Future Leaders Fellowships: round 11
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) · United Kingdom
The Future Leaders Fellowships scheme supports early career researchers and innovators to develop their careers and lead ambitious research and innovation projects across disciplines.
Summary
Deadline
17 Jun 2026
Complexity
High
Time to apply
60-120 hours
Updated
9 Jun 2026
The Future Leaders Fellowships scheme supports early career researchers and innovators to develop their careers and lead ambitious research and innovation projects across disciplines.
Eligibility
Applicant types
Research
Business size
Research organisation
Industries
All disciplines across research and innovation sectors
Match funding
Yes (host contribution)
Requirements
Early career researchers and innovators based at eligible UK organisations with potential to become future leaders in their field UK-based eligible organisation (university, research institute, business or other) must host fellow; applicant must be researcher or innovator establishing or transitioning to independence. Ambitious, high-quality research or innovation projects across any discipline...
Eligible applicants
Early career researchers and innovators based at eligible UK organisations with potential to become future leaders in their field
Funding and scope
Benefit amount
£110,000,000
Total fund available
£110,000,000
Funding intensity
Not specified
Payment type
Salary and project costs via host (grant)
Eligible scope
Ambitious, high-quality research or innovation projects across any discipline or sector
Eligible expenses
- Staff costs, research expenses, equipment, travel, and other project-related costs
Ineligible costs
- Costs not eligible under UKRI Future Leaders Fellowships FEC terms.
Application and risks
Application platform
UKRI Funding Service
Competitiveness
Competitive Selection
Decision timeline
Not specified
Assessment process
Multi-stage process including outline application, full application, and interview panel
Application sections
Not specified
Application components
- Online application including project proposal, career development plan, leadership potential, and supporting documentation
Required documents
Not specified
Appendices
Not specified
Assessment criteria
- Research and innovation excellence
- leadership potential
- career development
- impact
- feasibility
Timeline and partners
Opening date
2 Feb 2026
Project duration
Not specified
Project start
Not specified
Project end
Not specified
Co-funders
Not specified
Collaboration rules
- Open to applicants of any nationality, provided they are based at an eligible UK organisation
Consortium requirements
- Single fellow hosted by one UK organisation; secondments and partners as permitted in FLF round 11 guidance.
Additional guidance
[{"label":"Funding Structure","value":"4-year fellowship with option to extend up to 7 years; UKRI funds 80% of full economic cost"},{"label":"important notes","value":"No requirement for prior permanent academic position; flexible career stage eligibility; fellows must be based at an eligible UK host organisation"}]
Quick facts
- Status
- Open
- Deadline
- 17 Jun 2026
- Funding amount
- £110,000,000
- Funding band
- Large (£5M+)
- Funding type
- Fellowship
- Payment type
- Salary and project costs via host (grant)
- Audience
- Research Innovation
- Industry
- All disciplines across research and innovation sectors
- Last updated
- 9 Jun 2026
- Published
- Not specified