Global Development Fellowship

The Global Development Fellowship supports high impact placements for PhD students residing in Least Developed or Lower Middle Income Countries at Imperial College London.

With support from both their PhD supervisor and a host supervisor at Imperial, eligible students can apply for funding from the International Relations Office, to support short term placements at the university.

Placements can be 2 to 4 months and must take place before 31 July 2026, in agreement with the host department/institute. Placements must start in March 2026.

The Fund will provide:

• A monthly stipend of £1,900
• A one-off £200 payment on arrival in the UK
• Return economy class travel
• Payment for the standard visa application and Biometrics Residence Permit
• Financial support for travel to the visa application centres

Please note, only individuals are eligible for the funding, dependents will not be supported.

Students are expected to arrange their own accommodation in London for the duration of their stay. Suggestions for potential accommodation options can be found in the student guidance document. 

Participants must:

• Be a current doctoral student.
• Be a passport holder and be a permanent resident of a Least Developed (LDC) or Lower Middle Income Country (LMIC), as specified by the OECD ODA Recipients List. Please note, this does not include Upper Middle Income Countries. *
• Be currently studying for your PhD at in institution in an LDC or LMIC country.
• Be over 12 months into their PhD at the time the placement takes place.
• Have a Letter of Support from an academic host supervisor at Imperial. The supervisor should ensure that the Letter of Support is signed by the Head of Department. 
• Have a Letter of Recommendation from their own supervisor.

The Letter of Recommendation from the applicant’s supervisor should include recognition that the student possess a sufficient level of English to effectively undertake the placement. 

While formal proof of English language proficiency is not required, we expect students to possess a proficient level of English that enables them to fully engage and undertake the placement effectively. This is at the discretion of the Imperial supervisor. 

You are not eligible for a Global Development Fellowship if you:

• Hold dual British citizenship
• Are a permanent resident of a country that is not considered a Least Developed or Lower Middle Income Country
• Are currently studying for your PhD in a country that is not considered to be an LDC or LMIC. 

*If you have any queries relating to eligibility, please get in contact.

Applications are opening soon.

The deadline to apply was Friday 28th November 2025.

To complete the application, applicants will need to provide:

1. Details on background to show how they meet the eligibility criteria (included in application form).
2. A letter of recommendation from the home institution, preferably from the PhD supervisor or advisor, addressing the applicants’ skills and suitability for the placement. This letter should also include confirmation that the applicant possesses a sufficient level of English, to carry out the placement.
3. A letter of support from the hosting supervisor at Imperial in the proposed host department/institute detailing training and support that will be provided. This must be signed by the Head of Department.
4. Answer the following questions (in the application form):

• Please provide a ‘layperson’ summary of your PhD work (200 words):
• What will you do during your research placement and how will it add value to your PhD? (500 words):
• Please explain how you will take advantage of this opportunity at Imperial to enhance your personal and professional skills, competencies and networks (250 words):

The letter of recommendation and letter of support must be emailed to gdhfellowsfund@imperial.ac.uk 

Finding a host supervisor

Potential applicants should browse Imperial's webpages to review the potential host department/institutes, based on what best aligns with their PhD research focus. Applicants should then contact academics directly to explore the possibility of a placement.

A letter template that applicants can use to contact potential supervisors can be found here: Template Letter for Potential Supervisors - Global Development Fellowship

We encourage preexisting links between collaborators at international institutions and Imperial to explore the possibility of a student placement.

A list of all Departments and Institutes, and links to their webpages, can be found here. 

Please note, some prospective hosts may require longer lead times to seek department approval and support before responding to your request. We encourage, where possible, for prospective Fellows to contact Imperial academics a minimum of 2 weeks before the deadline of 28 November to allow sufficient time to discuss the possibility of the placement and make arrangements.

The decision to support an application and offer a supervision opportunity is entirely at the prospective host's discretion and they are under no obligation to accept your request. Unfortunately due to the high number of requests some academics may receive, it may not be possible for them to respond to each enquiry. The Dev-Lab team is not in a position to support with matchmaking in individual cases, but if you have any questions regarding this process, please do get in touch with the team directly. 

Applications will be reviewed by the Global Development Fellowship Committee, with faculty representation from all 4 faculties, and Chaired by a Vice-Dean for Research.

Applications will be reviewed in early December and outcomes will be shared as soon as available.

Applicants will be informed via email and provided with further details on receiving the grant and arranging the placement.

Consideration will made to ensure fair geographical representation of awarded students.

Some students will need to apply for an ATAS certificate depending on their research area. They are encouraged to do this at the same time as completing the application form, as the wait times for approval can be extensive, and they cannot commence the placement until they have obtained it. Further information on the ATAS requirements for the university are available here. Students are also encouraged to seek clarification from the Imperial host supervisor.  

Fellowship recipients will not be subject to bench/tuition fees. Host departments will waive these fees.

I am a passport holder of an LDC or LMIC country but am studying in a UMIC country or above, am I eligible?

Unfortunately you are not eligible for this scheme. You must be residing in AND studying in an LDC or LMIC country. 

Is the scheme fully funded?

The scheme covers your flights, travel to visa centres, visa fees and provides a monthly stipend. You should prepare to have at least £200 (or equivalent) available to you if successful as there may be some instances where we you will need to pay in cash/local currency. We will reimburse you when you arrive in the UK. 

Please note, the stipend is paid by bank transfer in pound sterling. We cannot pay by cash or in local currency. 

Can I extend my placement beyond July 2026 if I experience delays?

Unfortunately this deadline is a condition set by the funder and cannot be extended. We recommend you undertake the necessary steps in preparing for your placement as soon as possible, to avoid disappointment. 

I have contacted prospective host(s) but I have not had a response. Can you find me a supervisor?

It is entirely at the Imperial academic's discretion whether they are able to support your application and offer a placement opportunity. Prospective hosts will only accept if they feel there is a strong alignment in the research area and they/the department is feasibly able to accommodate you. Unfortunately due to the high number of requests some academics may receive, it may not be possible for them to respond to each enquiry. Due to the high level of interest in the programme, unfortunately the Dev-Lab team is not in a position to support each applicant in identifying a supervisor. If you have any questions about this process, please get in touch with the team directly. 

Can my placement commence on a different date?

Your placement must start in March 2026. Please contact the Global Development Hub team if you have any questions about this.