UKABCS Graduation Project Capacity Building Grants
Empowering universities worldwide to support senior undergraduate students in executing high-impact, computationally driven graduation projects with £3,250+ in-kind support and £1,200/year PI supervisor cash allowance.
In light of the profound transformations currently shaping global academia and research, it has become clear that the future of science increasingly depends on the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and computational technologies across all disciplines. Research is no longer confined to traditional laboratories or costly experimentation; every researcher, university, and student must now acquire the computational skillset necessary to interpret results accurately, analyse data, and enhance scientific output.
Against this backdrop, the UK Association for Biotechnology and Computational Science (UKABCS) is proud to launch the next cycle of its Graduation Project Capacity Building Grants. This initiative enables universities and higher education institutions worldwide to support senior undergraduate students in executing high-impact, computationally driven graduation projects. It represents a strategic step toward empowering the next generation of researchers and cultivating an academic culture capable of competing on the global stage.
Round 2 — Applications Open | Apply by 1 November 2026. Applications are open for two weeks.
Application Rounds
- Round 1 — Closed: 15 June–15 July, extended to 30 July.
- Round 2 — Open: 18 October–1 November 2026 (two weeks).
- Round 3 — Planned: December 2026–January 2027. Exact dates will be announced.
Round 2 — Call Modifications
Institutions may apply with 10–25 graduation project teams. Institutions with 10–19 teams are eligible for the programme without chemicals support. Institutions with 20–25 teams are eligible for £3,000 in chemicals support per awarded institution, not per team. Phase II project implementation, administration and hosting are provided at zero cost to students. Completed projects may apply separately for the competitive UKABCS Graduation Project Startup Grant.
Which programme should I apply to?
- Fewer than 10 teams → UKABCS INNOFUND Grant (1–9 teams, same benefits structure).
- 10 teams or more → Graduation Project Capacity Building Grant (10–19 teams without chemicals; 20–25 teams with £3,000 chemicals support per institution).
Completed projects may contribute specialised tools to the UKABCS AI research platform through the Tool Contribution Programme.
Application documents: The downloadable documents below were prepared for the earlier call and may not reflect the Round 2 modifications. Please contact the grants team for current documents and confirmation of requirements before submitting.
Strategic Origin & Academic Leadership
This expansion and restructuring of the grant program is based on a strategic proposal submitted by Dr. Nourhan Hassan, who serves as the Principal Investigator (PI) at the Faculty of Science, Cairo University.
Dr. Nourhan is a distinguished scholar (holding a PhD with highest honors, Magna Cum Laude, from the University of Münster, Germany, a postdoctoral researcher at the University Hospital of Cologne in the BIOMET4D project, a Falling Walls Young Talent awardee, and a Life Science Editors JEDI Award recipient in 2025). As a previous recipient of the UKABCS Capacity Building Grant, Dr. Nourhan proposed a comprehensive initiative to fund and provide academic and industrial exemptions for graduation projects of undergraduate students across universities globally.
Participating Institutions from Inaugural Cycle
In its inaugural cycle, the grant was successfully awarded to prestigious institutions across the globe, including:
- Cairo University (Egypt)
- Kordofan University (Sudan)
- Omdurman University (Sudan)
- Capital University (formerly Helwan University) (Egypt)
- Basra University (Iraq)
- Al-Hujjah University (Yemen)
- Assiut University (Al-Azhar) (Egypt)
- Al-Azhar University (Egypt)
- University of UNIFAL-MG (Brazil)
Programme Structure — A Two-Phase Framework
In alignment with UKRI transparency, research integrity, and accountability standards, the Graduation Project Capacity Building Grant operates under a structured Two-Phase Framework:
Phase I — Mandatory Preparatory Training Programmes (Non-Grant-Funded Prerequisite)
Before entering the implementation stage, all participating students must complete, or be actively enrolled in, one of the approved preparatory training programmes selected according to their project pathway. The training phase prepares students in:
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications for scientific research execution.
- Computational methodologies and digital scientific workflows.
- Introductory Bio-Coding foundations using accessible Low-Code and Zero-Code systems.
- Scientific communication in English and preparation for international research environments.
Duration & Study Model:
- Standard Programmes: 3 months | Hybrid Intensive Programme: 5 months
- Full-time model: 5 study days per week, approximately 75 guided training hours.
Training Fees & Payment Policy:
- Training Fee: £100 per student.
- Accepted grant participants receive a 25% Training Support Discount (sponsored by UKABCS and Bioinformatics Gate Egypt), resulting in a net fee of £75 per student, payable in 3 flexible installments.
- If the participating university contributes an extra £25 per student from its training budget, the student pays only £50 (payable in 3 installments).
- All training fees are paid directly to the industrial partner, Bioinformatics Gate Egypt, for educational services. No portion of these fees is paid to or received by UKABCS.
Phase II — Fully Supported Graduation Project Implementation
Following successful completion of the preparatory phase, students proceed to project implementation.
- Duration: 3 months (~75 supervised execution hours).
- Tuition / Implementation Fees: 100% Fully Supported — Zero cost to students.
- Project Administration & Hosting: Fully supported at zero cost to students, including cloud server hosting, domain setup, and continuous technical tracking. No project administration or hosting fees apply.
The 5 Verified Faculty Training Programmes
The qualifying prerequisite programmes are organized into three distinct categories:
Category I — Academic & Scientific Research Tracks
(Target Output: Scientific Poster + Peer-Reviewed Publication in IJBTCS)
- Computational Drug Design & Analysis Services Programme
- Applied Bioinformatics & Research Execution Programme
Category II — Scientific Product Development & Technical Innovation Tracks
(Target Output: Scientific Software / Web App / AI Tool)
- AI-Powered Scientific Product Development Programme
- Advanced Scientific Freelancing & Client Delivery Programme
Category III — Scientific Research + AI Hybrid Intensive Track
(Target Output: BOTH Academic Publication AND Scientific Software Tool)
- Scientific Research + AI Hybrid Track Programme (5 Months Intensive Training)
Equivalent Grant Support Value & Principal Investigator Allowance
Each awarded team of 10 students receives comprehensive in-kind support equivalent to over £3,250 GBP per team, alongside a direct cash allowance for the Project Supervisor:
Project Supervisor Support Grant (Cash Allowance)
Each accepted project nominates one Project Supervisor (Principal Investigator) who receives an annual supervision and management allowance of £1,200 (One Thousand Two Hundred GBP) per year. Over the full 3-year grant cycle, this totals £3,600 GBP in direct supervisor support.
Support Breakdown
The values below are per team unless otherwise stated. Chemicals support is an institution-wide allocation and is not included in the per-team total.
| Support Category | Equivalent Value | Coverage Details |
|---|---|---|
| Project Supervisor Annual Allowance | £1,200 / year Cash | Annual financial support for the Principal Investigator (3-year cycle = £3,600 total). |
| Training Programme Support (Phase I) | £250 per team | 25% tuition support discount on mandatory preparatory training (10 students). |
| Scientific Publication & Poster Support | £800 per team | Subsidized publication and conference poster participation through IJBTCS. |
| Science Freelance Platform Access | £500 per team / yr | 1-year full team access, 50 tasks, 99 credits, and client-matching portal. |
| Get Docs Talk AI Research Access | £700 per team | 6-month access for AI-assisted scientific reading and literature analysis. |
| ClientFlow CRM Platform Access | £1,000 per team | 12-month research project management and collaboration license. |
| Chemicals Support | £3,000 per awarded institution | Available to institutions with 20–25 teams; not available for 10–19 teams. This is an institution-wide amount, not a per-team award. |
| Scientific Digital Infrastructure | Fully Included | Access to cloud server instances, simulation engines, and AI models. |
| Academic & Technical Supervision | Fully Included | Ongoing academic supervision, milestone evaluation, and technical mentoring. |
| Total Equivalent Support Per Team | £3,250+ GBP | Structured In-Kind Support Ecosystem |
Post-Project Startup Opportunity
Graduation project teams that complete the programme may apply for the separate, competitive UKABCS Graduation Project Startup Grant. Selected projects may receive support to initiate a startup in the UK and £250–£1,000 in marketing funding per selected project; selection and funding are not automatic. The startup grant is a separate opportunity, and its application arrangements will be announced separately.
Application Guidelines & Deadlines
- Round 2 Application Window: 18 October–1 November 2026 (two weeks); applications are open.
- Eligible Applicants: Principal Investigators (Professors, Lecturers) applying on behalf of accredited universities.
- Team Size: 10 undergraduate students per graduation project team; 10–25 teams per faculty or applying institution.
- Official Inquiries:
programmes-grants@ukabcs.co.uk - Submission Portals:
Apply for Grant Funding & Capacity Building
UKABCS provides competitive peer-reviewed research grants, publication fee waivers, and international mobility support for computational researchers.