UKRI policy fellowships 2025: fellowship position

UKRI policy fellowships 2025: fellowship position is sponsored by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). This opportunity supports mission-aligned projects and measurable outcomes.

Our fellowship opportunities – UKRI Our fellowship opportunities Fellowships are prestigious funding awards for individuals to make challenging transitions in their research careers or to develop specific research capabilities. They give you the freedom to focus on a research or innovation project that requires at least 12 months of your time (between 0. 5 and 1 full-time equivalent).

They pay all or part of your salary, for the length of your fellowship, and some cover part or all of your research costs. Fellowships are offered either directly by UKRI and its research councils, or by research organisations with UKRI funding. You will need to find a ‘host organisation’ to support your application before you can apply.

This is the university, research organisation or business where you’ll be based. UKRI’s fellowship opportunities are available through the UKRI funding service. You can find detailed information, including if you’re eligible for the fellowship and how to apply.

New opportunities are added throughout the year. You can also browse the following list, which includes many but not all of the ongoing fellowships currently funded by us. They are grouped according to fellowship type , and ordered by research council within each type.

Type 1: Career transition fellowships For researchers establishing independence or leadership, or combining their professional activities with completing a doctorate. Daphne Jackson fellowship Funding for those returning to a career after a break of two or more years taken for family, health or caring reasons. They are flexible and offer at least 100 hours of training each year.

Funding is usually for three years part-time. Early independence: Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) fellowship scheme These are for excellent researchers who want to become future leaders and conduct their own research at a host laboratory. They must show evidence of their progress towards these goals.

As well as funding, the scheme offers mentoring, fellowship events and training courses. Early independence: Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Early Independence Fellowships These fellowships enable early career researchers who have had postdoctoral experience and show early evidence of capability to be a leading and active researcher to further their academic career.

These fellowships are only open in specific research areas within EPSRC’s remit. You must have either a PhD with additional postdoctoral experience or equivalent in a relevant field by the start of your fellowship. You can apply for up to five years full-time or ten years part time if you work part time.

Award frequency: twice a year. Early independence: Ernest Rutherford fellowships Funded by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC). Ernest Rutherford Fellowships enable early career researchers with clear leadership potential to establish a strong, independent research programme.

They help attract outstanding overseas researchers to the UK and encourage talented researchers in UK universities to remain in the country. You must have a PhD or relevant experience and cannot hold an academic position or another fellowship that funds your working time. Funding will cover the fellow’s salary and project costs for five years.

Early independence: Medical Research Council (MRC) career development fellowships These help postdoctoral researchers make the transition to independent researcher. Funding will cover the researcher’s salary and project costs for up to five years. You must have a PhD or equivalent.

You must show evidence of career progression and clear plans for developing independence and leadership in your area of research. Award frequency: twice a year. Early independence: MRC clinician scientist fellowships These help healthcare professionals become independent researchers in a medical research field.

Funding will cover the researcher’s salary and project costs for up to five years. You must be a registered healthcare professional, have a PhD or equivalent and show clear plans for developing as a leader in your field. Award frequency: three times a year.

Early independence: Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) independent research fellowships These support early career researchers who want to conduct their own environmental research within an eligible host organisation. You must have a PhD or significant relevant research experience combined with clear evidence of leadership potential. Funding will cover the fellow’s salary and project costs for five years.

EPSRC postdoctoral fellowships These flexible fellowships are for researchers who have not had significant postdoctoral funding or been leading in an area of technical development. These fellowships are only open in the mathematical sciences research area. You must have a PhD or four years of experience in a relevant field by the start of their fellowship.

You can apply for up to three years full-time or six years part-time if you work part-time. Award frequency: twice a year. Search opportunities for EPSRC postdoctoral fellowships .

See EPSRC postdoctoral fellowship guidance . Future Leaders Fellowships Long-term support to enable fellows to tackle ambitious programmes or multidisciplinary questions, and new or emerging research and innovation areas and partnerships. Fellows can be based in universities, businesses or other eligible independent research organisations.

You must be an early career researcher or innovator who has a PhD or can demonstrate equivalent research or innovation experience or training. Future Leaders Fellowships Professional doctorate: clinical research training fellowship Funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC). This is for registered healthcare professionals without a PhD to get one to pursue a research career.

Funding will cover the fellow’s salary and project costs for three years. Award frequency: three times a year Type 2: Capacity building and discipline transition fellowships Supporting researchers changing discipline or developing skills after their doctorate or in a priority research area. Capacity building: clinical research training fellowship Funded by MRC.

Funding for registered healthcare professionals who’ve been working outside of research to reacquire research skills. You must also have a PhD and been away from research for five or more years. The fellowship funds salary and project costs for three years.

Award frequency: three times per year. Search for opportunities for Capacity building: clinical research training fellowships .

Type 3: Sector transition Supporting the transfer of knowledge or skills across sectors to enable new approaches Policy fellowships give researchers with a PhD or equivalent experience the opportunity to work on research related to a current policy challenge, while embedded within a UK or devolved government department.

You must be an academic who holds a PhD or equivalent research experience and have relevant subject matter or methodological expertise. You must be based at an eligible organisation. Fellowships are for 18 months.

Last updated: 10 June 2026 This is the website for UKRI: our seven research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Let us know if you have feedback or would like to help improve our online products and services .