Some funding calls help you run a project. This one helps you become the person who leads the next decade of research or innovation.
The British Future Leaders Fellowships 2026 (Round 11) is now open, and it’s built for one type of applicant: the researcher or innovator who’s ready to stop orbiting other people’s agendas and start building an independent, influential programme with real-world impact in the UK.
Backed by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and its councils, this fellowship isn’t small, quick, or narrow. It’s long-term, flexible, and designed to accelerate you into independence—whether your work sits in labs, studios, hospitals, policy spaces, data environments, or deep in the messy frontier where disciplines collide.
What this UKRI-FLF Fellowship is all about?
The Future Leaders Fellowships (FLF) programme exists to develop, attract, retain, and sustain research and innovation talent in the UK. The goal is straightforward: fund high-potential people early enough that the investment changes the trajectory of their work and career.
This is a personal fellowship award. That means your application is not only about your idea—it’s about why you are the right person to deliver it, grow into leadership, and create outcomes that matter across society, industry, the economy, or the environment.
It’s open across the full UKRI remit, including:
- Science and engineering
- Health and medicine
- Environment and climate
- Social sciences and policy
- Arts and humanities
- Innovation and commercial translation
If your proposal is ambitious, original, and credible—and your host can support you—this scheme is built for you.
Package of Future Leaders Fellowships
Following benefits package is promised by UKRI for their Future Leaders Fellowships 11th cycle:
| Offering Area | Details |
|---|---|
| Long-Term Fellowship Funding | Duration of up to 7 years. Initially funded for 4 years, with the option to apply for an additional 3-year extension in the final year based on progress and review. |
| Flexible Budget (No Funding Cap) | No minimum or maximum project cost. UKRI funds 80% of full economic cost (FEC). Previous fellowships have ranged from £300,000 to over £2 million, depending on project scope and justification. |
| Salary + Programme Building Support | Includes salary support for fellows (tapered over time) along with comprehensive funding for: team and staff costs, research and innovation activities, infrastructure and equipment, high-value research tools, mentoring, leadership training, and skills development. |
| Research & Innovation Resources | Covers essential programme costs such as facilities, infrastructure, equipment purchases (including major justified items), travel for collaboration, partnerships across sectors, and international research links. |
| Protected Research & Leadership Time | Fellows typically dedicate 100% of working time to the fellowship. Academic-hosted fellows may spend limited weekly hours on related duties that support career development and leadership growth. |
| Career Development & Leadership Growth | Strong emphasis on building independent leadership through mentoring, professional training, policy or commercialization exposure, and global collaboration opportunities. |
| Flexible Working & Inclusive Support | Supports flexible working patterns, career breaks, caring responsibilities, and job-share proposals to ensure inclusive access to research leadership opportunities. |
| UK Career Pathway & Global Talent Route | International fellows supported by a UK host organization may qualify for the UK Global Talent visa (Exceptional Promise route), enabling relocation and long-term research careers in the UK. |
Who this fellowship is for?
This is for people transitioning to or establishing independence—the high-potential stage where one big, sustained opportunity can flip your career into leadership.
You are a strong fit if you are:
- A researcher or innovator building your own original, ambitious programme
- Ready to lead projects rather than only contribute to them
- Working across academia, industry, interdisciplinary boundaries, or within a commercial setting
- Able to show a credible plan for impact, not just publications.
You must also have:
-
A UK-based host organization eligible for UKRI funding (and their active support)
You are not eligible if:
- You have already achieved independence, such as leading a significant established programme or holding major funding aimed at this career stage
- You are a senior academic or senior innovator.
Important note for academic applicants: some institutions have internal caps on how many applications they can submit, meaning you may face internal shortlisting. This is why starting early matters.
Application Method: https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/future-leaders-fellowship-round-11/
When to Apply?
Applications for British Future Leaders Fellowships 2026 Round 11 opened on 2 February 2026 at 9:00 AM (UK time). The final deadline to submit your application is 16 June 2026 at 4:00 PM (UK time).