UKRI Future Leaders Fellowships
Future Leaders Fellowships give early-career researchers and innovators in the UK long-term funding to tackle ambitious, often cross-disciplinary problems.
No UKRI Future Leaders Fellowships call is open in our listings right now.
What it funds
The fellow's salary and a research program across any area UKRI covers, in universities, businesses or other research organizations, with the host committing to the fellow's development.
Who can apply
Early-career researchers and innovators of any nationality, with or without a PhD, who will be based at an eligible UK host. Hosts usually run an internal selection first.
Award size
Fellowships cover salary and substantial research costs; academic hosts receive 80% of the full economic cost.
Duration
Recent rounds funded an initial 4 years, with the option of a renewal for up to 3 more.
How applications are reviewed
External peer review, a sift panel, and an interview panel.
Deadlines
UKRI runs the scheme in rounds and has been changing its format, so check UKRI's announcements for the next round.
Our summary, checked against UKRI guidance in October 2026. Rules, budgets and dates change: always confirm in the current announcement before you apply.
Open UKRI Future Leaders Fellowships calls
None open in our listings today. We add new calls twice a day; create a free account to get an alert when one opens.
Recently funded Future Leaders Fellowships
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Assessing the physiological relevance and molecular mechanisms of non-canonical ubiquitylation
UKRI — UKRI FLF · £594,431
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Functional genomics to unveil the early intra-mammalian development of schistosomes
UKRI — UKRI FLF · £595,588
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Selective Elemental Fluorination Future Leaders Fellowship (SELF-FLF)
UKRI — UKRI FLF · £1,672,862
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NANOMES – MEaSuring NANOplastics and their interactions in the Ocean
UKRI — UKRI FLF · £1,478,549
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New horizons in multi-physics phase field modelling (NEWPHASE2)
UKRI — UKRI FLF · £594,221
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Climate Citizens: Integrating citizen voices into energy and climate governance
UKRI — UKRI FLF · £597,377
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