University Research Fellowships

A University Research Fellowship (URF) award enables award enables academic staff (pathway 1) to carry out strategic research activity, lasting up to twelve months. The financial support covers the costs of replacement teaching, assessment, and clinical responsibilities during that period, and, at the discretion of the Head of School, may also be used to cover related expenses.

The URF nomination process for 2026/27 applicants will remain the same as for 2025/26: Awards to be made by Faculties.

Departments/Schools and Faculties will need to set their own internal deadlines for the receipt of URF nominations – check with your Faculty Office for details.

URF applications for 2026/27 are now open. Please see below for application information and contact your Head of School in the first instance if you are thinking of applying. 

How to apply for funding

  • Check the URF Flowchart 26/27 (PDF, 177kB) which illustrates the application process, and the URF Terms and conditions
  • Nominees should complete sections 1–6 of the URF Nomination Form 26/27 (Office document, 43kB) and forward to their Head of Department/School (HoD/S) by their designated internal deadline.
  • HoD/S are to provide their statement of support in section 7 and forward all nomination documents to their Faculty Office by their internal deadline.
  • Faculty Leadership Teams will rank and award applications, and provide a brief explanatory commentary of decisions. Successful nominations, rankings and commentaries, (forms and CVs as a single PDF file) must be submitted electronically to DREI by the deadline: 5 pm, Friday 13 February 2026.
  • Outcomes will be announced by May 2026.
  • Awards will be listed on the URF/SRF webpages.

Key faculty contacts

Faculty of Science and Engineering

If you are interested in applying, you should contact your Head of School in the first instance. 

Faculty of Arts, Law and Social Science

If you are interested in applying, you should contact your Head of School in the first instance. If you have any queries about the process in this faculty, email Tamara Pullinger: tamara.pullinger@bristol.ac.uk.

Faculty of Heath and Life Sciences

If you are interested in applying, you should contact your Head of School in the first instance.