The University’s FLF Masterclass Series 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 2 (this session) is an FLF proposal writing seminar on what makes a strong FLF application, to include exercises and discussions.
Writing a strong FLF sift outline will also be covered. Contributors will include Professor Alex Dumbrell from the School of Life Sciences, Essex’s FLF award holders and Research Development Managers (RDMs).
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This course is primarily aimed at Essex-based early career academics who are seriously considering making an FLF application in Round 11 (2026), and those supporting their applications. We should note that, regretfully, for Round 11, the University of Essex is unable to support FLF applications from external candidates or internal candidates not on permanent contracts.
This course is not suitable for UG or PG students.
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Please note that this boking is just for Session 2 of the UoE Future Leaders Fellowships Masterclass. Session 3 – a FLF-writing workshop – will be bookable separately, and booking details will also be found on HR Organiser (session title: “University of Essex Future Leaders Fellowships Masterclass: Session 3 - FLF writing workshop”). Please
note that candidates wishing to attend sessions 2 and 3 should also have attended any previous sessions.
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.
To provide an overview of what both UKRI and the University's sift panel are looking for in an FLF application, including a breakdown of the different application sections.
To provide examples of good and bad practice in preparing an FLF application (full and sift).
To provide direct support from FLF award holders and senior academics who are involved in UKRI and internal sift panels for the FLF.
To provide an opportunity for candidates to discuss and ask questions about making a FLF application, and about the University’s sift process.
Pre-Work
Candidates should be seriously considering making an FLF application in Round 11 (2026), should be familiar with the scheme, and should be in discussion with their DoR, HoD and networks about their application (mandatory). It is also recommended that attendees should have attended session 1 (General Information Webinar / Q&A).
Candidates are also encouraged to submit questions about writing an FLF application (or FLF sift application) in advance (by 19th November) so that the contributors can address any FAQ effectively and efficiently; however, this is optional, and there will be ample opportunity for questions and discussions during the session.
Beyond this, no formal preparatory work required, but candidates should be actively developing their idea for their FLF proposal.
Round 11 is expected to open early in 2026, 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 10 (please note that scheme details and out internal sift process might be modified for future rounds).
• UKRI FLF Round 10 website: https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/futureleaders-fellowships-round-10/
• 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