Churchill Fellowship — Fellowship

The Churchill Fellowship funds individuals to learn from practitioners in other countries and apply those insights to an issue in UK society. Fellows undertake 4–8 weeks of overseas or online learning on a topic they define.

Projects can sit within a current thematic programme or the Open option. After the learning period, Fellows are expected to share their findings and turn them into practical action for a UK community or professional sector.

Benefits & funding

Each grant is calculated individually, with the aim of fully covering overseas or online research costs for 4–8 weeks.
Eligible costs include travel, accommodation, food, insurance, visas and vaccinations; interpreters, personal assistants and conference fees may be covered case by case.
Fellows receive planning and knowledge-sharing support, access to Fellows’ networks and potential follow-up grants for putting learning into action.

Eligibility

Applicants must be UK citizens with proof of citizenship and must live in the UK.
Applicants must be at least 18 when submitting or turn 18 by the end of 2026; there is no upper age limit.
No academic qualification is required, but applicants should have lived or learned experience of the issue they want to address.
The project must require learning from other countries and offer practical benefit to a UK community or professional sector.
Applications are individual only; existing Churchill Fellows cannot apply again.

Can you apply?

Here's who can apply

Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.

Eligible nationalities
UK
Residence required
UK

Check my eligibility — free

Circlebreaker is a free database of global fellowships, scholarships and programs — every one decoded like this.

We only check the criteria we have data for. Always confirm full eligibility on the official page before applying.

Application process

1
Choose the thematic programme that best matches the project, or use the Open option, and outline the UK need, overseas learning locations and intended practical action.
2
Submit the online application by midday on 20 October 2026; no budget is required at the initial stage.
3
Longlisted applicants hear in December 2026; those shortlisted in February 2027 submit a detailed form, budget and two references from people who have known them for at least 12 months.
4
Attend a fixed programme interview in April or May 2027; award decisions follow in June.

Program timeline

Applications open at 9:30am.
Sep 1, 2026
Applications close at midday.
Oct 20, 2026
Longlisting results.
December 2026
Shortlisting results and requests for detailed forms and references.
February 2027
Interviews.
April–May 2027
Award decisions.
June 2027
Public announcement and networking event.
July 2027
Fellows may begin their learning.
Aug 1, 2027
Latest date to complete overseas learning.
Sep 30, 2028