Research Endowment Fund

The Royal University of Bhutan (RUB) functions as the interim Secretariat of Research Endowment Fund (REF) approved by the Royal Government of Bhutan.  The RUB REF is expected to promote systematic investigation of issues and themes identified and announced annually by the REF Board. Research themes will be reflective of topical issues and challenges the Bhutanese society is facing and the research outputs should address such issues through evidence-based and pragmatic recommendations.

Call for Proposals FY2025-26

Theme: Social Development

The Royal University of Bhutan (RUB) is pleased to announce a call for research proposals under the Research Endowment Fund (REF) on the broad theme of Social Development.

This call is in line with the nation’s vision of “A Healthy and Productive Society Founded on Equitable and High-quality Health, Education, and Social Protection.” We invite innovative, interdisciplinary, and impactful research proposals that address challenges and opportunities within this theme, contributing to the advancement of social equity, wellbeing, and productivity.

Key Details:

  • Eligibility: Open to academics from Constituent and Affiliate Colleges of the Royal University of Bhutan.
  • Deadline for Submission: 30th March 2025.
  • Proposal Format: Submissions must adhere to the REF Implementation Guidelines 2023, available on the RUB website.


The following links provide the REF implementation guidelines and the relevant documents to apply for REF Grants: