FCDO Senior Research Fellowships 2027: Fully Funded Two-Year Fellowship Opportunities Across 11 Global Research Areas

Eligibility

Requirements To qualify for the FCDO Senior Research Fellowships, applicants must meet the following criteria: Academic Eligibility Applicants must: Be at least at Associate Professor level or equivalent seniority Be employed by a UK academic institution Remain employees of their sending institution throughout the fellowship period Security Clearance Requirements Applicants must be eligible to obtain UK security clearance. Depending on the fellowship role, applicants may require either: Developed Vetting (DV) Applicants must have physically lived in the UK for at least 5 of the last 10 years. Security Clearance (SC) Applicants must have physically lived in the UK for at least 2 of the last 5 years. The programme emphasizes that physical residency in the UK is mandatory. Maintaining a UK bank account or postal address alone does not satisfy residency requirements. Why This Fellowship Matters The FCDO Senior Research Fellowship programme offers a rare opportunity for experienced academics to bridge the gap between research and policymaking. Benefits of the fellowship include: Direct engagement with UK foreign policy and development initiatives Opportunity to shape international policy discussions Collaboration with government teams and policymakers Contribution to high-impact interdisciplinary research Access to strategic global development networks Enhanced professional visibility and influence Opportunity to work on globally significant challenges This fellowship is especiall