Individual opportunities for researchers, like fellowships, can help you:
- progress your career at any stage
- return to research after a career break or time in another role.
Find fellowships
Fellowships are funding for individual researchers. They allow you to devote time to your own research and provide support for you to develop as a research leader.
Fellowships often include career development opportunities like training, mentorship and international placements.
UKRI funds approximately 1,600 fellowships at any one time. They’re offered either directly by UKRI and its research councils, or by research organisations with UKRI funding.
Fellowships from UKRI and its councils are listed in the Funding finder, where you can also find out how to apply. New opportunities are added throughout the year.
To find fellowships specific to your research area, you can filter listings by research council. The councils are:
- Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
- Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
- Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)
- Medical Research Council (MRC)
- Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)
- Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC).
UKRI also offers interdisciplinary opportunities such as the Future Leaders Fellowship scheme.
What you can get from a fellowship
Fellowships give you the opportunity to develop as a leader in research and innovation. They can give you support for independent research, knowledge exchange and professional development. The focus is on investing in you as an individual.
Fellowship funding pays all or part of your salary, for the length of your fellowship. It might also cover some of your research costs.
Your fellowship might also make you eligible for other support from UKRI and its research councils. For example, research councils sometimes offer training bursaries for fellows.
Who can apply for fellowships
Eligibility for fellowships differs by scheme. Check who can apply for each fellowship opportunity in the funding finder.
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.
Some fellowships are awarded directly to a research organisation, which then recruits a fellow on UKRI’s behalf.