The Global Development Fellowship is an initiative of Imperial College London (ICL) for candidates from low-income countries.
The ICL Global Development Fellowship provides a monthly stipend of £1,900, a one-off £200 payment on arrival in the UK, return economy class travel, as well as payment for the standard visa application.
In this post, we will discuss the details of the fellowship, what it requires, the benefits, and the step-by-step application procedure for interested candidates.
ICL Global Development Fellowship Summary
- Host Country: United Kingdom (UK)
- Study Abroad: Study in UK
- Category: Postgraduate Scholarships | PhD Scholarships | Fellowships
- Eligible Countries: Least Developed or Lower Middle Income Countries
- Reward: Full Scholarship | £1,900 Monthly Stipend | Travel & Visa Costs
- No IELTS Required
- Deadline: November 28, 2025
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Details of Imperial College London Global Development Fellowship:
Applications for the Global Development Fellowships are now open.
The Global Development Fellowship intends to support high impact, short term placements for PhD students from Least Developed and Lower Middle-Income Countries, to spend time at Imperial College London.
With support of their PhD supervisor, and a host supervisor at Imperial, students from a Least Developed or Lower Middle Income Country (as specified by the OECD ODA Recipients list) will have the opportunity to spend between 2 and 4 months at Imperial.
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Eligibility Requirements for Imperial College London Fellowship 2026
To be considered for the Imperial College London Global Development Fellowship, you must:
- Be a current doctoral student.
- Be a passport holder and be a permanent resident of a Least Developed (LDC) or Lower Middle Income Country (LMIC), as specified by the OECD ODA Recipients List. Please note, this does not include Upper Middle Income Countries. *
- Be currently studying for your PhD at in institution in an LDC or LMIC country.
- Be over 12 months into their PhD at the time the placement takes place.
- Have a Letter of Support from an academic host supervisor at Imperial. The supervisor should ensure that the Letter of Support is signed by the Head of Department.
- Have a Letter of Recommendation from their own supervisor.
The Letter of Recommendation from the applicant’s supervisor should include recognition that the student possesses a sufficient level of English to effectively undertake the placement.
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Benefits of Imperial College London Global Development Fellowship 2026
Placements can be 2 to 4 months and must take place before 31 July 2026, in agreement with the host department/institute. Placements must start in March 2026.
The Fund will provide:
- A monthly stipend of £1,900
- A one-off £200 payment on arrival in the UK
- Return economy class travel
- Payment for the standard visa application and Biometrics Residence Permit
- Financial support for travel to the visa application centres
Required Documents for Global Development Fellowship
To apply, candidates must be ready to submit the following documents;
- Details on background to show how they meet the eligibility criteria (included in application form).
- A letter of recommendation from the home institution, preferably from the PhD supervisor or advisor, addressing the applicants’ skills and suitability for the placement. This letter should also include confirmation that the applicant possesses a sufficient level of English, to carry out the placement.
- A letter of support from the hosting supervisor at Imperial in the proposed host department/institute detailing training and support that will be provided. This must be signed by the Head of Department.
- Answer the following questions (in the application form):
- Please provide a ‘layperson’ summary of your PhD work (200 words):
- What will you do during your research placement and how will it add value to your PhD? (500 words):
- Please explain how you will take advantage of this opportunity at Imperial to enhance your personal and professional skills, competencies and networks (250 words):
How to Apply for Imperial College London Global Development Fellowship 2026 (Step by Step)
To apply for the Imperial College London Global Development Fellowship, interested and qualified candidates should;
- Click the green button below to go to the fellowship webpage.
- Potential applicants should browse Imperial’s webpages to review the potential host department/institutes, based on what best aligns with their PhD research focus.
- Applicants should then contact academics directly to explore the possibility of a placement.
- A letter template that applicants can use to contact potential supervisors can be found here: Template Letter for Potential Supervisors – Global Development Fellowship
Candidates’ letters of recommendation and letters of support must be emailed to gdhfellowsfund@imperial.ac.uk
Deadline: November 28, 2025
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