount | Deadline | For whom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philip Leverhulme Prize | £100,000 | 14 May 2026 | Early-career, UK university post |
| ISF – Veterans’ Affairs | £1,000,000–1,500,000 | 15 May 2026 | IOs, INGOs, Ukrainian CSOs |
| BA/Leverhulme Small Grants | up to £10,000 | 3 Jun 2026 | Postdocs resident in UK |
| UKRI Future Leaders Fellowships | Salary + costs, 4–7 yrs | 16 Jun 2026 | Researchers at UK organisations |
| Wellcome Early-Career Awards | Salary + up to £400,000, 5 yrs | 21 Jul 2026 | Early-career researchers |
| Wellcome Career Development | Salary + staff + costs, up to 8 yrs | 28 Jul 2026 | Mid-career researchers |
| Chevening Scholarships | Fully funded | Opens Aug 2026 | Ukrainian citizens, master’s in UK |
More open opportunities on GetGrant
GetGrant updates its database of grants and programmes for artists, journalists, NGOs, entrepreneurs, and researchers every day, with AI-powered matching to your profile.