As part of its internationalisation strategy, the university is enhancing cooperation with leading universities across Africa, Asia, Australasia, North America and South America within the U21 network.
One initiative supporting this expanded engagement is the U21 Travel Grant, which provides funding to enable researchers to visit partner institutions within the U21 network.
The U21 Travel Grant supports University of Helsinki academics collaborating with U21 partners beyond Europe, by funding short-term visits related to research and education collaboration, preparation of joint publications and international research funding applications. The application period runs from 11 May to 8 June 2026, and funded visits are expected to take place between July and November 2026.
As the world becomes more interconnected, the University of Helsinki’s strengthened collaboration with U21 partners is set to enhance its role in supporting a truly global academic community and shaping the future of global higher education.
Eligible U21 partner universities outside Europe:
Africa
• University of Johannesburg
Asia
• Fudan University
• Korea University
• National University of Singapore
• Shanghai Jiao Tong University
• Universitas Gadjah Mada
• University of Hong Kong
• Waseda University
Australasia
• UNSW Sydney
• University of Auckland
• University of Melbourne
• University of Queensland
• University of Sydney
North and South America
• McMaster University
• University of California, Davis
• University of Connecticut
• University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
• University of Maryland
• Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
• Tecnológico de Monterrey