The United Kingdom remains a leading destination for international researchers seeking competitive fellowships and research funding opportunities. Each year, prestigious academies and learned societies open schemes designed to attract outstanding global talent. These programs support postdoctoral mobility, international collaboration, and disciplinary excellence across the humanities, social sciences, sciences, and engineering.
For 2026, several major UK funding bodies—including the British Academy, Royal Society, and Royal Historical Society—offer structured opportunities for early-career researchers, postdoctoral scholars, and established academics. Many of these schemes provide fully funded fellowship support or strategic seed funding, while others enable international partnerships with UK institutions.
Scholars planning to apply should secure a UK host early, review eligibility criteria carefully, and prepare strong research proposals aligned with institutional priorities. Below is a curated overview of leading UK fellowships and research grants open to global scholars in 2026.
🎓 International Fellowships 2026
The International Fellowships 2026 programme offers a prestigious route for early-career researchers seeking UK research funding. This fully funded opportunity supports outstanding scholars for two years at a UK host institution. It welcomes non-UK nationals who have completed, or are close to completing, their PhD and wish to strengthen their international research profile.
Applicants must secure a UK academic sponsor before applying. The fellowship covers salary, research expenses, and relocation costs, enabling genuine academic mobility and long-term collaboration. It is suitable across all major disciplines, including humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and engineering.
- Open Date: Expected January 2026
- Deadline: 11 March 2026 (17:00 GMT)
- Official Link: International Fellowships 2026 | The British Academy
🌍 International Exchanges Grants
The International Exchanges Grants scheme supports global research collaboration and scientific partnership development. Although UK-based researchers submit the application, overseas scholars participate as funded collaborators, making this scheme highly relevant for international academics seeking UK partnerships.
Funding supports travel, subsistence, and collaborative research activities. Multiple rounds operate each year, offering flexibility for applicants planning joint projects.
- Disciplines: Natural Sciences, Engineering, Medical Sciences
- Open Date: Ongoing (Multiple Rounds Annually)
- Deadline: 18 March 2026 (Global Round 1)
- Official Link: International Exchanges | Royal Society
📚 Open Research Support Grants
The Open Research Support Grants scheme provides targeted funding for scholars in history. It supports mid-career and senior historians requiring modest financial assistance for archival research, fieldwork, or travel. Membership of the Royal Historical Society is mandatory; however, international researchers may join prior to submitting an application. Grants range between £500 and £1,000.
- Open Date: January 2026 (Round 1)
- Deadlines: 6 March 2026 (Round 1), 4 September 2026 (Round 2)
- Official Link: Open Research Support Grants | RHS
🏛 Early Career Fellowship Grants – Royal Historical Society
This scheme supports emerging historians whose research is not currently funded elsewhere. Awards of up to £2,000 assist discrete projects that strengthen early academic careers and publication prospects. Membership in the RHS is required prior to application.
- Open Date: January 2026
- Deadlines: 6 March 2026, 4 September 2026
- Official Link: Early Career Fellowship Grants | RHS
🔬 Research Grants (Seed Funding) – Royal Society
The Research Grants scheme offers essential seed funding for innovative early-stage projects. Applicants must be based at a UK institution, but international collaboration is encouraged. Funding supports equipment and research consumables, enabling development of competitive proposals for larger UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) grants.
- Disciplines: Natural Sciences, Engineering, Biomedical Sciences
- Deadline: 26 March 2026
- Official Link: Research grants | Royal Society
🧑🔬 Royal Society Wolfson Fellowship & Visiting Fellowship
These fellowships support mid-career UK researchers and international collaborators, fostering research leadership, scientific independence, and global impact. The visiting fellowship enables short-term research stays, funding travel, subsistence, and collaborative research.
- Disciplines: Natural Sciences, Engineering, Biomedical Research, Interdisciplinary Research
- Official Links:
🌐 Science Community & Lisa Jardine Grants
These grants support scientific community activities, workshops, skill-building, research networks, and short-term international collaboration.
Applying for UK Research Funding
Most UK schemes require an affiliated UK host institution, but fellowships are open to international PhD holders, early-career researchers, and postdoctoral scholars across humanities, social sciences, STEM, engineering, and interdisciplinary fields.
To strengthen applications:
- Align proposals with UKRI and national research priorities
- Secure a UK host early
- Highlight international collaboration and societal relevance
- Demonstrate publication quality and research independence
Conclusion
Securing UK research funding in 2026 requires strategic preparation, strong institutional alignment, and competitive proposals. Early planning, publication strength, and host engagement are critical for success. International scholars who approach UK fellowships strategically position themselves for long-term academic advancement and global research leadership.
Explore UK research funding opportunities
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