Matariki
The Matariki Network, which is named after the Māori name for the constellation known as the Pleiades star cluster, is a university network with members worldwide. The current six member universities are all among the oldest and most highly respected in their countries. The network seeks to build upon the collective strengths of its member institutions to develop international excellence in research and education and to promote social responsibility locally and globally.
Network activities includes collaborations within all areas of activity of the universities.
Member universities
- Uppsala University
- Durham University (England)
- Queen’s University (Canada)
- University of Otago (New Zealand)
- Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen (Germany)
- University of the Western Cape (South Africa)
Staff opportunities
Employees at Uppsala University can apply for funds for:
- travelling to develop cooperation within research and education.
- to organise workshops.
- a research stay of up to six months at one of the member universities within Matariki Fellows, the purpose of which is to increase the number of research contacts and strengthen international collaborations. Funds for Matariki Fellows are announced annually in January.
- to collaborate internationally on the basis of a project of their own choosing for administrative managers, Matariki Engagement Grants.
- Multilateral Research Collaborations, Matariki Seed Fund. Funds are announced annually in October
- PhD Students can partake in Uppsala University's local Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition and win a spot in the digital Matariki 3MT competition. If you wish to participate in the local competition, contact Ellen Sjöholm.
Current opportunities
Matariki Fellows 2026/2027
The program is open for applications until April 13, 2026
Funds can be applied for an up to six-month-long research stay during 2026/2027 at one of the universities in the Matariki Network. Researchers, teachers and PhD student within all fields of science employed at Uppsala University are eligible to apply.
Please note that the call no longer applies to stays at Dartmouth College (USA) or University of Western Australia (UWA), as they are no longer members of the network.
Applicants can request funds for housing and travel expenses, in standard amounts. Funding is also available for substitute teachers– this is however not applicable for PhD students. It is possible to request funds for travel expenses for accompanying family members. The selected Matariki Fellows are posted abroad on so-called URA contracts, drawn up jointly between the department and the Human Resources Division. The expatriation means that the employee receives a salary as usual from the department. Insurance is included in the stay.
The application must be signed by the head of department, who thereby approves to the activity in the application and assures that any potential extra costs, which are not covered through the ”Matariki Fellowship programme”, will be covered by the department. The head of department must justify why the project is of strategical value.
The University Director allocates the funds after consulting with the Disciplinary Domains. Application must include:
- Application form (including a project description, in which the purpose of the stay must be clearly stated, a certificate from the head of the department at Uppsala University and budget)
- Letter of invitation from the host university
- CV and publication list for the applicant
Application form Matariki Fellows 2026/2027 (word document) docx, 21 kB.
Application should be sent to: ellen.sjoholm@uu.se
For questions, please contact: Ellen Sjöholm (ellen.sjoholm@uu.se or telephone: 018-471 7577).
The Matariki Engagement Grant 2026
The Matariki Engagement Grant is an opportunity for administrative managers (e.g. heads of departments and units, team leaders and project managers) to collaborate internationally based on a project of their choice. The aim is "to improve personal career development, professional leadership skills and international cooperation". The network pays up to 5,000 GBP (about 70,000 SEK) to the applicant, funds for job shadowing or joint activities of some other kind.
- Projects must include participants from at least two Matariki partners.
- They should be of benefit to the participants, to their institutions and, to some extent, to the whole network.
- Projects will commence in August 2026 at the earliest and last for a maximum of 12 months.
- The call opens on 2 March and closes on 22 May 2026.
- Online information session on 3 March at 19:00 CET. Registration via this link pdf, 109 kB..
Read the call in its entirety: Matariki Engagement Grant - Matariki Network