# International Exchange Programmes: Humanities, Social Science and Bioethics

**Funder:** Wellcome
**Consortium:** Required — lead applicant at a UK organisation plus at least one other programme leader at an eligible organisation outside the UK (excluding mainland China); further partner organisations permitted
**Official call:** https://wellcome.org/research-funding/schemes/international-exchange-programmes-humanities-social-science-and-bioethics
**Last updated:** 6 Sept 2026

## Eligibility & scope

Funds international exchange programmes in health-related humanities, social sciences or bioethics, enabling researcher exchanges and career development. Lead applicant must be UK-based; other programme leaders must be based outside the UK, excluding mainland China; no transfer of funds into mainland China permitted.

## Summary

Wellcome's International Exchange Programmes in Humanities, Social Science and Bioethics funds collaborative research networks that bring together scholars from the UK and at least one partner organisation outside the UK to explore health-related questions through humanities, social science, or bioethics lenses. The lead applicant must be based at an eligible UK organisation, and all applicants must hold permanent or open-ended contracts. This call emphasises international partnership and intellectual exchange rather than a single-site project.

## Who should apply

- Permanent or open-ended staff at eligible UK academic, NHS or research organisations in the lead role
- Researchers with established collaborators outside the UK (excluding mainland China)
- Scholars working in health-related humanities, social sciences, or bioethics
- Multi-site consortia where high-income partner organisations commit significant institutional resources

## Key dates

- Consortium required: lead applicant at UK organisation plus at least one co-applicant outside the UK
- All applicants must hold permanent or open-ended contracts

## Tips for applicants

- High-income country partners must demonstrate substantive resource commitment beyond the grant itself, cost-sharing is assessed at review.
- Mainland China is excluded from eligible partner geographies; clarify all consortium members' institutional bases early.
- Frame the exchange value explicitly: what intellectual transfer or methodological innovation happens through the partnership that wouldn't occur within a single site.

## Frequently asked questions

### What kind of research does Wellcome's International Exchange Programmes fund?

Health-related research conducted through humanities, social science, or bioethics perspectives that involves international scholarly collaboration and exchange.

### Do I need a partner outside the UK to apply?

Yes, the call requires a consortium with a lead applicant at a UK organisation and at least one co-applicant at an eligible organisation outside the UK (mainland China is excluded).

### What contract status is required for applicants?

All applicants must hold permanent or open-ended contracts at their host institutions.

### Can high-income country partners apply without additional funding?

High-income country organisations must demonstrate significant additional resource commitment beyond the grant; cost-sharing is evaluated in review.

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Source: [The Great Grantsby](https://grantsby.eu/grants/wellcome-international-exchange-programmes-in-humanities-so-2026) — EU grant monitoring for academic researchers. Always verify details on the funder's website before applying.

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