UCL opens Grand Challenges x ChangeMakers funding call for student-staff teams
The University College London initiative was announced on LinkedIn, with applications now open for interdisciplinary projects focused on learning, wellbeing, and community.
UCL Grand Challenges has opened applications for its Grand Challenges x ChangeMakers funding call, inviting students to work alongside members of staff on funded projects designed to enhance learning, support wellbeing, or strengthen community across University College London in the UK.
The update was shared on LinkedIn, where UCL Grand Challenges confirmed the return of the funding call for a second year and outlined how student-staff teams can apply for support.
Grand Challenges x ChangeMakers is a UCL program that brings students and staff together to co-create interdisciplinary projects aligned with the university’s Grand Challenges framework. Funded projects are expected to address real-world issues while developing practical skills through collaboration, research, and problem-solving.
Second funding round builds on prior outcomes
According to the LinkedIn post, the previous funding round supported seventeen projects across the Grand Challenges of Climate Crisis, Data Empowered Societies, and Mental Health and Wellbeing. Activities included co-designed community workshops, sustainability-focused events, and engagement with external organizations working on environmental innovation.
The program positions student-staff collaboration as a way to test ideas and deliver outcomes that extend beyond the classroom, with a focus on applied learning and institutional impact.
For the latest call, UCL Grand Challenges confirmed the introduction of a new Inequalities theme, joining the three existing challenge areas. As part of the application process, student-staff teams are asked to explain why they have selected a particular theme and how their project could deliver meaningful change.
Projects aligned with sustainability, equity, digital futures, and related areas are eligible, provided they demonstrate interdisciplinary collaboration and relevance to the UCL community.
The LinkedIn post also pointed to the skills-based learning element of the program, referencing employer demand for demonstrable skills such as collaboration, research, and project management. Student participants are expected to develop experience linked to UCL Graduate Attributes, while staff participants are encouraged to explore new approaches to teaching, research, and public engagement.
Applications close on January 23, 2026, with results expected to be communicated in mid-February.
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