The LEGO Foundation Fellowship 2026 is a global research fellowship for early- and mid-career researchers whose work can strengthen understanding of how children thrive across different contexts.
The fellowship is offered by the LEGO Foundation and administered through the Social Science Research Council (SSRC). It provides flexible research support of USD 300,000 over three years, inclusive of 15% indirect costs. Up to 10 fellowships are available.
The 2026 fellowship focuses on three major research themes: youngest children in crisis and conflict settings; inclusion and wellbeing of neurodivergent children; and children’s learning and development in an AI-enabled world. Applicants may explore the role of play where it is relevant, but considering play is optional and is not an eligibility requirement.
Applications opened on June 1, 2026, with a deadline of July 31, 2026, at 11:59 EST. The fellowship period is scheduled for February 1, 2027 through December 31, 2029.
LEGO Foundation Fellowship 2026 Overview
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Fellowship | LEGO Foundation Fellowship |
| Administered by | Social Science Research Council |
| Funder | LEGO Foundation |
| Opportunity type | Research fellowship |
| Target applicants | Early- and mid-career researchers |
| Geographic scope | Global |
| Funding | USD 300,000 over three years |
| Indirect costs | 15% included |
| Fellowships available | Up to 10 |
| Application opened | June 1, 2026 |
| Application deadline | July 31, 2026, 11:59 EST |
| Fellowship period | February 1, 2027 – December 31, 2029 |
| Host requirement | University or research institute |
| PhD requirement | PhD or equivalent research doctorate |
| PhD date requirement | January 1, 2016 or later, subject to approved career-break policy |
| PhD deadline | Must hold PhD by July 31, 2026 |
| Eligible countries | Applicants from any country except countries subject to EU or US sanctions |
What Is the LEGO Foundation Fellowship?
The LEGO Foundation Fellowship is designed to support researchers developing ambitious, rigorous and practically relevant research concerning children’s thriving.
The fellowship provides flexible support over a three-year period and is intended for researchers with strong research potential, clear ideas for the next phase of their work and a commitment to generating evidence that can inform action for children.
Researchers can come from a wide range of disciplines, methods and geographic locations.
LEGO Foundation Fellowship Research Areas
The fellowship has three core research themes.
1. Youngest Children in Crisis and Conflict Settings
This theme focuses on children from birth to eight years old and their caregivers in crisis and conflict environments.
This includes children affected by:
- Humanitarian emergencies
- Protracted displacement
- Conflict
- Refugee situations
- Internal displacement
- Vulnerability and marginalization in host communities
Research areas include resilience, caregiving, family environments, scaling interventions and translating evidence into practice.
Research Topics
Potential areas include:
Mechanisms of resilience and pathways to thriving
Researchers can investigate how young children develop and learn despite adversity.
Strengthening caregiving and family environments
Research can examine how parenting, caregiving and family environments influence children’s development in crisis settings.
Scaling and sustaining effective interventions
This includes evidence on interventions addressing children’s mental health and development and how they can be sustained within crisis-affected systems.
Translating evidence into practice
Applicants can investigate factors influencing the adoption and implementation of evidence-based mental health and psychosocial support interventions in humanitarian programmes.
2. Inclusion and Wellbeing of Neurodivergent Children
The second theme focuses on neurodivergent children, with particular attention to Autism and ADHD.
The fellowship welcomes research involving neurodivergent children up to 18 years of age across different settings.
Research areas include:
- Support before diagnosis
- Family environments
- Inclusive learning environments
- Transitions and continuity of support
- Digital technologies and enabling tools
Support Before Diagnosis
Research can examine how neurodivergent children’s needs can be recognized and supported before formal diagnosis or specialist assessment.
Strengthening Family Environments
Researchers can investigate family routines, caregiving approaches, wellbeing and home environments and how they affect neurodivergent children’s experiences.
Inclusive Learning Environments
Research can examine how schools, teachers, classroom practices and education systems can better respond to neurodivergent learners.
Transitions and Continuity of Support
Applicants can explore how neurodivergent children and young people experience important transitions and what helps maintain effective support.
Enabling Tools
Research can investigate when and how digital technologies can reduce barriers to learning, communication, participation and belonging.
3. Children’s Learning and Development in an AI-Enabled World
The third theme examines how artificial intelligence is changing children’s lives.
The fellowship welcomes research into how AI affects children up to 18 years old, including its effects on:
- Learning
- Development
- Wellbeing
- Inclusion
- Relationships
- Social and emotional development
AI and Adult-Child Connection
Researchers can examine how AI changes interactions between children and the adults who support them.
AI and Social and Emotional Development
Research can investigate how children’s use of AI for advice, reassurance and reflection may affect their social and emotional development.
AI and Productive Struggle in Learning
Applicants can study how AI affects motivation, engagement and persistence in learning.
Differential Effects of AI
Research can investigate whether AI increases or reduces existing differences in children’s learning, participation and access to support.
Can the Research Include Play?
Yes, but it is not mandatory.
Applicants may explore the role of play where it is relevant to their research question.
The source specifically states that considering play is optional and not a condition of eligibility.
LEGO Foundation Fellowship Funding
The fellowship provides USD 300,000 over three years, inclusive of 15% indirect costs.
The funds are awarded to and administered by the fellow’s host institution.
Allowable research-related costs include:
- Research personnel
- Professional travel
- Equipment
- Dissemination
- Trainee support
- Related project costs
Is the USD 300,000 a Personal Salary?
No.
The USD 300,000 is research fellowship funding, administered by the fellow’s host institution. It should not be described as a USD 300,000 personal salary or stipend.
LEGO Foundation Fellowship Duration
The fellowship period runs from:
February 1, 2027 to December 31, 2029.
The fellowship therefore provides approximately three years of research support.
How Many Fellowships Are Available?
The 2026 programme offers up to 10 fellowships.
Who Can Apply for the LEGO Foundation Fellowship?
The fellowship is open to early- and mid-career researchers from around the world who are employed by a university or research institute and received their PhD or equivalent research doctorate within the previous 10 years.
Applicants should demonstrate:
- A strong research record relative to career stage
- A clear and original research agenda
- Strong methodological grounding
- A feasible research plan
- Potential to generate evidence that informs action for children
- Interest in engaging with an interdisciplinary fellowship cohort
LEGO Foundation Fellowship Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must meet several formal requirements.
PhD Requirement
Applicants must hold a PhD or equivalent research doctorate by July 31, 2026.
PhD Date
The doctorate must have been received no earlier than January 1, 2016, subject to any approved career-break policy.
Employment
Applicants must be employed by a university or research institute at the start of the fellowship.
Host Institution
The applicant must be able to have fellowship funds administered by their host institution.
Individual Application
Each application must be submitted by an individual applicant.
Research Alignment
The proposed research must align with at least one of the fellowship’s three themes.
These formal requirements are specified by the fellowship application information.
LEGO Foundation Fellowship for International Researchers
The fellowship is open internationally.
The programme states that applicants from any country are welcome to apply, except countries subject to EU or US sanctions.
If an applicant’s country is not on either sanctions list, they are eligible to apply regardless of where they are located.
LEGO Foundation Fellowship for African Researchers
Researchers based in African countries can apply provided their country meets the fellowship’s eligibility conditions.
The programme does not identify a separate African quota.
The key country-level restriction stated in the source is that applicants must not be from countries subject to EU or US sanctions.
LEGO Foundation Fellowship Eligible Disciplines
The fellowship welcomes researchers across disciplines and methods.
Relevant fields identified by the programme include:
- Education
- Psychology
- Child development
- Public health
- Economics
- Sociology
- Neuroscience
- Data science
- Humanitarian studies
- Disability studies
- Human-computer interaction
- Implementation science
This list is not exhaustive.
LEGO Foundation Fellowship Selection Criteria
Applications are assessed using several criteria.
Alignment With Fellowship Themes
The proposed work must clearly align with one of the three research themes and advance understanding of children’s thriving.
Clarity and Strength
Applicants must clearly explain the research question, problem or area of inquiry, why it matters and what gap the research addresses.
Applicant Readiness
Reviewers consider the applicant’s experience, achievements, judgment and capacity relative to their career stage and context.
Approach and Feasibility
The research approach must be appropriate to the question, context and population.
Research Quality
The proposed work must be rigorous and methodologically sound.
Field Context and Contribution
Applicants should position their research within relevant research, debates, communities or practice.
Fellowship Fit
Applicants should explain why the fellowship is timely for their work and how they would contribute to the fellowship cohort.
LEGO Foundation Fellowship Application Requirements
The application requires several documents.
Applicants must submit:
- Online application form
- Resume or CV with a two-page limit
- Research abstract of up to 250 words
- Personal statement of up to 500 words
- Research proposal of up to five pages
- Completed budget
- Budget justification
- Selected bibliography of up to two pages
LEGO Foundation Fellowship Personal Statement
The personal statement has a 500-word limit.
It should explain:
- The applicant’s inspiration for pursuing research into childhood development.
- How the proposed research will contribute to scholarly knowledge.
- How the research will support the applicant’s capacity for leadership in moving discovery into practice.
LEGO Foundation Research Proposal
The research proposal has a five-page limit.
It should address areas including:
Relevance
Clearly explain the research question.
Original Contribution
Describe the practical implications and how the findings could be useful to scholars, practitioners and/or policymakers.
Methods
Explain:
- Research methods
- Data collection
- Data analysis
- Reliability of data and analysis
- Reasons for selecting the methodology
- IRB approval plans where human subjects are involved
Feasibility
Explain anticipated practical, conceptual and logistical challenges and how they will be addressed.
Work to Date
Provide a brief description of relevant research already completed and any preliminary analysis supporting the proposed work.
LEGO Foundation Fellowship Application Deadline
The application deadline for the 2026 fellowship is:
July 31, 2026 at 11:59 EST.
Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.
Applications opened on June 1, 2026.
LEGO Foundation Fellowship Selection Process
The selection process has two evaluation stages.
During the first stage, an international and multidisciplinary committee of childhood development specialists reviews applications and nominates finalists.
During the second stage, the LEGO Foundation’s review committee selects the grantees.
Applicants are expected to be informed of their status in November 2026.
LEGO Foundation Fellowship Cohort
Successful fellows will join a cohort of researchers working across the fellowship themes.
The programme provides opportunities for:
- Exchange
- Feedback
- Collaboration
- Sharing evidence
- Interaction with researchers
- Interaction with practitioners
- Engagement with relevant policy and practice audiences
What Are LEGO Foundation Fellows Expected to Do?
Fellows are expected to:
- Dedicate sustained time to their proposed research agenda.
- Participate in fellowship meetings and virtual cohort sessions.
- Share work in progress.
- Contribute constructively to discussions with other fellows.
- Submit annual progress updates.
- Submit a final report.
- Acknowledge fellowship support in publications and presentations.
- Participate in LEGO Foundation coverage and dissemination of their research.
- Follow relevant ethical, safeguarding, data protection and institutional requirements.
LEGO Foundation Fellowship Additional Benefits
Beyond the research funding, fellows receive access to a wider professional network.
Benefits include:
- Research funding
- Research personnel support
- Professional travel
- Equipment support
- Dissemination support
- Trainee support
- Interdisciplinary fellowship cohort
- Exchange with other fellows
- Opportunities to engage with researchers and practitioners
- Participation in LEGO Foundation convenings
- Media channels for disseminating research
- Recognition within the LEGO Foundation network
Is the LEGO Foundation Fellowship Fully Funded?
The programme provides USD 300,000 in flexible research funding over three years, including 15% indirect costs.
However, this should be understood as research funding administered by the fellow’s host institution rather than a personal fully funded scholarship.
The source does not state that all personal living expenses, relocation costs or international travel are automatically covered.
Is the LEGO Foundation Fellowship a Scholarship?
It is more accurately described as a research fellowship rather than a conventional student scholarship.
It is intended for researchers who already hold a PhD or equivalent research doctorate and are employed by a university or research institute.
LEGO Foundation Fellowship for Data Scientists
Data science is specifically listed among relevant fields.
Researchers using data science to investigate children’s learning, development, wellbeing, inclusion, crisis contexts or AI-related issues may therefore find the fellowship relevant, provided their proposed work aligns with one of the three themes.
LEGO Foundation Fellowship and AI Research
The AI-enabled world theme makes the fellowship particularly relevant to researchers examining the impact of artificial intelligence on children.
Potential areas include:
- AI and learning
- AI and motivation
- AI and social development
- AI and adult-child relationships
- AI and inclusion
- AI’s differential effects on children
The research must still address children’s thriving and align with the stated fellowship theme.
LEGO Foundation Fellowship and Child Development
Child development is central to the fellowship.
The programme is designed around understanding how children can thrive across different contexts, including environments affected by conflict, neurodivergence and technological change.
Child development is also explicitly listed among the relevant disciplines.
LEGO Foundation Fellowship for Public Health Researchers
Public health is one of the disciplines identified by the fellowship.
Researchers examining child health, wellbeing, mental health, development or related public-health questions can consider applying if their research fits one of the three themes.
LEGO Foundation Fellowship for Education Researchers
Education is also specifically identified as a relevant field.
Education researchers can propose work concerning inclusive learning, children in crisis, neurodivergent learners or the impact of AI on learning and development.
LEGO Foundation Fellowship Frequently Asked Questions
What is the LEGO Foundation Fellowship?
It is a global research fellowship supporting early- and mid-career researchers studying children’s thriving.
How much funding does the fellowship provide?
The fellowship provides USD 300,000 over three years, inclusive of 15% indirect costs.
How many fellowships are available?
Up to 10 fellowships are available.
Who administers the fellowship?
The fellowship is administered through the Social Science Research Council.
Who funds the fellowship?
The LEGO Foundation.
Who can apply?
Early- and mid-career researchers employed by a university or research institute who meet the PhD requirements and propose research aligned with the fellowship themes.
Do I need a PhD?
Yes. Applicants must hold a PhD or equivalent research doctorate by July 31, 2026.
How old can my PhD be?
The PhD must have been received no earlier than January 1, 2016, subject to an approved career-break policy.
Can international researchers apply?
Yes. Applicants from any country are welcome except countries subject to EU or US sanctions.
Can African researchers apply?
Yes, provided their country is not subject to the specified sanctions restrictions and they meet the other eligibility requirements.
What are the three research themes?
The themes are:
- Youngest children in crisis and conflict settings.
- Inclusion and wellbeing of neurodivergent children.
- Children’s learning and development in an AI-enabled world.
Is play required?
No. Play can be incorporated where relevant, but it is optional.
What is the application deadline?
July 31, 2026, at 11:59 EST.
When did applications open?
June 1, 2026.
When does the fellowship begin?
February 1, 2027.
When does the fellowship end?
December 31, 2029.
What documents are required?
Applicants need an online application, two-page CV, 250-word research abstract, 500-word personal statement, five-page research proposal, budget and justification, and a two-page selected bibliography.
How are applications evaluated?
There are two evaluation stages involving an international multidisciplinary committee and the LEGO Foundation review committee.
When will applicants be notified?
The source says applicants will be informed of their status in November 2026.
Does the fellowship provide a personal salary?
The source describes USD 300,000 as fellowship research funding administered by the host institution. It does not describe the amount as a personal salary.
Can researchers from any discipline apply?
The fellowship welcomes applications across disciplines, methods and geographies, provided the proposed research fits the fellowship themes.
LEGO Foundation Fellowship Application Checklist
Before submitting an application, prospective applicants should ensure that they:
- Hold a PhD or equivalent research doctorate by July 31, 2026.
- Received the doctorate no earlier than January 1, 2016, subject to the career-break policy.
- Are employed by a university or research institute.
- Have a research agenda aligned with at least one fellowship theme.
- Prepare a two-page CV.
- Prepare a 250-word research abstract.
- Prepare a 500-word personal statement.
- Prepare a research proposal within the five-page limit.
- Complete the required budget.
- Prepare the budget justification.
- Prepare the selected bibliography within the two-page limit.
- Confirm eligibility based on country restrictions.
- Submit the application before July 31, 2026 at 11:59 EST.
Opportunities Feed Verdict
Opportunities Feed Verdict: The LEGO Foundation Fellowship is a high-value research opportunity for early- and mid-career researchers working on children’s development, education, public health, neurodiversity, humanitarian settings, data science, AI and related areas.
The headline feature is the USD 300,000 research funding package over three years, with up to 10 fellowships available. Importantly, this is research funding administered through the fellow’s host institution rather than a personal USD 300,000 salary.
The fellowship is particularly relevant in 2026 because its three themes address major contemporary issues affecting children: crisis and conflict, neurodivergence, and AI-enabled learning and development.
Eligibility is also relatively broad geographically. Researchers from any country can apply except those subject to EU or US sanctions, while applicants must meet the programme’s doctorate and institutional employment requirements.
For researchers interested in AI and children, the third theme is especially notable. It provides a research pathway for studying how AI affects children’s learning, social and emotional development, relationships and inequalities.
The 2026 application window opened on June 1, 2026 and closes on July 31, 2026 at 11:59 EST, with the fellowship period scheduled for February 2027 through December 2029.
Researchers should therefore focus their applications on a clear, original and methodologically rigorous research question and demonstrate how the proposed work can generate evidence that informs action for children.
Official Application
The fellowship application is administered through the Social Science Research Council.
LEGO Foundation Fellowship Application Portal
SSRC LEGO Foundation Fellowship Page
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