North America

As a key strategic region, we significantly invest in North America to support and encourage academic engagement. We have built a strong network of faculty relationships with leading academic institutions, resulting in significant research outcomes and funding successes. Our educational initiatives include new exchange partnerships, prestigious internships, and collaborative teaching arrangements.

In June 2026, the University of Birmingham participated in the UK’s largest-ever trade delegation to the United States as part of the Greater Together campaign, strengthening partnerships across sport, education, and the creative industries. Building on insights shared in our discussion on sport, universities and diplomacy in Los Angeles, the University convened leaders from organisations including LA28, LA84, the NFL, the LA Rams and the Paralympic movement to explore how higher education can contribute to international collaboration and the long-term legacy of major sporting events. The visit also provided opportunities to reconnect with key US partners, establish new ambassadors for our character education in sport initiatives, and deepen relationships that support our growing engagement across North America.

Read more from our Pro Vice Chancellor (International) Professor Robin Mason on Sport, Universities and Diplomacy: What We Learned in Los Angeles.

At Birmingham, we have pursued a focused North American engagement strategy, particularly in Illinois with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Chicago (our sister city), and McMaster University in Canada. Our innovative approach integrates civic, academic, and cultural engagement to raise our profile and foster signature partnerships with world-class institutions.

The Sister City relationship with Chicago is rooted in shared characteristics, including our work with The Shakespeare Institute and the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre. Both Birmingham and Chicago, as "second cities", have distinct identities, known for their industrial heritage and cultural contributions.

We continue to collaborate with North American institutions, partners, and politicians to ensure world-class opportunities for our students and researchers. We also focus on sports diplomacy, which includes our Ivy League athletics exchange.

Funding

Explore what funding opportunities are available for research collaborations between the University of Birmingham and our US partnerships.

Birmingham International Engagement Fund (BIEF)

Further information on the Birmingham International Engagement Fund can be found at: Internal Funding Opportunities.

BIRMAC Seed Fund

The University of Birmingham and McMaster University are delighted to launch the annual BIRMAC Project and Ideas Fund.

In October 2021 the University of Birmingham and McMaster University signed a formal agreement to create a framework for collaboration and partnership between the two institutions. McMaster University and the University of Birmingham have historic similarities, shared interests and recognise that to achieve exceptional research outcomes and the best possible student experience, constant nurture and support is necessary and cannot be done in isolation.

To help support academic collaboration between our two globally-leading universities, we have established the Projects and Ideas Fund: a seed fund created with matching funding from each university designed to identify, establish and develop first-rate research projects and student outcomes.

Overview

The fund’s objective is to support new initiatives by providing bridge funding between ideas and the first grant, or academic initiative. The funding is designed to enable individuals to identify complementary strengths, leverage synergy, and design new outstanding research and education projects and opportunities for academic excellence across all disciplines.

The funding will seed and enable the development of deep partnerships through joint initiatives, which for example, could include (but is not limited to):

Intensive academic research and/or education workshops leading to future long-term collaborations.
Short-term visits for both young and established academics, or senior staff, enabling new and innovative long-term collaborations.
Research-oriented teaching opportunities, such as for instance the development of new experiential seminars, bringing together PhD Candidates and Post-Doctoral Fellows.

Application

Applications are now closed.

Academics and professional services staff wishing to access funding must submit an application using the online application form.

Find an academic to support your project:

University of Birmingham

McMaster University

Please submit one application per project

The deadline to submit your application is 31 March 2026 at 11:59 EST/ 04:59 GMT. The outcome of all applications will be announced on or after 15 May 2026.

Additional Information

Full details can be found in the BIRMAC Project and Ideas Fund Application Guidance Document.

Should you wish to discuss the fund further please contact Roshni Ghinday at r.ghinday@bham.ac.uk

BRIDGE Seed Fund

Applications are now open for the BRIDGE 2026 SEED Fund. You can find details and how to apply here.

BRIDGE Global South Visiting Fellows Programme

Please visit Global South Fellowship Programme

Previous recipients

Year	Name	University college	Home University
2025-2026	Carolina Muros Cortés	College of Medicine and Health	University of Buenos Aires
2025-2026	Kaktcham Pierre Marie	College of Medicine and Health	University of Dschang, Cameroon
2025-2026	Sadaf Mehmood	College of Arts and Law	Quaid-i-Azam University
2025-2026	Tulio Hallak Panzera	College of Life and Environmental Sciences	Federal University of São João del Rei
2025-2026	Naima Qureshi	College of Social Sciences	University of Education, Lahore

Marshall Scholars

Marshall Scholarships finance young Americans of high ability to study for a degree in the United Kingdom. Up to fifty Scholars are selected each year to study at graduate level at an UK institution in any field of study.

Previous Recipients

Year	Name	Subject
2024	Eva Rothenberg	MA Applied Linguistics
2023	Abdelhamid Arbab	MA Islamic Studies
2017	Nancy Fairbank	Msc International Development

Postgraduate Scholarship Opportunities for US Students

At the University of Birmingham we are committed to supporting and growing academic engagement with the US as one of our key strategic international territories. We offer a range of fellowship opportunities for US students and faculty to come to the University of Birmingham and gain valuable transatlantic experience. Please see our Postgraduate Funding database.