Summary
The ERA Winter Fellowship 2027 is an 8-week, fully funded program based in Cambridge, UK, designed for researchers, students, professionals, and entrepreneurs dedicated to tackling critical challenges in advanced artificial intelligence. Fellows conduct individual research projects with direct mentorship from senior researchers while receiving full financial, travel, and accommodation support.
- 🤖 Fellowship Overview: ERA Winter Fellowship 2027 UK is a fully funded opportunity in Cambridge for researchers, students, entrepreneurs, and professionals working on advanced artificial intelligence safety and governance challenges.
- 🏛️ Organizing Body: The fellowship is offered by ERA, a UK-based non-profit organization focused on developing talent and solutions in AI safety, AI governance, and technical AI governance.
- 📍 Program Details: The fellowship lasts 8 weeks and will take place in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It welcomes applicants from all nationalities and disciplines.
- 💰 Funding Benefits: Selected fellows receive full financial support, including a pro-rated salary equivalent to £34,125 annually, free Cambridge accommodation, meals during office hours, travel allowances, visa support, workspace, and research facilities.
- 🔬 Research Areas: The program focuses on three major tracks:
- 🛡️ Technical AI Safety — improving AI reliability, robustness, evaluation, interpretability, and control methods.
- 🌐 AI Governance — exploring policies, institutions, and international systems for responsible AI management.
- ⚙️ Technical AI Governance — combining AI expertise with governance and policy solutions.
- 👩🎓 Eligibility: Applicants can include undergraduate students with research experience, master’s and PhD students, early-career researchers, AI professionals, engineers, economists, lawyers, policy experts, and entrepreneurs interested in AI safety or governance.
- 📝 Fellow Activities: Fellows will develop research questions, conduct literature reviews, perform technical or policy research, collaborate with experts, attend workshops, create research outputs, present findings, and build professional networks.
- 🌍 Additional Opportunities: Participants gain mentorship from experienced researchers, connections with policymakers and organizations, access to workshops and speaker events, and membership in the ERA alumni community.
- 📅 Application Deadline: Applications for ERA Winter Fellowship 2027 must be submitted by 13 September 2026, 11:59 PM.
- 📋 Application Process: Candidates must complete an online application, answer essay questions about their interest and experience in AI safety or governance, and submit their application before the deadline. Shortlisted candidates will proceed to interviews in late September 2026.
- 🎯 Key Highlights: The fellowship has no strict degree or academic discipline restrictions and encourages applications from diverse backgrounds interested in addressing future AI risks.
Program Overview
| Feature | Details |
| Host Organization | ERA (Cambridge, UK) |
| Duration | 8 Weeks |
| Financial Coverage | Fully Funded |
| Eligible Nationalities | Open to all nationalities |
| Host Country | United Kingdom |
| Application Deadline | September 13, 2026 (11:59 PM) |
Location
- City/Country: Cambridge, United Kingdom
Subject Area
The fellowship centers on three main research tracks:
- Technical AI Safety: Focuses on technical methodologies to make advanced AI systems safer and more reliable (e.g., AI control, interpretability, evaluation, and robustness).
- AI Governance: Explores policy frameworks, institutional structures, and international agreements needed for responsible AI management (suitable for law, economics, political science, and public policy backgrounds).
- Technical AI Governance: An interdisciplinary track bridging technical AI systems with policy development and risk mitigation.
Eligibility Criteria
- Age Requirement: Applicants must be 18 years of age or older.
- Academic/Professional Background: Open to undergraduate, Master’s, and PhD students, early-career researchers, engineers, computer scientists, economists, lawyers, policy professionals, and entrepreneurs.
- Discipline Requirements: There are no strict degree or academic-discipline restrictions; applicants from diverse backgrounds transitioning into AI safety/governance are encouraged to apply.
- Nationality: Open to candidates worldwide.
Scholarship Description & Benefits
Fellows formulate research questions, conduct literature reviews, produce a written research output, and present findings at a research symposium.
Financial and Logistical Benefits Include:
- Pro-rated salary based on an annual rate of £34,125.
- Free accommodation in Cambridge.
- Meals provided during office hours.
- Round-trip travel allowances to and from Cambridge.
- Visa support for eligible international participants.
- Dedicated personal workspace and research facilities.
- 1-on-1 mentorship, expert workshops, and networking opportunities with policymakers and researchers.
- Membership in the ERA global alumni network.
How to Apply
- Visit the official Cambridge ERA:AI Fellowship application portal.
- Complete the online written application, which includes short essay questions.
- Detail your interest and background in technical AI safety, AI governance, or technical AI governance.
- Submit the completed application before the deadline.
- Shortlisted candidates will be invited for Round 1 interviews scheduled for late September 2026.
Last Date
- Application Deadline: September 13, 2026 (11:59 PM)
