Applications are now open for the Imperial College London Imperial Research Fellowship 2026 in the UK for outstanding early career researchers who want to become independent research leaders. This fellowship is open to researchers from a wide range of academic fields including science, engineering, medicine, business, and interdisciplinary research areas.
It offers 4 years of funded research support, a competitive salary, mentoring, and research funding, making it a fully funded opportunity for eligible candidates. International applicants are welcome to apply. There is no application fee mentioned. The application deadline is 23 July 2026, and selected fellows will begin their research between August 2027 and December 2027.
Key Details:
• Host Country: United Kingdom
• Host Institution: Imperial College London
• Fellowship Type: Research Fellowship
• Funding Type: Fully Funded
• Duration: 4 years
• Application Deadline: 23 July 2026
• Eligible Nationalities: Open to all nationalities
• Application Fee: No application fee
What This Fellowship Offers:
• Competitive annual salary between £49,017 and £57,472 depending on experience
• Up to £30,000 for research and travel costs
• Up to £45,000 for projects with higher funding needs
• Four years of protected research time
• Dedicated mentoring support
• Access to staff benefits
• Opportunity to visit other institutions or industry partners for research collaboration
• Freedom to focus fully on research without required teaching responsibilities
Eligibility Criteria:
• Applicants must have a PhD degree
• For Natural Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine applicants, PhD must be submitted before applying
• Viva must be completed before 9 December 2026
• PhD must be officially awarded before the fellowship starts
• Applicants must be within 5 years of their PhD completion date
• Career break extensions may be considered
• Applicants must not hold or previously hold a lectureship position
• Applicants must not hold an intermediate-level fellowship
• Applicants must secure a sponsor at Imperial College London
Programs Available:
• Engineering
• Natural Sciences
• Medicine
• Business
• Artificial Intelligence in Science
• Robotics
• Bayesian Inference
• Interdisciplinary Research
Required Documents:
• Research Proposal and Budget document
• Imperial Sponsor Details form
• Research collaborator support letters (if required)
• Francis Crick co-sponsor form (if applicable)
• Additional publication list (if applicable)
• Two confidential reference letters
How to Apply:
• Find a suitable sponsor at Imperial College London
• Contact your department early for approval
• Prepare all required documents
• Submit your application through the Imperial Jobs website
• Ask your referees to send confidential reference letters directly to Imperial before the deadline
Important Dates:
• Application Deadline: 23 July 2026
• Shortlisting Period: August to October 2026
• Interviews: November 2026
• Final Selection: 9 December 2026
• Results Announcement: December 2026
• Fellowship Start Period: Between 1 August 2027 and 1 December 2027
Why You Should Apply:
• Study at one of the world’s top universities
• Receive full financial support
• Build independent research experience
• Gain international exposure
• Work with leading researchers
• Focus fully on your research career without mandatory teaching duties
