Early-career researchers from higher education and research institutions can now apply for the Early Career Fellowships. This scheme is under the International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF), managed by the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology in the UK. It awards fellows, including those traveling with dependents, opportunities to conduct research in UK institutions and advance their careers.
About the Scheme
The ISPF Early Career Fellowships scheme will enable early-career researchers to collaborate internationally. They can gain access to new research environments, facilities, knowledge, and expertise.
The scheme supports three fellows per a participating UK institution to conduct research related to the four overarching themes of the ISPF. Please refer to the UK university’s advert for specific research areas.
- Resilient planet – leading the green industrial revolution to protect the planet.
- Healthy people, animals and plants – researching and innovating for secure and healthy populations.
- Transformative technologies – developing responsible technologies to secure our place in tomorrow’s world.
- Tomorrow’s talent – nurturing talent to drive inclusion, research and innovation.
Why you should apply
In addition to the opportunities to conduct research at UK institutions to develop your career, the scheme provides:
- minimum £27,979 per annum bursary payment plus relevant London weighting if applicable.*
- £10,000 per 12 months (pro rata for shorter fellowships) for research-related expenses.
- other allowable costs, such as IELTS exam fee if applicable (for fellows without a valid Test of English); Return economy-class travel from home country to the UK; Visa and insurance / NHS surcharge costs and Ad hoc costs (heavy baggage allowance, etc.).
*: This would be pro rata for fellowships shorter than 12 months. Where applicable, accompanying child allowance for fellows is consistent with UK visa requirements. These rates are decided by the Home Office.
Please refer to the participating institution's website for more details on the ECF benefit packages.
Who can apply
The application for the ISPF Early Career Fellowships scheme is now open for early career researchers from eligible countries/ territories. Vietnamese fellows must:
- have a proven background or interest in the proposed research area,
- demonstrate passions and plans to engage with other early career researchers from the home countries/territories,
- have a passion to contribute to capacity-building and socio-economic advancement after the scheme,
- meet the English language requirement of the UK HEI.
How to apply
Please apply directly to the participating institutions and review the application requirements on the website of each institution. You can make more than one application, but you will need to apply through each institution separately.
Learn more about the participating institutions:
| Middlesex University (application closed) |
Research areas (but not limited to): 1. Digital twinning for: crisis and resilience, decarbonisation in transport, Net-Zero, environment, healthcare (particularly stroke care), built environments, smart manufacturing, telecommunications, energy grid, and green hydrogen. 2. Next-gen telecommunication networks: Beyond 5G and 6G, and IoT smart solutions. 3. AI and computer vision: AI in telemedicine, AI-powered nature disaster prevention, AI-enabled colour-enhanced systems for early cancer/disease detection management, AI for stroke care, and AI for infectious diseases 4. Quantum computing and cybersecurity: for digital twinning, for 5G and 6G 5. Digital technologies for governance, modelling the damage-reducing effects of flood warnings, climate change, water hazards, resilience and wellbeing of communities and key livelihood systems, geomorphological response to flooding 6. Digital technologies and AI to support environmental biotechnology, microorganisms in sustainability, bioengineering, e-waste and household waste treatment and management, circular economy, wastewater surveillance, urban pollutants 7. Robotics and automation 8. Digital twin and AI to support optimisation of cognitive load humans |
| Edinburgh Napier University |
Research areas: 1. AI-Enabled Falls Prevention Device for Elderly Populations 2. Applications of Robotics and AI in Advancing Industry 5.0 in Healthcare 3. Exoskeleton Robots for Multistage Rehabilitation 4. Autonomous Electric Vehicles for Emergency Services 5. AI-Driven Body Area Networks for Transformative and Sustainable Patient Monitoring 6. Building a Transformative IoT Healthcare Ecosystem for Continuous Monitoring and Proactive Patient Care 7. Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Digital Health and Precision Medicine |
| University of Bradford |
Research areas: 1. Transformative Technology: Future telecommunications; Satellite communications; Artificial Intelligence and machine learning; Cybersecurity 2. Resilient Planet: Sustainable construction materials and structures; Carbon emission reduction in the construction industry; Circular economy in the construction industry; Resilient materials and structures to extreme weather and climate impact |
| Brunel University London (Application website to be updated) |
Research areas: Transformative Technologies for the Resilient Planet: Bridging UK and Overseas Partners |
Deadline for applications:
These vary depending on the institution. Please check the deadlines with your chosen institution carefully to avoid any disappointment.
Please ensure you check and meet all the eligibility requirements before applying. After applying, you will next hear directly from the university about the status of your application.
About the International Science Partnerships Fund
The International Science Partnerships Fund is designed to enable potential and foster prosperity. It puts research and innovation at the heart of our international relationships, supporting UK researchers and innovators to work with peers around the world on the major themes of our time: planet, health, tech, and talent. The fund is managed by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and delivered by a consortium of the UK’s leading research and innovation bodies, which includes: UK Research and Innovation (comprising the 7 research councils, Innovate UK and Research England), the UK Academies, the British Council, the Met Office, the National Physical Laboratory, the UK Atomic Energy Authority, and Universities UK International.
Equality, diversity and inclusion
British Council is committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion, and to continuing to attract and nurture talented people from the widest pool to remain internationally competitive in research and innovation. We believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to flourish and succeed. This includes avoidance of bias due to disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, sex (gender), and age.
Early Career Fellowships are specifically designed to widen participation and to support the careers of researchers whose backgrounds are underrepresented in their research field.