Applications are now open for Eleven Senior Research Fellowships at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in the United Kingdom. These prestigious part-time fellowships are available in 11 different thematic areas and offer senior UK academics the opportunity to work directly with FCDO policy teams for two years.
The fellowships are partially funded (0.4 FTE) and will start on 1 April 2027. There is no application fee. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, with the final deadline on 30 August 2026.
Key Details:
- Degree Level: Senior academic (Associate Professor or above)
- Host Country: United Kingdom
- Host Organization: Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)
- Duration: 2 years (0.4 Full-Time Equivalent)
- Application Deadline: 30 August 2026
- Start Date: 1 April 2027
- Location: London or East Kilbride
- Application Fee: No application fee
- Open for: UK-based academics only
What this Fellowship Offers:
- Work directly with FCDO policy teams on high-impact, real-world policy issues
- Opportunity to influence UK development and foreign policy through research
- Two-year part-time placement (0.4 FTE) while remaining employed by your UK academic institution
- Access to government networks, data, and decision-making processes
- Valuable experience bridging academia and policymaking
- Professional development in a high-level government environment
Eligibility Criteria:
- Must be at Associate Professor level or higher
- Must be currently employed by a UK academic institution
- Will remain an employee of your home institution during the fellowship
- Must be able to obtain UK security clearance
- Must meet UK residency requirements:
- For Developed Vetting (DV): Lived in the UK for at least 5 of the last 10 years
- For Security Clearance (SC): Lived in the UK for at least 2 of the last 5 years
Programs Available:
- Gender and Equity
- Conflict
- AI for Development
- Food and Agriculture
- Economic Development
- Systemic Resilience of Combined Human, Social, Economic, Political and Ecological Systems
- Hybrid and Transnational Threats
- Polar Regions
- Critical Minerals
- Technology, Geopolitics and Information Manipulation
- Global Health
How to Apply:
- Visit the RCC Grant Management System
- Register or log in to your account
- Review the detailed job description for your chosen thematic area
- Complete the online application form
- Submit your application before 30 August 2026 (5:00 PM GMT)
For step-by-step guidance, download the RCC Grant Management System User Guide.
Contact:
For any questions, email: rcc@3ieimpact.org Write “Senior Research Fellow Request for Clarification” in the subject line.
