Study in UK | UKRI Future Leaders Fellowships 2026

February 13, 2026 7:30 am

Study in UK | UKRI Future Leaders Fellowships 2026

Most funding programmes support projects. This one supports people. The UKRI Future Leaders Fellowships (FLF) Round 11 is now accepting applications, and it specifically targets a distinct profile: the researcher or innovator ready to move beyond contributing to other people’s visions. Instead, you are prepared to build your own independent, influential programme with lasting impact across the United Kingdom. Backed by UK Research and Innovation and its disciplinary councils, this fellowship is intentionally long-term, structurally flexible, and designed to accelerate your trajectory into established leadership.

What Makes This Fellowship Distinct?

The Future Leaders Fellowships programme exists to develop, attract, and sustain outstanding research and innovation talent within the UK. Unlike project-specific grants, this is a personal award. Consequently, your application must convince reviewers not only that your idea matters but that you are the right person to deliver it, grow into leadership, and generate meaningful outcomes for society, industry, and the environment.

The scheme welcomes proposals across the full UKRI remit, including:

Physical sciences and engineering
Medical and health research
Environmental and climate science
Social sciences and public policy
Arts and humanities
Commercial innovation and translational research

If your vision is ambitious, original, and credible, this scheme provides the ideal platform.

Comprehensive Fellowship Package

Successful fellows receive substantial, long-term investment designed to establish their independence:

Extended Fellowship Duration: Funding covers up to seven years. You receive an initial four-year award, with a potential three-year extension contingent on progress review.
Flexible Budgets: No fixed minimum or maximum applies. UKRI funds 80 percent of full economic costs. Previous fellowships have ranged from £300,000 to over £2 million, reflecting justified project scope.
Full Programme Support: Funding includes your salary support, research staff costs, essential equipment and infrastructure, high-value tools, travel for collaboration, and cross-sector partnership development.
Protected Research Time: Fellows typically dedicate 100 percent of their working time to the fellowship. Academic hosts may permit limited related duties that support career progression and leadership growth.
Leadership Investment: The programme provides mentoring, professional development, policy or commercial exposure, and international networking opportunities.
Inclusive Design: Flexible working patterns, career break adjustments, caring responsibility support, and job-share proposals are all accommodated.
UK Visa Pathway: International fellows hosted by a UK organization may qualify for the Global Talent visa under the Exceptional Promise route, enabling long-term UK residency and career development.

Who Should Apply?

This opportunity is for researchers and innovators actively transitioning toward independence. You are a strong candidate if you:

Are developing your own original, ambitious research or innovation programme.
Are ready to lead projects rather than solely contribute.
Work within academia, industry, interdisciplinary spaces, or commercial environments.
Can present a credible plan for tangible impact extending beyond academic publications.
You must secure a UK-based host organization eligible for UKRI funding and obtain its active institutional support.
You are not eligible if you have already achieved established independence, such as leading a significantly funded programme or holding major awards aimed at this career stage.

Academic applicants should note that many institutions impose internal caps on submission numbers. Consequently, early engagement with your prospective host is essential to navigate internal shortlisting processes.

How to Apply

Access the official application guidance and portal here:

Click Here to Apply

Critical Application Timeline

Applications opened on 2 February 2026 at 9:00 AM UK time. The final deadline is 16 June 2026 at 4:00 PM UK time. Given the personal nature of this award and the extensive documentation required, you must begin preparation immediately.

In summary, the Future Leaders Fellowships represent a career-defining inflection point. This is not incremental funding; it is ta ransformative investment in your potential to lead. By securing institutional support early and crafting a rigorous, visionary application, you position yourself to join the next generation of UK research and innovation leaders.