UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Future Leaders Fellowships: Round 11 2026

About UKRI Future Leaders Fellowships: Round 11 📚

The UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Future Leaders Fellowships provide long-term funding, mentoring, and career development support. These fellowships enable fellows to tackle novel challenges and contribute to transformative research and innovation.

Benefits of UKRI Future Leaders Fellowships 💼

• Funding: UKRI funds 80% of the full economic cost (FEC), with no minimum or maximum limit.
• Award Range: Previous awards have ranged from £300,000 to over £2 million.
• Host Organisation Commitment: Host organisations must commit to salary support, tapering over the fellowship period.
• Academic Hosts: Academic hosts must offer an open-ended UK-based position during or upon completion of the fellowship.
• Clinical Applicants: Clinical applicants may spend a limited proportion of time on clinical duties, with specific allowances for patient-oriented research.

Eligibility Criteria ✅

Requirements for Host Organisations:

Fellowships must be held at a UK-based organisation that meets the following criteria:

• A UK-based organisation currently registered as eligible to apply for funding from UKRI.
• Any non-academic organisation eligible to receive subsidies from the UK government that provides an innovation or research environment of international standing.
• Academic-hosted applicants (including NHS trusts) should apply via the UKRI Funding Service, while non-academic hosted applicants (including charities) should apply via the Innovation Funding Service.

Who is Eligible to Apply:

• Researchers and innovators transitioning to or establishing independence, or developing their own original and ambitious plans within a commercial setting.
• Applicants from academic organisations must adhere to a fixed cap on the number of applicants from each institution. Ensure you notify your host organisation of your intention to apply and allow time for internal shortlisting processes.

Who is NOT Eligible to Apply:

You are not eligible to apply if:

• You have already achieved research or innovation independence (e.g., by securing funding aimed at this career stage or managing your own significant programme of work within a business).
• You are a senior academic or innovator.

Application Process 📝

Steps to Apply:

1. Confirm you are the fellow.
2. Sign in or create a Funding Service account.
   • Select your organisation, verify your email address, and set a password.
   • If your organisation is not listed, email support@funding-service.ukri.org. Allow at least 10 working days for your organisation to be added to the Funding Service.
3. Answer questions directly in the text boxes. You can save your answers and return later or work offline and copy-paste your answers.
4. Upload any required documents following the instructions in the Funding Service.
5. Check your application in ‘read-only’ view before sending it to your research office.
6. Send the completed application to your research office for review. They will return it to you if edits are needed.
7. Your research office will submit the completed and checked application to UKRI.

Application Deadline 📅

16 June, 2026

Contact Information 📧

For assistance, email: support@funding-service.ukri.org

Opportunity Application 🌐

For more details, visit the official UKRI Future Leaders Fellowships page:
UKRI Future Leaders Fellowships: Round 11

Apply directly via the Funding Service:
Apply for UKRI Future Leaders Fellowships: Round 11

• UKRI funds 80% of the full economic cost (FEC), with no minimum or maximum limit.
• Previous awards have ranged from £300,000 to over £2 million.
• Host organisations must commit to salary support, tapering over the fellowship period.
• Academic hosts must offer an open-ended UK-based position during or upon completion of the fellowship.
• Clinical applicants may spend a limited proportion of time on clinical duties, with specific allowances for patient-oriented research.