2025-2026 Queen Elizabeth II Academy Fellowships

Description

Chatham House, the Royal Institute of International Affairs, is a world leading independent policy institute based in London. Our mission is to help build a sustainably secure, prosperous and just world.

Our Queen Elizabeth II Academy for Leadership and the Next Generation is now recruiting Academy Fellows to join our prestigious 10-month, in-person, fellowships starting in October 2025. This opportunity includes participation in a Leadership Masterclass training Programme designed to develop global policy leadership skills.

Who Can Apply?

We welcome applications from early- to mid-career professionals from academia, NGOs, business, government, civil society, or the media with expertise in international affairs, a strong research focus, and alignment with the mission and values of Chatham House.

We are an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and do not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics. We encourage applications from all backgrounds. If there is anything we can do to improve your experience or support you, please get in touch at

About the Fellowships

The Queen Elizabeth II Academy for Leadership and the Next Generation offers a prestigious programme for emerging leaders. Fellows will:

• Conduct independent research on global regions or policy themes.
• Contribute to Chatham House’s research and events.
• Collaborate with a global network of experts, policymakers, and practitioners.
• Participate in leadership workshops and receive mentoring.

Fellowships are made possible through the generous support of our dedicated funders.

2025-26 opportunities include:

• Mo Ibrahim Foundation Academy Fellowship – Open to citizens or dual nationals of any African country.
• Richard and Susan Hayden Academy Fellowship – Open to mid-career professionals from around the world.
• Schwarzman Academy Fellowship – Open to Schwarzman Scholars, due to complete a Schwarzman Scholars Master’s degree in 2025.
• Stavros Niarchos Foundation Academy Fellowship – Open to citizens or dual nationals of Greece.

Please note: While applicants are encouraged to apply for the fellowship of their choice, the selection panel may assign candidates to another fellowship opportunity based on the suitable alignment of the candidate’s research proposal, eligibility criteria and other objectives of available fellowships.

Research Focus Areas

Throughout the application process, applicants should consider the overall Chatham House mission, values and goals. Research proposals should align with the research priorities listed below:

Africa

• Peace and security in the Horn of Africa: Regionalization of conflicts; Domestic instability and interstate rivalries; External power influences in conflicts.

Environment and Society

• Energy security and accelerating the energy transition in a rapidly shifting geopolitical and policy context.
• Cooperation on sustainable resource use in era of competition, contested global governance and emerging powers.
• Addressing climate change and its cascading impacts through existing, and new, processes and institutions.

Europe

• EU competitiveness and future prosperity.
• Democratic resilience, and European security (strategy, defence, hybrid warfare).
• Europe’s role in a fragmented order: Geo-economic and geo-political dynamics.

Global Health

• The future of health diplomacy.
• Medical supply chain security, resilience and opportunities for international cooperation.

International Security

• Responsible state behaviour in outer space and cyberspace and accountability.
• NATO’s evolution amid geopolitical and security challenges.
• New approaches to European security.
• Emerging and disruptive technologies: risks and opportunities.

Latin America

• International investment in critical minerals and metals, state capacity and community relations.
• Latin American foreign policy in a shifting global order.
• Political, economic and domestic issues in intra-hemispheric and trans-Atlantic relations.

Middle East and North Africa

• Domestic and foreign policy of Palestine.
• Governance challenges and accountability in the Maghreb region.
• Geopolitical shifts and partnerships in the Gulf states.
• Artificial intelligence or climate and policy, governance, accountability and leadership in MENA.

Russia and Eurasia

• The South Caucasus: regional connectivity; politics of competing corridors; China’s role.
• Central Asia: Sovereignty amid geopolitical dynamics; political and security linkages between the states.
• Moldova: resilience; EU integration; security.
• Impact of Russia’s war on Ukraine on other states in the region.

UK in the World

• How the UK should respond to increasing competition between the US, EU and China.
• Domestic sources of the UK’s global power, such as defence, science and tech research, education and soft power.
• Modernising the UK’s partnerships with the Global South in a changing world order.

US and Americas

• The US’ changing global role and implications for the international order.

Selection criteria

The successful candidate will:

• Have experience conducting independent research and hold a bachelor\’s degree or have equivalent professional experience.
• Have the relevant background experience, including experience in the field of the proposed research.
• Demonstrate proven leadership experience or potential.
• Demonstrate a commitment to Chatham House’s mission, goals and values, actively contributing to the development of evidence-based solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges.
• Be motivated to engage fully in the programme and communicate how the fellowship will contribute to them making an impact.
• Demonstrate proficiency in spoken English.

Benefits

Academy Fellows receive a monthly stipend of £2,565 for London living expenses, including accommodation, utilities, food and transport.

Chatham House will also cover:

• Relocation costs: Travel, accommodation support and visa fees. If required, Chatham House will sponsor a fellow’s visa (T5: Temporary Work – Government Authorised Exchange).
• UK Immigration Health Surcharge (excluding dental/optical care and prescriptions).
• Research expenses, relating to fieldwork, outreach, events and publications.

Additionally, fellows participate in the Leadership Masterclass Programme and access:

• Leadership seminars and workshops, media training, writing support and career coaching/mentoring Networking opportunities with Chatham House staff, Academy faculty and Chatham House Alumni.
• Chatham House membership on completion of the fellowship.

Chatham House employees receive 37 days of annual leave, including public holidays and closure days. Fellows receive a pro-rata share based on their contract length.

Contract: Full-time, 10-month fixed-term contract.

Location: Hybrid (Office/Home), minimum 2 days in the office per week (flexibility is crucial, the leadership masterclass programme may require more in-person days some weeks).

Closing Date: 23:59 GMT, 19 March 2025 . Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so we encourage early submissions. You will be notified of the status of your application within 6 weeks of the role closing.

Please avoid using AI for your application. We want to hear from you! We can tell the difference between a genuine answer and an AI-generated one. Using AI will run the risk of your application being disqualified.

Please note: We screen candidates anonymously . We will not see your personal information before your application has been moved forward in the process. Please exclude any personal or identifiable information in your application answers including your personal statement.

The Job Description as outlined above will not be available once the closing date has passed. Please ensure you keep a copy for your own record.

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