Career Development Scholarship 2027 in UK | Fully Funded

Career Development Scholarship 2027 in UK supports talented early-career researchers from underrepresented (Black) heritage to undertake four-year postdoctoral research with funding, mentoring and training to establish a research career in the UK.

The scheme is delivered by the Royal Society, funded by the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (BIST) and Royal Society charitable funds, and includes a partnership strand with the Alzheimer’s Society for dementia-relevant research.

Benefits of Career Development Scholarship 2027

• Contribution to the Research Fellow’s salary and associated on-costs (at 80%)
• Directly allocated costs (at 80%)
• Research expenses (at 100%)
• Relocation and visa costs for themselves and their dependants (partner and children) can be requested in addition to the total grant cap of £703,800 over four years.
• Bespoke, high-quality programme of training, mentoring and engagement to support career development
• Flexibility to accommodate part-time working, sabbaticals and secondments
• Provision for maternity, paternity, shared parental leave, adoptive or extended sick leave
• Financial support for childcare costs arising from attending conferences and collaborative research visits or invited talks

Eligibility Criteria for the Career Development Scholarship 2027

• You self-identify as being from a Black heritage, including mixed Black background
• You are a UK national or you have completed a part of your education in the UK through your Undergraduate, Master’s or PhD degree studies or you hold/have held a postdoctoral researcher position in the UK
• You have a PhD, or will have one by the time the funding starts, but have less than 24 months post-doctoral experience
• Your research is within the Royal Society’s remit of natural sciences (includes biological research and biomedical sciences, chemistry, engineering, mathematics and physics)
• Both UK and non-UK domiciled researchers who wish to conduct their research in the UK are eligible
• Applicants can be of any nationality and those requiring a visa are eligible to apply for a Global Talent Visa under the fast-track process of endorsement

How to Apply for the Career Development Scholarship 2027

1. You will apply through our application and grant management system, Flexi-Grant®.
2. See the ‘Application and assessment process’ page for a general overview of the application and selection steps.
3. Assessment will be overseen by the Career Development Fellowship panel.
4. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to an in-person interview at the Royal Society.
5. Read the scheme notes for further information on eligibility and application details.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are the most frequently asked questions about the Career Development Scholarship. These answers cover eligibility, benefits, deadlines, funding and how to apply for the Royal Society Career Development Fellowship.