Applications are open for the Institute for Research Software Fellowship 2027, offering around 20 Fellows a £4,000 activity budget, mentoring and research software community opportunities.
Applications are now open for the Institute for Research Software Fellowship Programme 2027. The programme supports people working to improve and promote good computational and research software practices across research disciplines.
Around 20 Fellows are selected each year, including up to three international Fellows. Each Fellow receives a £4,000 budget to organise or attend activities that promote good software practice.
Opportunity Overview
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Programme | Institute for Research Software Fellowship |
| Cohort | 2027 |
| Fellowship dates | January 1, 2027 – March 31, 2028 |
| Fellows selected | Around 20 |
| International places | Up to 3 |
| Activity budget | £4,000 per Fellow |
| Eligibility | Any career stage/background |
| Application deadline | October 5, 2026 |
| Selection Day | November 12, 2026 |
What Is the Fellowship Programme?
The Fellowship Programme aims to improve computational practice across research disciplines while supporting people involved in research software, training and research infrastructure.
The programme is open to applicants at any career stage and from any background. This includes PhD candidates, junior research software engineers, professors, research computing directors and people supporting research or training, including individuals without a formal software background.
What Fellows Receive
Each selected Fellow receives a £4,000 budget that can be used to organise or attend activities promoting good software practice.
Fellows also join a wider community that includes:
- Mentoring
- Cohort-based learning
- Monthly community calls
- Study groups
- The annual Collaborations Workshop
Who Can Apply?
The programme welcomes people from different professional and academic backgrounds.
Potential applicants include:
- PhD candidates
- Research software engineers
- Research computing professionals
- Professors and researchers
- Research infrastructure professionals
- People involved in research training
- Professionals supporting computational research
- Applicants without formal software backgrounds
The source states that applicants can apply at any career stage.
International Applicants
The 2027 programme includes up to three places for international applicants.
Applicants who are not based in the UK or affiliated with a UK institution will need to demonstrate how their plans would foster international collaboration or contribute a valuable perspective to UK research culture.
Application Requirements
The application has two main components:
- An application form
- A six-minute screencast video explaining who you are, what you do and your plans for the Fellowship.
Shortlisted applicants will then be invited to an Online Selection Day, involving group activities designed to assess how applicants contribute to and engage with others.
Applicants can also access an application video guide, potentially be matched with a current Fellow for advice and review the published eligibility and shortlisting criteria.
Key Dates
- Applications opened: August 10, 2026
- Launch webinar: August 20, 2026
- Applications close: October 5, 2026
- Shortlist confirmed: November 3, 2026
- Online Selection Day: November 12, 2026
- Public announcement: December 9, 2026
- Fellowship period: January 1, 2027 – March 31, 2028
How to Strengthen Your Application
Because the application includes a short video and shortlisted candidates participate in group activities, applicants should prepare clear examples of:
- Their current research or computational work
- Their contribution to good software or research practice
- What they want to accomplish during the Fellowship
- How their proposed activities could benefit the wider research community
- Their ability to collaborate and engage with others
For international applicants, the source specifically highlights the importance of demonstrating international collaboration or a valuable perspective on UK research culture.
How Competitive Is This Fellowship?
Opportunities Feed assessment: The programme selects around 20 Fellows each year and offers only up to three places for international applicants. Applicants should therefore prepare their application carefully and clearly explain their proposed Fellowship plans.
No acceptance rate is provided by the Institute for Research Software, so applicants should not rely on an estimated probability of selection.
Official Application
Applicants should review the full eligibility requirements and application instructions before submitting.
Institute for Research Software Fellowship Programme
Official Fellowship Application Page
Frequently Asked Questions
How much funding does each Fellow receive?
Each Fellow receives a £4,000 budget for organising or attending activities that promote good software practice.
Is the Fellowship open internationally?
Yes, but the programme offers up to three places for international applicants.
Do I need a formal software background?
Not necessarily. The programme states that people supporting research, training or research infrastructure can apply, including those without a formal software background.
What is the application deadline?
Applications close on October 5, 2026.
When does the Fellowship begin?
The official Fellowship period runs from January 1, 2027 to March 31, 2028.
SEO Keywords
Institute for Research Software Fellowship 2027, research software fellowship 2027, £4000 fellowship, software fellowship UK, research fellowship 2027, computational research fellowship, research software opportunities, international research fellowship 2027, research software engineer fellowship, PhD fellowship UK, research computing fellowship, software sustainability fellowship, University of Edinburgh fellowship, global fellowships 2027, research opportunities 2027
