1. Can I form a partnership with a department I have existing links with?
Yes, we welcome applications from those with existing links between universities in UK/Europe and in Africa, as well as from those with no prior expereince of collaboration. You should indicate on the application form if there is a particular university you would like to be partnered with.
2. How are the partnerships formed?
After the deadline on 2 June, all applications from UK/Europe and from Africa will be reviewed and the partnerships will be matched by the MARM Board. The pairings and awards will be made in June/July 2024.
3. When will the partnerships in the next round start?
We expect the partnerships to start in the new academic year, September 2024/25, although there is some flexibility and the exact start date will depend on the availability of all partners.
4. How many partnerships are formed per round?
A total of four partnerships are formed per round. The amount awarded to each partnership is £4,000 for an initial one-year period.
5. Can the grant period be extended?
The initial grant period may be extended for a further year, depending on the wishes of the partners. This is usually decided at the end of the first year. The extension may involve a second grant, depending on partners' needs. The grant period cannot normally be extended beyond two years.
6. Who receives the grant and how are costs managed?
The UK/European partner will be the named grant holder, and the grant will be paid to the university of the UK/European partner. All costs should be managed by the UK/European partner via their university.
7. Can this grant be used to complement existing sources of funding?
Yes - in the past, MARM partners have often used the MARM grant to subsidise other sources of funding.
8. What is required in terms of reporting?
The UK/European partner will be asked to complete a report at the end of each year. The report should detail the following:
- any visits made during the year; the aims of the visits; activities undertaken as part of the visits; and objectives achieved by the visits, and
- any other activities undertaken during the year; the purpose of these activities; and the objectives achieved by these activities.
Partners will be asked for the following to show the success of the collaborations:
- Evidence of postgraduate supervision;
- Demonstration of research collaborations between the institutions;
- Evidence of establishing formal inter-institutional agreements such as crafting of memorandum of understanding;
- Evidence of any other activities such as joint grant applications, pedagogical training in mathematical sciences.
9. Do I need to send receipts to the LMS?
No, there is no need to send receipts to the LMS at the end of the grant period. However, since all costs are managed via the grant holder's university, you may need to provide them with receipts in accordance with their financial procedures.
10. What sort of activities have recent MARM partnerships undertaken?
You can read details of previous MARM partnerships here.
11. Information regarding visas:
There are 3 steps to applying for a UK visa from Africa:
- Check if you need a visa and which one to apply for at https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa
- Apply, make payment and book your appointment at the Visa Application Centre online: https://visas-immigration.service.gov.uk/product/uk-visit-visa.
- Attend your appointment at the Visa Application Centre to submit your application and biometric data.
See more information on applying for a visa here.
Note: in recent years it has proven increasingly difficult for students and colleagues in some African countries to obtain visas to visit the UK. In these cases, collaborators may consider meeting at a mathematics conference in a third country. MARM funds may be used to facilitate this.