Royal Society Career Development Fellowship 2025-26

Are you an early-career researcher dreaming of building your scientific career in the United Kingdom? The Royal Society Career Development Fellowship (CDF) 2025-26 is your chance to take that leap. This prestigious fully funded four-year fellowship supports exceptional researchers from Black heritage backgrounds in STEM fields, providing generous financial support, mentorship, and world-class professional development opportunities.

Quick Details

About the Fellowship

The Career Development Fellowship (CDF) is a new initiative by the Royal Society designed to help talented early-career scientists from underrepresented backgrounds establish themselves as independent researchers in the UK. This four-year program provides full financial support and professional development resources to help fellows conduct impactful, curiosity-driven research while receiving world-class mentorship and training.

The fellowship specifically supports researchers who identify as Black or mixed-Black heritage, aiming to promote equity, diversity, and inclusion in UK STEM research environments.

Check: DW International Journalism Traineeship 2026 in Germany

Financial Coverage & Benefits

The Royal Society CDF offers one of the most comprehensive funding packages for early-career scientists. Fellows receive up to £690,000 in total over four years, covering:

• Salary and on-costs (80% contribution)
• Research expenses and materials (100%)
• Directly allocated research costs (80%)
• Visa and relocation costs for fellows and dependants
• Childcare and family support during conferences and collaborations
• Flexible working options, including part-time, sabbaticals, or career breaks
• Professional training, mentorship, and networking opportunities

This makes it a truly fully funded opportunity, ensuring fellows have all the resources needed to pursue groundbreaking research and career growth.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for the Royal Society Career Development Fellowship 2025-26, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Must self-identify as being of Black heritage, including mixed-Black backgrounds.
• Must hold a PhD degree or expect to have it by the fellowship start date.
• Must have less than 24 months of postdoctoral experience at the time of application.
• Research area must fall under the Royal Society’s remit of Natural Sciences, including:
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Chemistry
  • Engineering
  • Mathematics
  • Physics
  • Computer Science, Earth Science, and related disciplines
• Applicants must be:
  • UK nationals, educated in the UK, or currently/recently employed in a UK research institution.
• Both UK and international candidates are eligible, provided the research will be conducted at a UK host institution.
• Applicants requiring a UK research visa are eligible — relocation and visa expenses are covered.

Are Pakistani Researchers Eligible?

Pakistani researchers can apply if they meet one of the following conditions:

• Have completed any level of education in the UK (Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD).
• Currently hold or recently held a UK-based research position.
• Plan to conduct research at a UK host institution.

However, note that this particular fellowship is limited to applicants from Black or mixed-Black heritage backgrounds. Pakistani applicants who do not identify as such are not eligible for this specific fellowship.

But don’t worry — the Royal Society offers several other fellowships open to researchers from Pakistan and around the world, including:

• Newton International Fellowship
• Royal Society International Fellowship
• University Research Fellowship (URF)

These programs are open to all nationalities and provide full funding for international researchers to work in the UK.

Final Thoughts

The Royal Society Career Development Fellowship 2025-26 offers more than just funding — it’s a powerful platform to grow as an independent scientist and contribute meaningfully to global research.

If you meet the eligibility criteria and are ready to build a research career in the UK, this fellowship could be your defining opportunity. Start preparing your proposal early, secure a supportive UK host, and aim high — the Royal Society is waiting to help you shape the future of science. Apply Now!