Deadline: 10-Dec-2025

The British Council is inviting UK and South African higher education institutions to apply for grants under the Student Women Economic Empowerment Programme (SWEEP). Consortia will implement initiatives to strengthen institutional capacity, promote female student entrepreneurship, and advance equality, diversity, and inclusion in higher education and TVET.

Overview

The Student Women Economic Empowerment Programme (SWEEP) supports UK-South Africa consortia of higher education institutions to deliver capability-building projects that enhance female student entrepreneurship and economic empowerment. Projects aim to strengthen research, innovation, international collaboration, institutional efficiency, learner outcomes, and equality, diversity, and inclusion.

Key Objectives:

• Enhance higher education and TVET systems through collaborative research and innovation

• Improve institutional quality, efficiency, and internationalisation

• Promote female student economic empowerment and employability

• Advance equality, diversity, and inclusion within partner institutions

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible Applicants:

• A consortium led by one South African and one UK institution

• Must include three to seven partner institutions

• Partners should demonstrate experience in supporting female entrepreneurship in higher education

Who Can Apply:

• Public and private higher education institutions in the UK and South Africa

• Institutions with proven capacity to implement cross-border collaborative initiatives

• Leads with international experience and demonstrated success in promoting female student entrepreneurship

Funding Details

• Grant Amount: Up to GBP 60,000 per consortium

• Use of Funds: Cover direct project costs, including:

  • Travel, subsistence, and accommodation

  • Consultancy fees and temporary project staff

  • Training events, essential equipment, and publications

  • Monitoring, evaluation, and reporting

Ineligible Costs:

• Institutional overheads

• Scholarships or stipends

• Standard office equipment, mobile phones

• Intellectual property-related expenses

• Infrastructure or entertainment costs

• Converting grant funds into non-monetary forms

Application Process

1. Submit a joint proposal via the Good Grants platform with all required documents from the Pre-submission Checklist

2. Include supporting letters from both lead institutions

3. Applications undergo eligibility checks and expert panel assessment, ensuring compliance with UK government regulations

4. Evaluation criteria include:

   • Experience in supporting women in entrepreneurship

   • Institutional motivation and benefit from participation

   • Added value through capacity, networks, and collaboration

   • Alignment with Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion principles

   • Commercial feasibility and impact

Reporting Requirements

Successful consortia must submit:

• Inception Report: January 2026

• Interim Report: March 2026

• Final Report: November 2026

Ethical Considerations

• Full compliance with legal and professional standards is mandatory

• Secure all necessary approvals for activities

• Clearly articulate risk management strategies

Why It Matters

The SWEEP grant supports transformative initiatives that empower female students to thrive in entrepreneurship and professional sectors. By fostering collaboration between UK and South African institutions, the programme strengthens institutional capacity, enhances learner outcomes, and promotes gender equity and economic empowerment.

FAQ

Q1: Who can lead a consortium for the SWEEP grant?
A1: One South African institution and one UK institution must serve as joint leads.

Q2: How many partner institutions can be included?
A2: Between three and seven institutions may participate in the consortium.

Q3: What costs are eligible under the grant?
A3: Travel, accommodation, consultancy fees, temporary staff, training, publications, and monitoring/evaluation costs.

Q4: Are scholarships or infrastructure costs allowed?
A4: No, these costs are ineligible.

Q5: What are the reporting requirements?
A5: Inception report (Jan 2026), interim report (Mar 2026), and final report (Nov 2026).

Q6: How are applications evaluated?
A6: Based on experience supporting women in entrepreneurship, institutional capacity, added value, alignment with EDI, and commercial considerations.

Q7: Where must applications be submitted?
A7: Through the Good Grants platform, accompanied by all required documentation.

Conclusion

The SWEEP programme provides a significant opportunity for UK and South African higher education institutions to collaboratively strengthen female student entrepreneurship and economic empowerment. By leveraging funding, expertise, and international collaboration, consortia can deliver impactful projects that advance gender equality, improve learner outcomes, and foster long-term institutional capacity. Institutions participating in SWEEP will not only benefit their students but also contribute to wider socio-economic development and the global agenda for inclusive education and innovation.

For more information, visit British Council.