Applications are open for a round of the Nuffield Foundation POST Fellowship scheme. Open to any PhD students in a natural science or social science field who are undertaking or have recently finished their PhD studies. Apply by 23:55 on 23 March 2026.
POST and the Nuffield Foundation are offering a 13-week fellowship to PhD students who are undertaking or have recently completed their PhD study (‘recently completed’ applies to anyone whose university registration ended within the 12 months prior to 23 March 2026. The scheme is not open to those in the first year of their PhD).
Successful applicants will be based in UK Parliament, supporting its use of research evidence. Most fellows assist POST in providing briefing material for parliamentarians on emerging science topics. Work may include:
PhD Fellows are encouraged to interact closely with people and activities in the two Houses of Parliament, including Select Committees, MPs and Peers, their support services, ‘All-Party Parliamentary Group’ meetings and the very wide range of other activities at the Palace of Westminster.
The fellowship can be carried out full-time for three months or a part-time option can be arranged if required. Successful applicants will complete their fellowship during September – December 2026 or January – April 2027 with a start date to be agreed between the applicant, POST, the Nuffield foundation and the applicants supervisor.
The Nuffield Foundation POST Fellowship is open to any PhD student working in a social science (or natural science) field. They may be undertaking or have recently completed their PhD study. ‘Recently completed’ applies to anyone whose university registration ended within the 12 months prior to the publication of this call for applications. The scheme is not open to those in the first year of their PhD. The full person specification can be found in the application guidance.
Successful candidates will be required to complete pre-employment checks. This includes security vetting to Counter Terrorist Check (CTC) level. All successful candidates are required to pass these checks before an offer can be confirmed.
It is important that you download and read the application pack before applying, as it contains more details on the role, application process, and assessment criteria.
Applicants should submit:
Download the two-page briefing template
Please email your two-page briefing and completed approval form to postfellowships@parliament.uk.
Applications will undergo an initial sift on the basis of two-page briefing.
The deadline for applications is 23:55, 23 March 2026. Interviews will be held in March/April 2026.
Successful applicants will receive a grant totalling £8,000, paid in two instalments. The first instalment of £4,000 will be paid before the start of their Fellowship and the second instalment of £4,000 will be at the halfway point of the Fellowship. The award is intended to cover the Fellow’s travel and accommodation costs during the Fellowship and reimbursement of their PhD stipend. The full £8,000 is available to all PhD students and Fellows whose PhD period has concluded. More information can be found in the application guidance (download the application guidance).
You should speak directly to your university finance office if you have any questions about how the £8,000 grant may impact your personal finances.
What is a POST fellowship? Who can apply for it? Who pays for it? We have put together a page with answers to some of the most frequently asked questions we get about POST fellowships.
If you have a question that is not answered in the application pack or our frequently asked questions page, please contact Natasha Mutebi at mutebin@parliament.uk or Ben Brown, at bbrown@nuffieldfoundation.org.
Photo by: Jessie Hsu via Unsplash
Applications are open for the 2026/2027 British Ecological Society (BES) Fellowship. Open to British Ecological Society members currently studying for a PhD in a UK university. Apply by 23:59 on Wednesday 10 June 2026.
POST and Midlands Innovation are offering two 13-week fellowships to PhD students registered at participating Midlands Innovation institutions, whose PhD is related to either the social sciences, or life sciences, health sciences and medicine. Application closed 31 May 2026.
This fellowship scheme is in collaboration with the British Psychological Society. It provides an opportunity for a postgraduate psychologist to be seconded to POST and support the creation of psychology-related briefing materials for MPs and peers. Apply by 18th May 2026 (22.55)
