This Masterclass runs over three separate sessions and aims to support our early career academics who are considering making an application to UKRI’s Future Leaders Fellowships (FLF), to share good practice, help them understand and navigate the scheme and upskill them in order to maximise their chances of making a successful application.
Session 1 (this session) will include an overview of the scheme and internal sift process, insights from Essex’s FLF award holders, and an open group Q&A session. There will also be half an hour set aside for candidates to ask questions privately after the main webinar and group Q&A.
This course is primarily aimed at Essex-based early career academics who are considering making an application to Round 12 of UKRI’s Future Leaders Fellowships (FLF), and those supporting their applications. Candidates interested in applying to a future round, and those wanting to learn about the scheme, are also welcome to attend.
We should note that, regretfully, for Round 12, the University of Essex is unable to support FLF applications from external candidates or internal candidates not on permanent contracts.
(Please note that this booking is just for Session 1 of the UoE Future Leaders Fellowships Masterclass. Sessions 2 and 3 will be aimed at writing a strong FLF sift outline and proposal, and will include a seminar and a workshop; these sessions will be bookable separately, and booking details will be published in due course. Please note that we recommended that candidates wishing to attend sessions 2 and 3 also attend the previous sessions.)
Objectives:
Overarching aim: To support early career academics who are considering making an application to UKRI’s Future Leaders Fellowships (FLF) in order to maximise their chances of making a successful application.
1. To provide an overview of the FLF scheme to help our candidates better understand the scheme and what UKRI are looking for.
2. To provide an overview of the FLF application process and our internal sift.
3. To provide insights from those with direct experience of winning an FLF award.
4. To provide an opportunity for candidates to discuss and ask questions about the scheme and the University’s sift process, both in an open discussion session and privately.
Pre-work
Candidates should have familiarised themselves with the scheme, and discussed their interest with their DoR / HoD (mandatory).
Candidates are also encouraged to submit questions in advance (by 2nd November) so that the panel can address any FAQ effectively and efficiently; however, this is optional, and questions will be taken during the Q&A session.
Beyond this, no formal pre-work is required.
Round 12 is expected to open in February 2027, but please refer to UKRI’s FLF websites and the University’s dedicated FLF webpage to learn about the scheme and our sift process for Round 11 (please note that scheme details and out internal sift process might be modified for future rounds).
UKRI FLF Round 11 website: https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/future-leaders-fellowship-round-11/
UKRI general FLF website: https://www.ukri.org/what-we-do/ developing-people-and-skills/future-leaders fellowships/
University FLF website: https://www.essex.ac.uk/research/fellowships/ukri-future-leaders-fellowships
Target audience
Essex-based early career academics who are considering making an application to Round 12 of UKRI’s Future Leaders Fellowships (FLF). Candidates interested in applying to a future round are also welcome to attend.
This course is not suitable for UG or PG students.
Regretfully, for Round 12, the University of Essex is unable to support FLF applications from external candidates or internal candidates not on permanent contracts.
The webinar will be recorded.
If candidates have any enquiries, or to submit any advance questions, please can they send them to the Essex UKRI Future Leaders mailbox at ukrifutureleaders@essex.ac.uk