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ROUTE 1:  For Marie Curie applications

At least 8 weeks before funder deadline

Please contact a member of academic staff within the Department who is involved in research in your area of interest. You will need to ask if they would be able to act as your sponsor – this is an important role as your sponsor will guide you through your application to submission and will need to host you in their research space within the Molecular Sciences Research Hub.

At least 6 weeks before funder deadline

Please contact chemfellowships@imperial.ac.uk highlighting your intention to apply and confirming the name of your mentor. We will need to confirm this with them and that they are able to host you in their research space. 

10 working days before funder deadline

Work with your mentor and the Department's costing team to prepare the costing for your application. Completing your costing can be a lengthy process so please liaise with Angie Cass, Research Operations Manager (a.cass@imperial.ac.uk), at least 10 working days before the funder's deadline to start this process. You will need to have finalised your costings at least 5 working days in advance of the funder’s deadline to allow your application to be fully checked with College's central Research Office pre-submission.

ROUTE 2: For independent fellowship applications, capped applications (including Royal Commission 1851) and/or those requiring Departmental contribution (e.g. Royal Society URFs and Wellcome Trust Early Career Fellowships) 

Each request for support must undergo internal peer review so that we can make a decision on whether or not we will be able to support your application. For these Fellowships, we invite applicants to submit an expression of interest at 5 points during the year:

• 12 June 2026, 9.00am* [see below for RS URF applications]
• 11 September 2026, 9.00am** [see below for RC 1851 applications]
• 20 November 2026, 9.00am***  [see below for RS Newton International applications]
• 15 January 2027, 9.00am
• 12 March 2027, 9.00am

Your expression of interest must be submitted to chemfellowships@imperial.ac.uk by the relevant Departmental deadline (~2 months in advance of the funder deadline) and must comprise:

• A draft costing for your application. Please request a costing form (via chemfellowships@imperial.ac.uk) at least 5 working days before the internal deadline. Please submit the completed costing form with your expression of interest. 
• A 2-page (max.) CV
• A 2-page (max.) summary of your proposed research including your space requirements (in particular, bench space requirements and any large equipment requests) and briefly summarising: 'Why you', 'Why this research' and 'Why Imperial'. For candidates wishing to remain at Imperial, please also briefly explain your planned route to independence and your key reasons for staying. Any references should be included in the 2-page limit.

Please note that independent fellows will need to identify an academic mentor but this doesn't have to be finalised at the point of application to the Departmental/internal round. Once awarded their independent fellowship (e.g. URF), fellows will occupy space in their mentor's research group initially and have the opportunity to gain independent research space during the life of their fellowship. 

* Applications for Royal Society URFs

Please apply to the 12 June deadline with: 1) a 2-page research proposal (see above for key points to include) and 2) 2-page CV. A Departmental panel will consider applications. Applicants who are shortlisted will have the opportunity to prepare a costing once the Royal Society call opens in July. 

** Applications to the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 Fellowship

Please apply by the 11 September deadline with 1) a 2-page research proposal (see above for key points to include) and 2) 2-page CV. A Departmental panel will consider applications. Applicants who are shortlisted will have the opportunity to prepare a costing once the Royal Commission call opens in October.

*** Applications to the Royal Society Newton International Fellowships

Please apply by the 20 November deadline with 1) estimated costs (see above for contact details), 2) a 2-page research proposal (see above for key points to include) and 3) 2-page CV. A Departmental panel will consider applications. Due to the requirement for financial contribution from the Department, research expenses for this scheme are capped at £10k per year.

Other fellowships 

If the fellowship for which you wish to apply is not listed, please contact chemfellowships@imperial.ac.uk to enquire whether it can be supported. UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship applications follow a separate university-administered process.  

Decision criteria 

Decisions to support all applications are made by a Departmental panel based on 1) budget constraints (some fellowships require significant financial contributions from the Department), 2) the quality of the applications (judged on the relevant scheme criteria), and 3) fit to the Department.

We typically receive many high-quality applications per scheme making processes competitive. Please note that if budget is not available or the quality of applications is not sufficiently high, the Department may end up not supporting any candidate in a given round.