Overview

The Global Grad Grant provides funding opportunities for UC Davis graduate or professional students traveling to participate in a globally-focused social impact opportunity or in a globally-focused research opportunity during the summer.

Students will be able to choose between two funding tracks: the Social Impact Track or the Research Track.

• The Social Impact Track is ideal for students who want to deepen their knowledge of the complexities of striving for justice across differences of culture and power and examine their own location within global flows of power and resources. Students who are selected for this track engage in a social impact internship, volunteer opportunity, or a globally-focused research project and participate in the UC Davis Widening Circles program in addition to receiving a travel grant. Support with identifying a social impact volunteer position or internship is available through this track.
• The Research Track is ideal for students who have already identified a global research opportunity or program that relates to their academic and/or professional goals and want to explore how concepts of culture, identity, power, global systems, and conflict relate to their work. Students accepted for a Research Track Global Grad Grant participate in the Global Leadership Certificate Program in addition to receiving a travel grant.
• Note: Research opportunities that have a strong social impact focus are welcome to apply to either track.

Funding Overview

Each track covers the program fee for its associated program and provides awardees with a $2000 grant, typically awarded to students’ accounts in mid-June.

The $2000 grant is to be used to cover costs associated with travel or in-person projects related to students’ globally-focused research or social impact activities, either within the U.S. or outside of it. It is intended to cover costs such as (but not limited to): airfare, public transit/car rentals, gas, lodging, stipends for local support, food, etc. If you have questions about whether your planned opportunity is appropriate for the grant, please contact the Global Grad Grant coordinator, Kimberly Bellows.

Timeline

Both Tracks

• Application Opens: January 2026
• Application Closes: March 2026
• Award Notification: April 2026

Social Impact Track

•  UC Davis Widening Circles program dates: 2026 dates TBD
  • View the UC Davis Widening Circles webpage for more details about program dates.
  • Program will be approximately 3-5 hours/week during program dates.
• Social impact internship, volunteer opportunity, or a globally-focused research project: Summer 2026.

Research Track

• Global Leadership Certificate module dates: 2026 dates TBD
  • The six asynchronous modules will take approximately 10 hours to complete.
• Research opportunity/program: Summer 2026.