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 | Eligibility | Deadline | Interview |
|---|---|---|---|
| UKRI - Future Leaders Fellowships | Early career researchers and innovators with outstanding potential | ||
| Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) | Choose Postdoctoral, Early Career or Established Career as appropriate | Ongoing – panel meets to discuss reviewed applications in Oct/Dec/Feb/May/Jul/Sep. | 4-month review process |
| ESA's postdoctoral Research Fellowship programme | Preference for less than 5 years of postdoctoral experience. Member of cooperating state | Check the website and search for Internal Research Fellow in the ESA job opportunities link. | Within 4-6 weeks of deadline. |
| Royal Academy of Engineering | Researchers who have been awarded their PhD in the last four years | Applications usually open in July | |
| Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 Research Fellowships | No more than 3 years postdoc experience | February | Decision by June |
| Royal Society University Research Fellowship (URF) | 3-8 years of postdoc experience | September | March/April |
| Schlumberger Foundation | Preparing for postdoc, female, from a developing country | November |
2. Medicine Clinical
| Fellowship | Eligibility | Deadline | Interview |
|---|---|---|---|
| UKRI - Future Leaders Fellowships | Early career researchers and innovators with outstanding potential | ||
| Alzheimers Research UK Clinical Research Fellowship | Clinical specialists who may or may not have a PhD | January and July | August and March |
| British Heart Foundation (BHF) Intermediate Clinical Research | PhD/MD plus NTN & More than 2 years specialist training but less than 2 years after CCT | Rolling – applications reviewed 4 times a year | Allow 9 months from submission to decision. |
| MRC Clinician Scientist Fellowship (CSF) | Clinically qualified PhD/DPhil/MD or Vet Med | Jan / April / Sep | June / November / March |
| MRC Clinical Research Training Fellowship (CRTF) | Achieved PhD over 5 yrs ago but have not been research-active since due to clinical commitments | Jan / April / Sep | June / November / March |
| NIHR Advanced Fellowship | Hold a relevant PhD or MD, or have submitted their thesis for examination at the time of application. Applicants must have been awarded their PhD or MD by the time they attend an interview | May and December | July and January |
| NIHR Development and Skills Enhancement Award | Be a current member of the NIHR Academy. Hold a relevant PhD or MD, or have submitted their thesis for examination at the time of application. You must have been awarded their PhD or MD by the time you start | Jan, May, Sep | |
| Cancer Research UK (CRUK) Clinician Scientist | Clinically qualified PhD/MD | Preliminary submission – Nov/Dec Full submission - mid-February | |
| Wellcome Clinical Research Career Development Fellowships | Want a clinical academic career and you’ve completed your thesis for a higher degree (preferably a PhD) | February and August | June and December |
3. Medicine: non-clinical
| Fellowship | Eligibility | Deadline | Interview |
|---|---|---|---|
| UKRI - Future Leaders Fellowships | Early career researchers and innovators with outstanding potential | ||
| Alzheimer’s Research UK Research Fellowship | PhD-qualified non-clinical researchers who have delivered previous research project(s) with impactful outputs, such as publications and conference presentations, and demonstrate an upward trajectory | January and July | |
| Alzheimers Society Junior Fellowship | Applicants will be within five years of their PhD viva but the attributes above will be the deciding criteria. Candidates should contact the office to discuss if they are over 5years, Allowances will be made for career breaks. | March | |
| Alzheimers Society Senior Fellowship | Applicants should be a minimum of five years from the date of PhD viva. | March | |
| Versus Arthritis Career Development Fellowship | More than 3 years of postdoc experience | April | |
| Versus Arthritis Foundation Fellowship | Within one year of completing their PhD at the time of application. | April | |
| British Heart Foundation (BHF) Immediate Postdoctoral Basic Science | Less than 1 year from viva or in final year of PhD | Rolling – applications reviewed 4 times a year | Allow 9 months from submission to decision |
| British Heart Foundation (BHF) Intermediate Basic Science | 3-6 years of postdoc experience | Rolling – applications reviewed 4 times a year | Allow 9 months from submission to decision |
| MRC Career Development Award (CDA) | There are no eligibility rules based on years of post-doctoral experience. To be considered suitable for the scheme, applicants should be able to clearly demonstrate that their skills and experience at the time of their application match those of the transition to independence career stage in the applicant skills and experience table | April and Sept | October and March |
| MRC Senior Non-Clinical Fellowship (SNCF) | Applicants should hold a PhD (or equivalent); there are no eligibility rules based on years of post-doctoral experience | April and Sept | October and March |
| MRC New Investigator Research Grant (NIRG) | There are no eligibility rules based on years of post-doctoral experience. The minimum formal qualification required is a graduate degree. Most applicants are also expected to have a PhD or an MD. Applicants can hold a lecturer appointment, a junior fellowship, or be in another research staff position | Depend on the panel | |
| Cancer Research UK (CRUK) Career Development | You should be able to demonstrate that you meet the range of skills and experience as outlined in the ‘establishing independence’ career stage in our Fellowships Competency Framework | Preliminary Submission - February; Final submission - May | |
| The Kay Kendall Leukaemia Fund Intermediate Research Fellowships | Should hold a PhD (or equivalent), there are no eligibility rules based on years of post-doctoral experience | Call opens Feb/Mar – advertised on jobs.ac.uk | |
| Kay Kendall Leukaemia Fund Junior Research Fellowships | 1-4 years of postdoc experience | Call opens Aug – advertised on jobs.ac.uk | |
| Kidney Research UK Intermediate Fellowships (non-clinical) | 2-3 years of postdoc experience | December | |
| Kidney Research UK Senior Fellowships (non-clinical) | Extensive post-doctoral experience and already have demonstrated a sustained ability to conduct independent research | December | |
| L'Oreal UK & Ireland National Fellowship | For Women in Science. Early career researchers | January | |
| NIHR Advanced Fellowship | Hold a relevant PhD or MD, or have submitted their thesis for examination at the time of application. Applicants must have been awarded their PhD or MD by the time they attend an interview | May and December | July and January |
| NIHR Development and Skills Enhancement Award | Be a current member of the NIHR Academy. Hold a relevant PhD or MD, or have submitted their thesis for examination at the time of application. You must have been awarded their PhD or MD by the time you start | May, Sept, January | |
| Wellcome Sir Henry Dale | You must have a PhD and significant postdoctoral research experience and want to be based in the UK | May, August and November | 6 months after the deadline |
| Sir Henry Wellcome Postdoctoral | Final year PhD or early-career researcher. be a UK or European Economic Area national or have, or expect to have, a PhD from a UK or Republic of Ireland university |
April and October | 6 months after the deadline |
| Wellcome Research Career Development Fellowships | You must have a PhD and significant postdoctoral research experience and want to be based in The Republic of Ireland | May, Aug, November | 6 months after the deadline |
| Prostate Cancer UK Research Innovation Awards | Between 5 to 10 years postdoctoral research experience | Expression of interest: September. Full applications: January |
4. Natural Sciences
| Fellowship | Basic Eligibility | Deadline | Interview |
|---|---|---|---|
| UKRI - Future Leaders Fellowships | Early career researchers and innovators with outstanding potential | ||
| BBSRC Discovery Fellowships | PhD and no more than 5 years Postdoc experience | May | November |
| BBSRC David Phillips Fellowships | At least 3 years postdoctoral experience | May | November |
| ESA's postdoctoral Research Fellowship programme | Preference for less than 5 years of postdoctoral experience. Member of cooperating state | Check the website and search for Internal Research Fellow in the ESA job opportunities link | Within 4-6 weeks of deadline |
| Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP) | Have a PhD and a lead author original research paper | ||
| L'Oreal UK & Ireland National Fellowship | For Women in Science. Early career researchers |
January | |
| NERC Independent Research Fellowships | Up to 8 years of postdoc experience | October | |
| Ramsay Trust Memorial Fellowship | Postdoctoral chemists who have already had some postdoctoral experience of research | November | |
| RAS Research and Norman Lockyer Fellowships | Up to 5 years of postdoctoral experience | October | |
| Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 Research Fellowships | No more than 3 years postdoc experience | February | Decision by June |
| Royal Society University Research Fellowship (URF) | 3-8 years of postdoc experience | September | March/April |
| Schlumberger Foundation |
Preparing for postdoc, female, from a developing country | November | |
| Stephen Hawking Fellowships | Excellent researchers who will make significant contributions to the field of theoretical physics | Preliminary: June Full: July |
January |
| Wellcome Sir Henry Dale | PhD and significant postdoctoral research experience (no years since PhD) | May, August and November | 6 months after the deadline |
| Sir Henry Wellcome Postdoctoral | Final year PhD or early-career researcher. be a UK or European Economic Area national or have, or expect to have, a PhD from a UK or Republic of Ireland university |
April and October | 6 months after the deadline |
| Wellcome Research Career Development Fellowships | You must have a PhD and significant postdoctoral research experience and want to be based in The Republic of Ireland | May, August, November | 6 months after the deadline |
5. Multi-disciplinary
| Fellowship | Basic eligibility | Deadline | Interview |
|---|---|---|---|
| UKRI - Future Leaders Fellowships | Early career researchers and innovators with outstanding potential | ||
| ESRC postdoctoral fellowships | Completed their PhD at a research organisation that is part of a DTP or CDT and who are within 12 months of passing their viva voce | See DTP/CDT preliminary rounds Full applications: March |
|
| ESRC New Investigator Grants | Up to 4 years’ postdoctoral experience and the support of an eligible UK research organisation (under revision) | No fixed dates | |
| Imperial College Research Fellowships | Up to 4 years postdoc experience | August | |
| Leverhulme Early Career Research | Up to 4 years from viva | February | |
| Marie Curie Individual Fellowship | PhD or 4 years research experience | September | |
| Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Ernest Rutherford | PhD and some postdoctoral research experience (no years since PhD). Check department requirements | September | February |
6. Support for specific groups
| Fellowship | Basic eligibility | Deadline | Interview |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daphne Jackson – scientists re-entering after a career break | Have had a career break of two or more years, taken for family, caring or health reasons • have at least 3 years research experience and/or a PhD • wish to return to a research-based career |
Rolling (except sponsored calls) | |
| Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin – scientists who need to work flexibly | Up to 6 years of postdoc experience | November | June |
| L'Oreal UK & Ireland National Fellowship | For Women in Science. Early career researchers |
January | |
| London Mathematical Society – Grace Chrisholm Young Fellowship | Have a PhD and be returning from a career break | December and June | |
| Schlumberger Foundation | Preparing for postdoc, female, from a developing country | November | |
| Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Returner | Usually returning from a break of 2 years or more | Rolling | |
| Wellcome Career Re-entry | PhD and postdoctoral research experience with a continuous career break of 2 years | April and October | 6 months after the deadline |
| Wellcome Sanger Janet Thornton Fellowship | At least 1 years’ postdoctoral experience returning after a break of 1 year or more, for any reason |
7. Moving countries
| Fellowship | Basic eligibility | Deadline | Interview |
|---|---|---|---|
| European Molecular Biology Organisation (EMBO) | Up to 2 years of postdoctoral experience | No deadlines (panels meet in February and August) | |
| Marie Curie Individual Fellowship | PhD or 4 years research experience | September | |
| Schlumberger Foundation | Preparing for postdoc, female, from a developing country | November |
8. Training/Transitional
| Fellowship | Basic eligibility | Deadline | Interview |
|---|---|---|---|
| Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP) | Have a PhD and a lead author original research paper | ||
| MRC Skills Development Fellowships | Last year PhD or early career researcher | Directly contact the host institution | |
| Wellcome Clinical Research Career Development Fellowships | Want a clinical academic career and you’ve completed your thesis for a higher degree (preferably a PhD) | February and August | 6 months after the deadline |