Fellowship opportunities
Further support
Once you have decided to apply for a fellowship, our 'Preparing Successful Fellowship Applications' workshop, Funders showcases, one-to-one support and mock interviews provide help and guidance.
Fellowships aim to facilitate research independence - some help people train or transition into a new area, some promote international mobility, and some support people returning to work after a career break or working part-time.
The tables below list fellowships under several categories with links to the funders’ web pages, deadlines and details about who is eligible to apply.
Using the tables
- Always check the funders’ websites for further details – dates and information can change
- If you are calculating your eligibility and have had career breaks or have worked part-time at any point, remember to include this in your calculation.
- You might be subject to additional criteria. Always check the funders’ websites for further details.
- If interview dates are not listed, this means that the funder does not advertise this information or the information wasn’t available when the table was updated.
- This list is not comprehensive but includes many UK funding sources. Ask colleagues in your department if they know of additional funding sources in your field. International colleagues might know of fellowships available in other countries.
- In addition to this resource, you can use GRANTfinder or ECR Central - websites where you can search for international funding opportunities and sign up for tailored email bulletins.
- Always check the funders’ websites for further details – dates and information can change
Download the PDF version: Fellowship Categories
Fellowships Categories
1. Engineering
Fellowship name |
Eligibility |
Deadline |
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Round 7 closed (internal applicants selected) Round 8 to open in 2023 (Summer – TBC) |
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Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Fellowships |
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Ongoing – panel meets to discuss reviewed applications in October, December, February, May, July and September
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To see open Research Fellowships, look for those positions titled Internal Research Fellow among the ESA job opportunities. |
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L’Oreal UK – Rising stars awards
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Deadline in December |
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Applications open in early July/late September
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Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 Research Fellowships |
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Applications open in October – Deadline February |
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Applications open in October – Deadline February |
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Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 Built Environment Fellowships |
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Applications announced in May 2023 |
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Applications open in July and close in September.
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Applications open in September and close in November. |
2. Medicine Clinical
Fellowship name |
Eligibility |
Deadline |
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Round 7 closed (internal applicants selected) Round 8 to open in 2023 (Summer – TBC) |
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Applications open in April and close in late July.
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British Heart Foundation (BHF) Intermediate Clinical Research |
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Rolling, there are no closing dates – applications reviewed four times a year. |
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Three times a year with deadlines in January, April, and September |
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Three times a year with deadlines in January, April, and September |
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First round of applications opens in April, closes in July, and the interview is in January. Second round of applications opens in October, closes in January, and the interview is in July. |
NIHR Development and Skills Enhancement Award
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First round of applications opens in January, closes in March, and is followed by a funding meeting in May. Second round of applications opens in May, closes in July, and is followed by a funding meeting in September. Third round of applications opens in September, closes in November, and is followed by a funding meeting in January. |
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First round of applications opens in April, closes in July, and is reviewed in November. Second round of applications opens in October, closes in March, and is reviewed in May. |
3. Medicine: non-clinical
Fellowship name |
Eligibility |
Deadline |
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Round 7 closed (internal applicants selected) Round 8 to open in 2023 (Summer – TBC) |
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Applications open in April and close in July.
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Early 2023 |
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Early 2023 |
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Applications open in April and close in July. |
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Applications open in April and close in July. |
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British Heart Foundation (BHF) Immediate Postdoctoral Basic Science |
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Rolling, there are no closing dates – applications reviewed four times a year Please submit the application when it is ready. |
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Rolling, there are no closing dates – applications reviewed four times a year Please submit the application when it is ready. |
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First round of applications opens in February and closes in April. Second round of applications opens in August and closes in September. |
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First round of applications opens in February and closes in April. Second round of applications opens in August and closes in September. |
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Depending on the panel |
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Round one: Preliminary submission - April Final submission - July Committee review - November
Round two: Preliminary submission - October Final submission – March Committee review - |
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December |
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December |
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L’Oreal UK – Rising stars awards |
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Deadline in December |
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First round of applications opens in April, closes in July, and the interview is in January. Second round of applications opens in October, closes in January, and the interview is in July. |
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NIHR Development and Skills Enhancement Award
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First round of applications opens in January, closes in March, and is followed by a funding meeting in May. Second round of applications opens in May, closes in July, and is followed by a funding meeting in September. Third round of applications opens in September, closes in November, and is followed by a funding meeting in January. |
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First round of applications opens in February and closes in June. Shortlisting will take place in September and the interviews in November. Second round of applications opens in June and closes in October. Shortlisting will take place in January and the interviews in March. Third round of applications opens in September and closes in November. Shortlisting will take place in May and the interviews in July. |
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First round of applications opens in March and closes in July. Shortlisting will take place in October and the interviews in January. Second round of applications opens in July and closes in December. Shortlisting will take place in February and the interviews in May. Third round of applications opens in December and closes in April. Shortlisting will take place in June and the interviews in September. |
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Closing date June |
4. Natural Sciences
Fellowship name |
Eligibility |
Deadline |
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Round 7 closed (internal applicants selected) Round 8 to open in 2023 (Summer – TBC) |
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Applications open in February and close in May. |
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To see open Research Fellowships, look for those positions titled Internal Research Fellow among the ESA job opportunities. |
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Applications open in May and close in September. |
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L’Oreal UK – Rising stars awards |
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Deadline in December |
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Applications open in July and close in November. |
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Applications open in August and close in November. |
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Applications close in October. Applications for RAS Fellowships will be sought in the years 2021, 2024 and 2027 and for the Norman Lockyer Fellowship in 2022, 2025 and 2028. |
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Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 Research Fellowships |
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Applications open in October and close in February. |
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Applications open in July and close in September. |
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Applications open in September and close in November. |
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TBC – Applications usually open in September and close in November. |
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First round of applications opens in February and closes in June. Shortlisting will take place in September and the interviews in November. Second round of applications opens in June and closes in October. Shortlisting will take place in January and the interviews in March. Third round of applications opens in September and closes in November. Shortlisting will take place in May and the interviews in July. |
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First round of applications opens in March and closes in July. Shortlisting will take place in October and the interviews in January. Second round of applications opens in July and closes in December. Shortlisting will take place in February and the interviews in May. Third round of applications opens in December and closes in April. Shortlisting will take place in June and the interviews in September. |
5. Multi-disciplinary
Fellowship name |
Eligibility |
Deadline |
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Round 7 closed (internal applicants selected) Round 8 to open in 2023 (Summer – TBC) |
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See DTP/CDT preliminary rounds Full applications in March |
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Applications close in August and interviews are in November. |
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Applications open in January and close in February. |
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Applications open in April and close in September. |
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Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Ernest Rutherford |
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Applications open in July and close in September. |
6. Support for specific groups
Fellowship name |
Eligibility |
Deadline |
Daphne Jackson – for scientists re-entering after a career break |
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Rolling (except sponsored calls) |
Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin – for scientists who need to work flexibly |
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Applications open in September and close in November. |
L’Oreal UK – Rising stars awards |
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Deadline in December |
London Mathematical Society – Grace Chrisholm Young Fellowship |
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Deadlines on 31 December and 30 June |
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Applications open in September and close in November. |
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Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) - Return to research support bursary |
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Rolling |
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Closes - July |
7. Moving countries
Fellowship name |
Eligibility |
Deadline |
European Molecular Biology Organisation (EMBO) – Postdoctoral Fellowships |
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No deadlines (panels meet in February and August) |
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Applications open in April and close in September |
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Applications open in September and close in November. |
8. Training/Transitional
Fellowship name |
Eligibility |
Deadline |
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Applications open in May and close in September |