Partnership Grants
The Partnership Grants scheme funds schools and colleges up to £3,000 to work in partnership with STEM professionals from academia or industry to run an investigative STEM project.
Status: Open Deadline: 01 December 2026
Apply now
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Open date | 23 February 2026 |
| 1st application deadline | 30 April 2026 |
| 2nd application deadline | 10 July 2026 |
| 3rd application deadline | 30 November 2026 |
| Close date | 01 December 2026 |
Do you have a great idea for bringing research alive in schools?
The Partnership Grants scheme funds UK schools and colleges up to £3,000 to work in partnership with STEM professionals from academia or industry to run an investigative STEM project. The scheme is open to all levels of education supporting students aged between 5 - 18. Schools and colleges that are outside of the UK (except the Channel Islands and Isle of Man) are not eligible to apply.
Tomorrow's Climate Scientists is an extension to the Partnership Grants scheme and funds schools and colleges specifically researching into climate change and biodiversity. The programme aims to give students not just a voice but an opportunity to take action themselves to address local climate and biodiversity issues.
The 2026 round is now open
Why apply for this scheme?
The scheme (including Tomorrow's Climate Scientists):
- Provides an opportunity for students to develop key skills, including practical STEM skills, as well as research, problem solving and data-handling skills, which will be invaluable for their future careers
- Demonstrates the range of STEM careers available to students
- Fosters long-term working relationships between schools and colleges, and STEM professionals
- Fulfil the requirement of Benchmark 8 of the Gatsby Practical Science Benchmarks and additionally supports the requirements of the Gatsby Career Benchmarks
Current grant round details
The 2026 funding round is now open and has three possible submission deadlines at the end of April, early July and at the end of November. A full timeline can be seen at the top of this page. Applications must be completed online through Flexi-Grant®.
Watch the video below for an overview of the Partnership Grants scheme.
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Check our full eligibility criteria as well as additional guidance for those supporting students with SEND Find out how to apply and look at exemplar forms See our wonderful case studies from the schools and colleges involved in the Grants Stuck for a project idea? Visit our project plans page Find out how to connect with a STEM partner See the impact of Partnership Grants on our impacts and benefits page
For further information about the scheme please click on the related content to the right and below, where you can find out more details regarding the application process, eligibility and to browse our case studies. If you have any questions, please contact the Schools Engagement team or call 0207 451 2531.
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Related links
- How to apply for a Partnership Grant
- Eligibility and judging criteria
- STEM partner engagement
- Impacts and benefits
- Partnership Grants involving students with SEND
- Case studies
- Information for Partnership Grant holders: reporting and support