February 2026 Grad Newsletter

This is a monthly email of global opportunities for grad students—on campus, online, in our region and around the world—as well as grants and scholarships. Contact us to learn more, get advising or attend one of our events!

Latest News

Global Aggies Blog: "When Language Becomes a Bridge: My Widening Circles Journey"

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Through global learning and community-centered leadership, UC Davis Ph.D. candidate Angélica González-Bastidas advances plain legal language initiatives that promote equitable access to legal and institutional information in multilingual communities.

Global Leadership, Internships and Research

Universitas 21 Global Citizens Program

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Join an online global cohort exploring the UN Sustainable Development Goals through self-paced activities and live calls, and turn your insights into real actions that drive change. This free program runs March 9–27 and is open to UC Davis undergraduate and graduate students. Apply now. Deadline: February 12.

Universitas 21 School for Sustainable Policy Leadership in Canada

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Develop and implement impactful sustainability policies in this funded program at McMaster University in Canada, July 13–17. Build sustainability policy skills through expert-led sessions and field visits. Open to graduate students from any discipline. Program costs are covered, and limited $500 travel grants are available. Apply now. Deadline: February 19.

UC Davis Global Grad & Postdoc Career Skills Series and Certificate

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​This series is open to graduate students and postdoctoral scholars. Participants may register for workshops emphasizing skill development in workplace inclusivity or intercultural teaching and learning to support success in intercultural work environments. Workshops may be combined toward a certificate from Global Affairs. Register now.

Alianza MX Postdoctoral Research Fellowships

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Alianza MX provides two-year fellowships for UC postdoctoral researchers working on binational projects. The program aims to advance the research activities and professional development of young scholars as well as expand collaborative ties between the UC and partners in Mexico. Funding awards cover postdoctoral researchers' salaries for up to 12 months. Deadline: March 2.

Korea University Climate Corps

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Join a cohort of students and faculty at Korea University from July 6–10 to drive meaningful change in climate technology, policy and innovation. Participants will develop new research proposals, entrepreneurial project plans and/or policy recommendations under the mentorship of participating faculty. Open to UC Davis juniors, seniors and graduate students. Apply now. Deadline: February 22.

Cross-Campus Playshop for Language and Cultural Exchange Summer Camp

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​This program, hosted by Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou), China, August 8–21, includes cultural and thematic sessions on Chinese Lingnan culture, science, sports and leadership, along with guided tours. The program fee is waived for UC Davis students. Apply now. Deadline: March 25.

KU Leuven Research Internships

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​On-site research projects in Belgium are available to undergraduate, master’s and Ph.D. students in the humanities and social sciences, biomedical sciences, and science, engineering and technology. Tuition and administrative fees are waived for UC Davis students. Apply at least five months before the internship start date.

Amrita Live-in-Labs®

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Fieldwork research projects in rural villages in India are available to undergraduate and master’s students. Participants will apply theoretical knowledge to real-world challenges in education, energy, agriculture, climate change and more. Tuition fees are waived, and accommodation and food fees are reduced for UC Davis students. Rolling applications, with preference for June start dates.

Competitions, Challenges and Funding

UC Davis Global Grad Grants

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Graduate and professional students are invited to apply for funding to support globally focused research or a social impact internship in summer 2026. Grants cover the program fees for the associated tracks and provide a $2,000 award to support activities and travel. Apply now. Deadline: March 16.

Global Aggies Award for LGBTQIA+ Rights

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​This award supports UC Davis students' global learning and engagement related to issues facing LGBTQIA+ communities and individuals around the world. Eligible activities include research or creative work, internships or externships, and other projects that advance the rights and/or well-being of LGBTQIA+ people globally. Award amount: up to $2,500. Deadline: March 6.

Peter and Marion London Global Learning Innovation Award

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The Peter and Marion London Global Learning Innovation Award supports an annual project led by one or more UC Davis students who partner with Nepali and/or Tibetan students on a project with a strong public benefit related to sustainable development for disadvantaged communities. Award amount: up to $4,500. Deadline: April 10.

UC Davis Eivind G. Lange '77 and Mary G. Puma Graduate Fellowship

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​This fellowship supports graduate students conducting research in Chile in partnership with the UC Davis Chile Life Sciences Innovation Center. The fellowship award is limited to $4,000 and must be completed by December 31, 2026. Deadline: April 30.

Grad Studies Travel Awards

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Applications for the spring 2025–26 Graduate Studies Travel Awards are now open. These awards support UC Davis graduate students who plan to present their research at conferences, workshops or symposia between January 1 and December 31, 2026. Apply now. Deadline: March 13.

RoboNexus World Championship: Apply as a Team!

April 5–8, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. Teams of 3–5 undergraduates, with up to one graduate student, can apply for this fully-funded competition, which includes travel, accommodations and up to $100,000 in prizes. Teams will compete and collaborate to solve high-intensity technical and strategic challenges. Register your team. If you plan to participate, contact UC Davis Export Control. Deadline: February 15.

Upcoming Info Sessions and Events

UC Davis Humphrey Fellows Ignite Talks

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​February 13, 10–11:30 a.m., International House. Join the 2025–26 UC Davis Humphrey Fellows for Ignite Talks featuring dynamic three- to five-minute, TED-style presentations. Fellows will showcase their work and lives in their home countries and share perspectives on important global issues. Register now.

Chinese New Year Celebration

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​February 21, 4–7 p.m., International Center. Celebrate the Chinese New Year with music, calligraphy, Peking Opera, a Hanfu (traditional Chinese clothing) show, a raffle and dinner.

Grad & Postdoc Workshop: Communicating with Compassion

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​February 23, 4–5:30 p.m., virtual. This workshop is offered as part of the Global Grad & Postdoc Career Skills Series and Certificate. Participants will define microaggressions, understand how they perpetuate stereotypes and discrimination, and identify strategies for addressing and reducing their impact. This workshop may be combined with others in the series to earn a certificate. Register now.

Global Grad & Postdoc Workshop: Bridging the Language Gap

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​February 25, 4–5:30 p.m., International Center 2119. This workshop is offered as part of the Global Grad & Postdoc Career Skills Series and Certificate. Participants will explore linguistic biases and reverse linguistic stereotypes to learn how to counter them and discuss features of English that often lead to misunderstandings. Combine this workshop with others in the series to earn a certificate. Register now.

UC Davis Global Learning Conference

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​April 11, 1–6 p.m., International Center. The Global Learning Conference equips globally-minded students to transform their international and cross-cultural experiences into a career advantage. Participants gain tools to articulate global skills in the job search, network with employers and professionals, explore career pathways and connect with peers who lead with impact. Register now. Deadline: March 23.

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