Exeter Fellowship Hub 

What is a fellowship?

Fellowships provide funding to individual applicants, giving them the protected time and resources to pursue independent research. Fellowships emphasise career development and support the transition to research independence.  

Fellowships focus on three equally important elements: project, person and place. 

1. Project - what is the research you are looking to undertake – why is it important, timely and relevant? 
2. Person - why are you the right person to undertake the research, why is now the right time and how will you become a leader in your field? 
3. Place - why Exeter?  How do our expertise, facilities and environment enhance your research and personal goals and development?  

It is important to understand the fellowship landscape and which schemes are relevant to your research area and career stage. 

• Different fellowships support researchers that may be earlier or later along their career path. There may be a limit on the time since you completed your PhD or you may need to have undertaken a certain amount of research already. 
• Some fellowships specifically aim to support mobility between countries whereas in others, if you are already connected with the university, you may be able to remain at Exeter, providing you can justify that this will benefit the research. 
• Fellowship remits can vary from broad and interdisciplinary through to those with more targeted focus areas. 
• In some fellowships you will undertake research largely independently whereas in others you will be able to establish your own research group by recruiting and supervising researchers, technicians, or other staff. 

Always check the scheme rules and guidance to ensure eligibility but remember that being eligible doesn’t necessarily make a given scheme the right choice. All fellowships are highly competitive. To maximise your chances of success it’s important to be selective and targeted in your approach, applying to the right scheme at the right time.  

Is a fellowship the right next step for me?

Let’s take a look at why you might consider applying for a fellowship and how to best prepare. 

If you intend to build a career in research and develop yourself as a future leader in your field, then a fellowship can provide you with protected time and funding to dedicate to your independent research.  

In an extremely competitive landscape, it’s important to understand which schemes to target and how to maximise your chances of success.  

Some key questions to consider are:

• Is your proposed research novel, timely and aligned to the funder’s strategic priorities? 
• Does your track record demonstrate that you are well placed to undertake the proposed research?  

In this context, your ‘track record’ extends beyond publications to include a wider range of outputs such as datasets, software and policy contributions. 

-  Have you supported the development of others through mentoring, teaching or supervision?  
-  Have you contributed to the wider research community through peer review, event organisation or leading collaborations?  
-  Have you engaged with wider audiences including policymakers or the public?  

• Is your track record showing an upward trajectory towards research leadership, with a carefully considered professional development plan in place?   
• Do you have a strong justification for the institution where you plan to undertake your research?  
• Do you have the commitment and drive to contribute to your wider research community? 
• Do you have the time to dedicate to developing a competitive bid?  

Developing a competitive fellowship proposal is time-intensive, involving a range of colleagues including mentors, internal reviewers and specialists in areas such as budgeting, data management and research facilities. A competitive fellowship application takes at least six months to develop. 

If you answer positively to these questions, then the Exeter Fellowship Hub is here to support you on your journey. 

Why hold your fellowship at the University of Exeter?

At the University of Exeter, we are committed to using the power of our strong, interdisciplinary research environment to create a sustainable, healthy and socially just future. Our Strategy 2030 and Research and Innovation Strategy both outline our vision and strengths and it’s vital that your proposed fellowship can align to and complement these. 

Our people are the heart of everything we do. Through the Exeter Fellowship Hub, we are building on our empowering and open research culture to support our diverse and valued community of Early Career Researchers. The Fellowship Hub is here to enable people to thrive on their journeys into, through and beyond a fellowship. Alongside our world-leading subject expertise and facilities, we offer a range of tailored support to our fellows including training, mentoring and wellbeing support. When you are trying to build a competitive academic research career, you are not alone at the University of Exeter. 

The historic cathedral city of Exeter, home to two of our campuses, is consistently ranked as one of the best places to live, work and study in the UK. A safe and walkable city, it has a thriving independent scene and is on the doorstep of the wild and rugged Dartmoor National Park as well as within close reach of stunning beaches and coastline. Our Penryn campus, located within 3 miles of the coastal town of Falmouth in Cornwall combines stunning natural surroundings with world-class research. Whichever part of the university aligns with your research ambitions, we hope you can build your life as well as your career with us. 

Transferring your fellowship to Exeter

Exeter offers a world class research environment and internationally renowned experts to support you in delivering your research, even if you did not develop your proposal or start your fellowship with us.  We welcome approaches from fellows who are considering transferring their existing live award to Exeter at any one of our three campuses including Streatham and St Luke’s in Exeter, or our Tremough Campus at Penryn near Falmouth, Cornwall.
 
The Research Development and Partnerships team will meet you to understand your research and your unique position and connect you with the most appropriate departmental Director of Research & Impact to discuss further and support any transition across relevant internal teams. Due to our interdisciplinary approach, this may be in a department where you already have collaborators or it might provide a new opportunity to develop your network. 
 
Please explore the Fellowship Hub website to find out more about the support we offer all our fellows through training, mentoring and community building, and contact rdandp@exeter.ac.uk to understand why Exeter would be a great place to host your fellowship