Global Development Fellowship 2026 at Imperial College | Fully Funded

The Global Development Fellowship is a short-term research placement scheme designed to support PhD students from Least Developed Countries (LDCs) or Lower Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) to spend time at Imperial College London. The aim is to strengthen international research partnerships, enhance the fellow’s doctoral work, and support development-impact research in global development settings.

Placements are based at Imperial’s campus in London and typically last 2-4 months.

Global Development Fellowship Summary

Benefits of the Global Development Fellowship

The fellowship provides several types of support:

• Monthly stipend to help cover living costs in London.
• Return economy class airfare to/from the UK.
• Visa application fee + biometric residence permit fee covered; travel to visa-appointment centers also supported.
• Arrival allowance (a one-off payment) to assist on arrival in the UK.
• Access to Imperial’s research facilities, supervision, and networks — helping boost the applicant’s PhD and future career.
• The scheme is fully funded for the placement period (excluding accommodation) for eligible students.

Note: Accommodation costs in London are not covered by the fellowship; fellows must arrange and fund accommodation themselves.

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Eligibility Requirements for the Global Development Fellowship at Imperial

Key criteria are as follows:

• You must be registered for a doctoral (PhD) program at an institution in an LDC or LMIC.
• You must hold a passport and be a permanent resident of that LDC or LMIC.
• You must be more than 12 months into your PhD when the placement takes place.
• Your home institution must be in an LDC or LMIC, and you must be studying there studying in an upper-middle or high-income country makes you ineligible.
• You must secure a host supervisor at Imperial College London who agrees to host you, and you also need a letter of support from your home institution supervisor.
• Because of UK immigration and security regulations, depending on your research area, you may need an ATAS certificate (Academic Technology Approval Scheme). It’s your responsibility to check with your Imperial host.

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Required Documents for Imperial College Global Development Fellowship

• Completed application form.
• Letter of support from your home institution supervisor (confirming your PhD status, your English language proficiency, and your suitability).
• Letter of support (or commitment) from your proposed host supervisor at Imperial, signed/co-signed by the Head of Department or equivalent, confirming they will host you and support your placement.
• Evidence of your current enrolment in the PhD program at your home institution (in an LDC/LMIC).
• (If required) Documentation related to UK visa/ATAS application (for the months you will be in the UK), you may need to start the ATAS application in parallel.
• Your current CV, possibly a transcript of your PhD progress to date, and a short research summary (and, if required, a lay summary).
• Passport and residence status evidence (showing you are a resident in the LDC/LMIC).

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How to Apply for the Global Development Fellowship

1. Identify and contact a potential host supervisor at Imperial whose research aligns with your PhD topic. This must be done in advance because the host must agree to supervise you and provide a letter of support.
2. Obtain a letter of support from your home institution’s PhD supervisor confirming your registration and suitability (along with English proficiency assurance) and their support for your placement.
3. Complete the application form, providing required details including: your PhD summary, how the placement would add value, how you will benefit, etc. Provide all required documents.
4. Submit your application by the stated deadline (for the 2025-26 cycle: 28 November 2025 at 23:59 GMT).
5. If required, start your UK visa/ATAS process early (since you cannot start placement until all necessary approvals are in place).
6. After selection, make arrangements for your placement, travel, accommodation, etc, in consultation with your host supervisor and the College’s International Relations Office.

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Review Process at Imperial College London

• Applications are evaluated by the Global Development Fellowship Committee (with relevant Imperial faculty representation).
• The review considers factors such as: academic merit, relevance of research to development impact, the added value of the placement for the student’s PhD, the international partnership potential, and fair geographical representation of awardees.
• Applicants will be informed by email once decisions are made.

Note: Some placements may require ATAS clearance; delays there may affect eligibility to begin the placement.

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Important Dates & Duration

• Application deadline for the 2025-26 cycle: Friday 28 November 2025 (23:59 GMT).
• Placement start date: March 2026.
• Placement must be completed by 31 July 2026.
• Duration of the placement: 2 to 4 months.