Deadline: 31-Jul-2026
The University of the Philippines Center for Women’s and Gender Studies is accepting proposals for the UPCWGS Research Grant to support innovative research on women and gender in the Philippines. The grant aims to advance knowledge in women’s and gender studies while aligning with the thematic and methodological concerns of the UPCWGS Review of Women’s Studies.
The UPCWGS will award up to PhP 100,000 each to four selected research projects. Projects must begin on January 1, 2027, be completed within nine months, and produce a journal article and policy brief within an additional two-month period.
Grant Overview
The UPCWGS Research Grant supports research projects focused on women and gender in the Philippines.
The grant is offered by the University of the Philippines Center for Women’s and Gender Studies.
It is designed to support innovative research that contributes to scholarship, policy discussion and knowledge production in the field of women’s and gender studies.
Main Objective
The main objective of the grant is to advance research on women and gender in the Philippines.
The grant aims to:
- Support innovative gender research
- Strengthen knowledge on women’s issues
- Encourage research aligned with UPCWGS priorities
- Contribute to academic scholarship
- Support policy-relevant outputs
- Promote methodological and thematic engagement with women’s studies
- Encourage publication-quality research
Key Focus Areas
The grant supports research related to women and gender in the Philippine context.
Key focus areas include:
- Women’s studies
- Gender studies
- Gender equality
- Feminist research
- Women’s rights
- Gender and society
- Gender and policy
- Women’s lived experiences
- Gender-sensitive research methods
- Philippine gender issues
- Knowledge production on women and gender
Funding Available
The UPCWGS will award funding to four research projects.
Each selected project may receive up to PhP 100,000.
Proposals requesting more than PhP 100,000 will not be considered.
Project Timeline
Research projects must begin on January 1, 2027.
Projects must be completed within nine months.
Researchers will also receive an additional two months to prepare:
- A journal article
- A policy brief
Applicants should design projects that can be completed within this required timeframe.
Expected Outputs
Selected researchers are expected to produce research outputs that contribute to academic and policy discussions.
Expected outputs include:
- Completed research project
- Journal article
- Policy brief
These outputs should be based on the approved research project and should reflect the grant’s focus on women and gender in the Philippines.
Who Can Apply?
The sole researcher or project leader of a research team must be a regular employee of the University of the Philippines.
Eligible applicants may include:
- Instructors
- Assistant Professors
- Associate Professors
- Professors
- UP contractual employees
Applicants must also hold a minimum Salary Grade 16.
Research Team Requirement
If the proposal is submitted by a research team, the project leader must meet the eligibility requirements.
This means the project leader must be a regular employee of the University of the Philippines and must hold at least Salary Grade 16.
The proposal should clearly identify the project leader and their role in the research.
Writing Sample Preference
Preference will be given to applicants who submit a strong writing sample.
Eligible writing samples may include:
- Published peer-reviewed academic articles
- Published journal articles
- Book chapters
- Monographs
- Manuscripts accepted for publication with an acceptance letter
Theses and dissertations are not accepted as writing samples.
Authorship Preference
Priority consideration will be given to applicants who are the lead or sole author of the submitted writing sample.
This helps demonstrate the applicant’s ability to produce independent, publication-quality research.
Alignment with UPCWGS Review of Women’s Studies
Applications will receive stronger consideration if they align with the thematic and methodological concerns of the UPCWGS Review of Women’s Studies.
Applicants should ensure that their proposals clearly reflect relevant themes, research approaches and scholarly concerns connected to women’s and gender studies.
Suitable Research Projects
Suitable projects should focus on women and gender in the Philippines.
Strong proposals may explore:
- Gender inequality
- Women’s rights and empowerment
- Gender-based discrimination
- Feminist movements
- Gender and education
- Gender and labour
- Gender and health
- Gender and culture
- Gender and governance
- Gender and social justice
- Women’s experiences in Philippine society
- Intersectional approaches to women and gender
The research should contribute to the advancement of knowledge in the field.
Why This Grant Matters
Research on women and gender is important for understanding inequality, social change, policy gaps and lived experiences.
The UPCWGS Research Grant matters because it supports scholars who are producing knowledge grounded in the Philippine context.
By requiring both a journal article and a policy brief, the grant encourages research that can contribute to academic debate and inform practical policy discussions.
How to Apply or Prepare a Strong Proposal
Applicants should prepare a clear, focused and feasible research proposal that aligns with the grant’s objectives.
Step 1: Confirm Eligibility
Applicants should confirm that the sole researcher or project leader is a regular employee of the University of the Philippines and holds at least Salary Grade 16.
Step 2: Define the Research Topic
The proposal should clearly focus on women and gender in the Philippines.
Applicants should identify the research problem, key questions and relevance to women’s and gender studies.
Step 3: Align with UPCWGS Priorities
The proposal should demonstrate alignment with the thematic and methodological concerns of the UPCWGS Review of Women’s Studies.
Applicants should explain how the project contributes to the field.
Step 4: Prepare a Feasible Timeline
The research must begin on January 1, 2027 and be completed within nine months.
Applicants should include a realistic timeline for research activities, writing and final output preparation.
Step 5: Prepare a Realistic Budget
The requested amount must not exceed PhP 100,000.
The budget should be reasonable, well justified and linked to the research activities.
Step 6: Include a Strong Writing Sample
Applicants should submit a published work or accepted manuscript where possible.
Priority will be stronger if the applicant is the lead or sole author.
Step 7: Plan the Final Outputs
Applicants should plan for the required journal article and policy brief.
The proposal should show how the research findings can be developed into both academic and policy-oriented outputs.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid the following mistakes:
- Requesting more than PhP 100,000
- Submitting a project that does not focus on women and gender in the Philippines
- Applying without meeting the UP employment requirement
- Applying without meeting the Salary Grade 16 requirement
- Submitting a thesis or dissertation as a writing sample
- Providing a weak or unclear research methodology
- Failing to align with UPCWGS Review of Women’s Studies concerns
- Proposing a project that cannot be completed within nine months
- Not planning for a journal article and policy brief
- Submitting a budget without clear justification
Tips for a Strong Application
A strong application should:
- Present a clear women and gender research topic
- Focus on the Philippine context
- Demonstrate scholarly relevance
- Use a strong and appropriate methodology
- Align with UPCWGS thematic and methodological concerns
- Include a realistic nine-month research plan
- Request no more than PhP 100,000
- Submit a strong writing sample
- Show publication potential
- Explain the policy relevance of the research
- Plan clearly for the journal article and policy brief
FAQ
1. What is the UPCWGS Research Grant?
The UPCWGS Research Grant supports innovative research on women and gender in the Philippines through the University of the Philippines Center for Women’s and Gender Studies.
2. How much funding is available?
Each selected research project may receive up to PhP 100,000.
3. How many projects will be funded?
The UPCWGS will award grants to four research projects.
4. Who can apply?
The sole researcher or project leader must be a regular employee of the University of the Philippines, including eligible faculty members and UP contractual employees, and must hold at least Salary Grade 16.
5. When must projects begin?
Projects must commence on January 1, 2027.
6. How long is the project period?
Research projects must be completed within nine months, with an additional two months for preparing a journal article and policy brief.
7. What writing samples are preferred?
Preferred writing samples include published peer-reviewed articles, journal articles, book chapters, monographs or accepted manuscripts with an acceptance letter. Theses and dissertations are not accepted.
Conclusion
The UPCWGS Research Grant provides important support for University of the Philippines researchers conducting innovative research on women and gender in the Philippines.
With funding of up to PhP 100,000 for each of four selected projects, the grant encourages scholarship that advances knowledge, supports policy discussion and aligns with the UPCWGS Review of Women’s Studies.
Applicants should prepare strong proposals that demonstrate eligibility, methodological clarity, thematic alignment, publication potential and the ability to complete the research and required outputs within the stated timeline.
For more information, visit UPCWGS.
