UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship - Round 11 Open

About the project

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About

We are excited to be supporting prospective researchers who wish to apply to be hosted at SOAS.

Our research is globally recognised, with over half our disciplines landing in the top ten for universities following the Research Excellence Framework 2021 (REF), and 87% of the research that we submitted ranking ‘world leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’.

Our Research and Knowledge Exchange strategy 2021-2026 (PDF, 564KB) outlines are plans for re-centring research excellence and intensivity.

Support

The structure and shape of the support will depend on the grant or fellowship you are awarded, but most will include a generous training and career development budget to enrich your skills as a researcher, and to build your network, profile and publication record.

SOAS is a signatory to the HR Concordat for Excellence in Research, providing academic colleagues with a strong support network and framework for research development, as well as an Early Career Research forum to support researchers across the institution.

All researchers who come to SOAS on the types of grants listed above will enjoy the status and benefits of that come with being a member of our academic community. They will have access to the facilities they need to carry out their work including access to the SOAS Library, one of the world's most important academic libraries for the study of Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

You will have access to biddable funds for to develop their research and impact; mentoring and support via our Personal Research Plan process, and dedicated time to pursue specific career development activities.

UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship - Round 11

SOAS is excited to support emerging and exceptional talent in various exciting research areas. The UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship Round 11 will open 2 February 2026, with the UKRI deadline 16 June 2026. It offers long-term, flexible support, including the fellow's salary and research, staff and training costs, plus the opportunity of a permanent academic position on successful completion of the fellowship. Due to the extremely competitive nature of these fellowships and a cap on the number of full stage applications that can be submitted per institution, SOAS is running a call for Expressions of Interest from both internal and external staff.

This scheme offers long-term, flexible support , including:

Due to the competitive nature of these fellowships and a cap on the number of full-stage applications per institution, SOAS is running a call for Expressions of Interest from both internal and external staff.

• Fellow’s salary
• Research, staff, and training costs
• Opportunity for a permanent academic position upon successful completion

Application process

Submit expression of interest via this form by 18 February 2026 (4pm).

SOAS information session

Find out more about the scheme and application process. Includes Q&A and insights from current SOAS FLF award holder.

Date: Wednesday 28 January 2026 Time: 11:00 – 12:30 (online) Sign-up via this link .

Dr Daniel Mulugeta

Lecturer in International Politics of Africa and UKRI Future Leaders Fellow

Research and Knowledge Exchange

Supporting funded research activity, knowledge exchange and research excellence at SOAS.

Contact us

• Email: research@soas.ac.uk

Research areas