UK grant · UK Research and Innovation, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
Mathematical Sciences Early Independence Fellowship (Fellowship)
Up to £1,250,000 Closes 31 March 2027
Official listing and how to apply
Source: Find a Grant (GOV.UK) · Last checked
Key facts
| Funder | UK Research and Innovation, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
|---|---|
| Amount per award | Up to £1,250,000 |
| Total funding available | £999,999,999 |
| Opens | 21 May 2026 |
| Closes | 31 March 2027 (141 days left) |
| Who can apply | Businesses, Public sector and councils, Charities and non-profits |
| Applicant types listed | Public Sector; Non-profit; Private Sector |
| Nation or region | National |
| Status | Open |
| Source | Find a Grant (GOV.UK) |
| Last checked | 10 November 2026 |
About this grant
Summary from the official listing on Find a Grant (GOV.UK):
Apply for an early independence fellowship to support your career transition within the Fellowship investment framework. Most of your project’s research novelty must be in EPSRC’s mathematical sciences remit.
You must have:
- a PhD and postdoctoral experience
- plans for establishing independence in your own research niche
You must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for EPSRC funding.
The full economic cost (FEC) of your project can be up to £1,250,000. EPSRC will fund 80% of the FEC.
Projects are for up to five years and may be held part-time.
Fellowships with a plus element have an additional focus on enhancing research environment and culture.
Eligibility
This opportunity is open to organisations with standard eligibility. Check if your organisation is eligible.
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) standard eligibility rules apply. For full details, visit EPSRC’s eligibility page.
Applications are welcomed from applicants of all nationalities, including those not currently located in the UK, however, this is subject to the fellowship being based at an eligible UK research organisation.
Who is eligible to apply
To be eligible to apply, you must:
- have completed a PhD with additional postdoctoral experience or equivalent
- show early evidence of capability to be a leading and active researcher
- show evidence of relevant skills, experience, career development and productivity across past appointments
There are no eligibility rules based on years since PhD or whether the applicant currently holds a permanent or open-ended academic position or job role.
Who is not eligible to apply
You are not eligible to apply if:
- you are an established academic (academics who have demonstrated sustained career independence)
- you have held a position where you directed the research vision and supervised postdoctoral staff (more than 12 months)
- you have another application for a UKRI fellowship of this type or an EPSRC new investigator award that is currently being assessed
- you have part of the fellowship project as a grant application with any organisation and your application is being assessed
- you have been awarded a comparable fellowship supporting early independence or a new investigator award from any organisation
- you have secured grants as a project lead, that include support for and leading of research staff such as postdoctoral research associates as this would indicate you have already made the step-change to independence. This excludes Mathematical Sciences Small Grants due to the short-term nature of the grant
We encourage applications from candidates who have taken a non-standard career path after their first degree.
We also welcome applications from candidates who want to move back into research after a career break or any other type of break from active research.
Research organisations
We expect research organisations to actively use an inclusive approach to selecting and maximising the diversity of the candidates they intend to support. UKRI expects that host organisations consider diversity broadly to include discipline, backgrounds, career paths, thought and approach as well as
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