Fellowships

This process applies to major externally funded fellowships including (but not limited to) those listed below. If you are keen to apply for a fellowship  not listed here, please email EEEfellowships@imperial.ac.uk to check whether it is a scheme we are able to support. 

* Please note we support RC 1851 applications on an employed basis only

** RC Industrial fellowships do not need to go to panel for shortlisting; however, candidates and their academic supervisors must notify EEEfellowships@imperial.ac.uk of their intention to apply by the November panel deadline so that discussions around IP etc can be agreed in good time. 

*** RS Newton Intl. Fellowships are capped at 1 fellow per sponsor in 2026. 

We are not able to support all fellowship schemes. Examples of schemes we are currently unable to support include:

• Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellowships
• MSCA Global Postdoctoral Fellowships. Whilst we do support European Postdoctoral Fellowships (which funds researchers moving into /within Europe), the Global fellowships scheme funds the mobility of researchers outside Europe. Imperial does not participate in this latter scheme.   

Step 1. Initial discussion

Applicants should contact a potential academic sponsor/mentor well before the funder deadline to discuss fit with the department's research strategy.

Step 2. Submit your application documents

Review the summary table at the top of this page to check whether you need to apply.  If you do, please submit the below documents by 9am on the relevant Departmental deadline via this Qualtrics form (any incomplete forms will not be considered):

1. EEE application form  [If you are applying for a RC 1851 Fellowship please use this application form instead]
2. An up-to-date CV (max 2 pages including hyperlinks to publications)

Step 3. Internal review and decision

Applications will be evaluated by an EEE panel comprising 4-6 academics from a range of career stages. We will endeavour to notify candidates of the outcome of their application within 3 weeks of the department deadline. Candidates applying for fellowships that require internal review will not be able to progress their application unless they have received confirmation of the department's support through this process.

Step 4. Proposal development and submission

If your application has been shortlisted for support, you will receive approval to proceed with full proposal development, supported by your sponsor/mentor.

Please note - all fellowship applications must follow Imperial's 10-working day rule for requests for costings to be submitted to the pre-award team (rspreaward.engineering@imperial.ac.uk) to ensure they can be actioned in good time ahead of the funder deadline. Any fellowships with an award cap must ensure that their costs fall within this award cap otherwise they will not receive approval to proceed.

Panel members will consider applications on the basis of:

• Academic excellence and candidate track record (potential for independence)
• Quality and ambition of the proposed research
• Strategic alignment with EEE research themes and more broadly of the fit to Imperial's wider Science for Humanity Strategy.

Below are a list of commonly asked questions from researchers applying for fellowships with us. Please check these first before emailing in case your query has already been answered!

1 . Do I need to have an academic sponsor before contacting the Department? Yes. Ideally applicants should identify and discuss their proposal with a prospective academic sponsor/mentor within EEE before applying via the formal Dept process. 

2. How do I find a suitable academic sponsor? Please review EEE's research groups and staff profiles and approach potential sponsor's whose research expertise aligns with your proposed fellowship topic

3. Can I apply if I am not currently at Imperial? Yes absolutely! The Department welcomes applications from external applicants provided you can identify a suitable academic supervisor/mentor keen to support your application. 

4. Is Departmental support guaranteed once I have a sponsor? No. While identifying a sponsor is important, Departmental support for your application is competitive and subject to internal review. 

Imperial hosts the world leading Early Career Researcher Institute (ECRI) which provides a supportive and productive research environment for early career researchers.

As part of the College and the Department’s long-standing commitment to the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers, all Imperial research staff are encouraged to spend 10 days per year on their own professional and personal development.  This includes access to a wide range of services offered through ECRI including 1:1 meetings, mock interviews and advice writing fellowship applications.

If you are already based at Imperial, please do have a look at ECRI's webpages as they offer a wealth of resources to existing ECRs.