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 of the complexities of striving for mutual understanding across culture and difference and to examine one’s own understanding of global interconnection and interdependence that stretches across cultural contexts. 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 Widening Circles: Global Social Impact 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 6, 2026
• Application Closes: March 16, 2026
• Award Notification: Week of April 20, 2026

Social Impact Track

•  Widening Circles: Global Social Impact Program dates: June 22–August 21, 2026
  • View the Widening Circles: Global Social Impact Program 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: April 27–June 14, 2026
  • The six asynchronous modules will take approximately 10 hours to complete.
• Research opportunity/program: Summer 2026.