Fellowship Opportunities
Fellowships aim to facilitate research independence - some promote international mobility, some help people train or transition into a new area, and some support people returning to work after a career break or working part-time.
The tables below list early career fellowships under several categories with links to the funders’ web pages, deadlines and details about who is eligible to apply.
Once you have decided to apply for a fellowship, the PFDC’s ‘Preparing Successful Fellowship Applications’ workshop, Funders showcases, one-to-one support and mock interviews provide further support.
Using the tables
- 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 (such as nationality restrictions). 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 and central EU fellowship 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 Idox GRANTfinder a website 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: Early Career Fellowship Categories
Early Career Fellowships Categories
1. Engineering
Fellowship name |
Eligibility |
Deadline |
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New dates 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/ |
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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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31 May |
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Applications will open early July-late September 2021. |
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Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 Research Fellowships |
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Applications open in October 2021. Deadline February 2022 |
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Applications open in October 2021. Deadline February 2022 |
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Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 Built Environment Fellowships |
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Applications open in June 2021 |
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Open - Tuesday 13 July 2021 Close - Tuesday 7 September 2021 |
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Opens in September, closes in November |
2. Medicine Clinical
Fellowship name |
Eligibility |
Deadline |
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New dates TBC |
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TBC |
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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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Opens - 12 February 2021 Closes - 7 April 2021 |
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Opens – 12 February 2021 Closes – 7 April 2021 |
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Opens – April Closes – July Interview – January Opens – October Closes – January Interview - July |
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Opens – January Closes – March Funding meeting – May Opens – May Closes – July Funding meeting – September Opens – September Closes – November Funding meeting - January |
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Preliminary submission – Full submission - Committee review - November 2021 |
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Final round in July 2021 Full application deadline – 6 July 2021 |
3. Medicine: non-clinical
Fellowship name |
Eligibility |
Deadline |
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New dates TBC |
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TBC |
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Currently on hold |
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Currently on hold |
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Opening: Wednesday 14 April 2021 |
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Opening: Wednesday 14 April 2021 |
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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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Opens – 6 August 2021 Closes – 15 September 2021 Shortlisting date – 13 January 2022 Meeting dates: 16-17 February 2022 |
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Opens – 6 August 2021 Closes – 15 September 2021 Shortlisting date – 13 January 2022 Meeting dates: 16-17 February 2022 |
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Depends on the panel |
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Preliminary submission - 1 April 2021 Final submission - 15 July 2021 Committee review - November 2021 |
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The Kay Kendall Leukaemia Fund Intermediate Research Fellowships |
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Deadline - 1 July 2021 Meeting - November 2021 Interviews for shortlisted candidates are likely to be in October/November 2021 |
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Deadline - 1 July 2021 Meeting - November 2021 Applications for the Junior Fellowships 2022 (ie any awarded are anticipated to start in 2022) Interviews for shortlisted candidates are likely to be in October/November 2021 |
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December |
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December |
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L’Oreal UK – Rising stars awards |
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31 May |
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Opens – April Closes – July Interview – January Opens – October Closes – January Interview - July |
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Opens – January Closes – March Funding meeting – May Opens – May Closes – July Funding meeting – September Opens – September Closes – November Funding meeting - January |
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Applications open August 2021 Deadline November 2021 |
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Applications Open August 2021 Deadline November 2021 |
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Closing date 24 June 2021 |
4. Natural Sciences
Fellowship name |
Eligibility |
Deadline |
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Future rounds TBC |
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Opens - 9 February 2021 Closes - 6 May 2021 |
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Temporarily paused |
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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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Opens April – May 2021 |
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L’Oreal UK – Rising stars awards |
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31 May |
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Opens – TBC |
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15 November |
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October |
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Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 Research Fellowships |
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Applications open in October 2021 – Deadline February |
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Open - Tuesday 13 July 2021 Close - Tuesday 7 September 2021 |
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Opens in September Closes in November |
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TBC – Usually opens in September and closes in November |
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Applications Open August 2021 Deadline November 2021 |
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Applications Open August 2021 Deadline November 2021 |
5. Multi-disciplinary
Fellowship name |
Eligibility |
Deadline |
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Next rounds TBC |
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See DTP/CDT preliminary rounds Full applications March |
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August 2021 |
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February |
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September |
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Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Ernest Rutherford |
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September |
6. Support for specific groups
Fellowship name |
Eligibility |
Deadline |
Daphne Jackson – scientists re-entering after a career break. |
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Rolling (except sponsored calls) |
Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin – scientists who need to work flexibly. |
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Opens - Wednesday 8 September 2021 Closes - Wednesday 10 November 2021 |
L’Oreal UK – Rising stars awards |
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31 May |
London Mathematical Society – Grace Chrisholm Young Fellowship |
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31 December and 30 June |
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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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TBC |
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) |
Postdoctoral Fellowships (former Marie Curie Individual Fellowships) |
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October |
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Opens – September Closes - November |
Postdoctoral Fellowships (former Marie Curie Individual Fellowships)
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October |
8. Training/Transitional
Fellowship name |
Eligibility |
Deadline |
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Opens April – May 2021 |
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Final round in July 2021 Full application deadline – 6 July 2021 |