Royal Society Career Development Fellowship 2027 Opens

Royal Society Career Development Fellowship 2027 | Up to £703,800 in Funding

The Royal Society Career Development Fellowship 2027 is offering up to £703,800 to support early-career researchers from Black heritage backgrounds who want to establish independent research careers at UK research institutions. The four-year postdoctoral fellowship provides financial support, mentoring, and professional development opportunities to help researchers advance their careers in science.

Applications opened on 22 September 2026, and the deadline to apply is 18 November 2026. Researchers from any nationality may be eligible, provided they meet the scheme's academic, background, and UK connection requirements.

Fellowship Benefits and Funding

The fellowship provides funding over four years to support the researcher’s salary, research activities, and career development. The main funding package can cover a contribution towards the fellow's salary and associated employment costs, as well as research-related expenses.

Key benefits include:

• Up to £703,800 in funding over four years.
• A contribution towards the fellow's salary and associated employment costs.
• Funding for directly allocated research costs.
• Full coverage of eligible research expenses.
• Potential additional support for relocation and visa costs for the fellow and eligible dependants, outside the main funding cap.
• Mentoring, networking, leadership training, and science communication development.

The programme also offers support for parental leave, extended sick leave, and childcare costs associated with eligible conferences and research visits, subject to the scheme's conditions.

Eligibility Requirements

The fellowship is designed specifically for early-career researchers who self-identify as being from a Black heritage background, including mixed Black heritage.

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Hold a PhD or expect to obtain one before the fellowship begins.
• Have less than 24 months of postdoctoral research experience.
• Meet at least one of the scheme's UK connection requirements.
• Propose research within a discipline supported by the Royal Society.

Eligible UK connection routes include being a UK national, having completed part of an undergraduate, master's, or doctoral degree in the UK, or currently holding or previously having held a postdoctoral research position in the UK.

Supported research disciplines include biological sciences, biomedical sciences, chemistry, engineering, mathematics, physics, and other eligible natural sciences.

The fellowship is open to researchers of any nationality who satisfy the eligibility criteria. Eligible applicants who require a visa may also benefit from the UK Global Talent Visa fast-track endorsement process.

Research Support and Career Development

Beyond financial assistance, the Royal Society Career Development Fellowship aims to help promising researchers become independent scientists and future leaders in STEM.

Fellows can benefit from professional mentoring, research collaboration opportunities, networking, leadership development, science communication training, and public engagement support.

The scheme was developed in response to research commissioned by the Royal Society that identified barriers affecting the career progression of researchers from Black heritage backgrounds in UK academia and STEM fields.

Application Process and Deadline

Applications must be submitted through the Royal Society's official Flexi-Grant® online application system.

The selection process includes an eligibility assessment, expert peer review, panel evaluation, and an in-person interview at the Royal Society for shortlisted candidates.

Applications are assessed on scientific quality, originality, feasibility, potential impact, and the applicant's potential to become a future leader in STEM.

The expected decision date for the 2027 round is 30 June 2027.

The previous inaugural round in 2024–2025 received 233 eligible applications and resulted in seven offers, highlighting the competitive nature of the fellowship.

Applicants are encouraged to review the official guidance carefully, prepare a strong research proposal, and ensure they meet all eligibility requirements before submitting their applications.

How to Apply

Interested researchers should begin by reviewing the fellowship requirements and preparing their research proposal and supporting documents.

Application deadline: 18 November 2026.

Official application and information links:

• Fellowship details and eligibility: https://royalsociety.org/grants/career-development-fellowship/
• Online application portal: https://grants.royalsociety.org/

Applicants should consult the official Royal Society guidance for the latest requirements, funding conditions, and submission instructions before applying.