Richard and Susan Hayden Academy Fellowship 2025 in UK — Fully Funded

The Richard and Susan Hayden Academy Fellowship 2025 is a ten-month fully funded fellowship based at Chatham House in London, one of the world’s most respected independent policy research institutes. The fellowship ran from October 2025 to July 2026. If you are an emerging professional working in international affairs, public policy, or governance and you want to spend ten months in London conducting self-directed policy research, building your professional network, and developing your leadership skills through a structured masterclass program, this fellowship is worth preparing for now ahead of the next cycle.

Fellows receive a monthly stipend of £2,365, full relocation support including travel costs and visa fees, UK NHS healthcare access, research and fieldwork funding, and a five-year Chatham House membership on completion. You must be available full-time for the entire ten months — holding another job or pursuing studies alongside the fellowship is not permitted. The fellowship is open to all nationalities and has no age limit.

Apply for: SOAS University of London Mo Ibrahim Foundation Scholarship in UK (Fully Funded)

Richard and Susan Hayden Academy Fellowship Summary

About the Richard and Susan Hayden Academy Fellowship

Chatham House — officially the Royal Institute of International Affairs — is an independent policy institute founded in London in 1920. It is consistently ranked among the top three think tanks in the world outside the United States by the University of Pennsylvania’s Global Go To Think Tank Index. Chatham House is best known internationally for the Chatham House Rule, the principle under which many of the world’s most sensitive diplomatic and policy discussions are conducted.

The Richard and Susan Hayden Academy Fellowship is one of several named fellowships under Chatham House’s Academy Fellowships and Leadership Programme, which also includes the Mo Ibrahim Foundation Academy Fellowship, the Schwarzman Academy Fellowship, and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Academy Fellowship. Each fellowship is funded by a different donor but operates under the same Chatham House Academy structure.

Also apply for: SOAS University of London Hyundai Motor Group Scholarship in UK | Fully Funded

The Hayden Fellowship is specifically funded by Richard and Susan Hayden and is designed for professionals at the early-to-mid stage of their careers in international affairs, governance, or public policy. Fellows are not students — they are working professionals embedded in Chatham House’s research environment for ten months, contributing to real policy research output while developing their own independent research project.

What the Richard and Susan Hayden Academy Fellowship in UK Covers

The fellowship covers the following:

• A monthly stipend of £2,365 — paid directly to you each month for the ten-month duration, covering accommodation, food, utilities, and transport in London
• Return travel costs to and from the UK at the start and end of the fellowship
• UK visa application costs
• Three nights of hotel accommodation on arrival in London
• Baggage fees for your move to the UK
• Payment of the UK Immigration Healthcare Surcharge, giving you access to NHS services for the duration of the fellowship. Note: some treatments including dental and optical care may require additional payment
• Research and outreach funding to cover fieldwork, conference attendance, travel for research purposes, publications, and events
• A five-year Chatham House membership after you complete the fellowship, giving you continued access to Chatham House events, publications, and networks
• Access to the Academy faculty and alumni network on completion

One practical note on the stipend: £2,365 per month in London covers living costs but requires careful budgeting. London rent for a single room in a shared flat ranges from £900 to £1,500 per month depending on the area. Factor this in when planning your finances for the fellowship period.

Must Check: University College Dublin Global Excellence Scholarships | How to Apply

Fellowship Structure

Fellows divide their ten months across three areas:

60% of your time goes to your personal research project — a self-directed piece of policy research that you design and carry out with guidance from a Chatham House expert assigned to your topic area.

20% goes to contributing to ongoing Chatham House research — supporting your host research team and other teams across the institute on their current priorities.

20% goes to the Leadership Masterclass Programme — a structured series of sessions running throughout the fellowship that covers leadership skills, policy impact, crisis management, negotiation, and career development.

The Leadership Masterclass Programme includes an induction week with a first personal coaching session, thematic discussions with global experts, half-day leadership workshops, informal briefings with senior global figures, research presentation sessions for peer review, one-on-one personal coaching throughout the fellowship, media training covering television and radio interview skills, and optional career mentoring with an assigned mentor.

Join Lucy’s Scholarship Mentorship Group

Get step-by-step guidance, live group reviews, and exclusive support to find, apply, and win global scholarships.

Join Now, Let's Waka Together →

Eligibility Requirements for the Richard and Susan Hayden Academy Fellowship

You must meet all of the following to apply:

• You must hold a completed undergraduate degree (BA or equivalent) and have experience conducting research — a postgraduate qualification or equivalent professional research experience is also accepted
• You must be at the early-to-mid stage of your career, with a background in international affairs, public policy, governance, or a related field
• You must demonstrate leadership potential and a clear commitment to global policy issues

Also Read: University of Malta Scholarships | How to Apply

• You must be fluent in spoken English — no specific test score is required, but you must be able to communicate effectively in English throughout the fellowship
• You must be available to relocate to London full-time for the entire ten-month period from October 2025 to July 2026
• You must not hold another job or pursue any other studies alongside the fellowship — full-time commitment is required for the entire duration
• The fellowship is open to all nationalities and has no age limit

Selection Criteria

Chatham House selects fellows based on the following:

• Research experience — demonstrated through your undergraduate or postgraduate qualification, or equivalent professional experience in a relevant field
• Relevant professional background — shown through a strong CV with clear evidence of work in your research area
• Leadership potential — either proven leadership experience or clear evidence of the potential to become a leader in your field
• Alignment with Chatham House’s values and evidence-based approach to global challenges
• A clear and specific vision for the impact you want to create through your fellowship research
• Strong motivation to complete all fellowship requirements and make full use of the networking and learning opportunities available
• Effective communication in spoken English

Richard and Susan Hayden Academy Fellowship Required Documents

• Your CV or résumé
• The names and contact details of two referees
• A research project proposal based on the topic guidance published on the Chatham House Academy fellowship page

One practical warning: your research proposal is the most important part of this application. Chatham House selects fellows based significantly on the quality and relevance of the proposed research to their thematic areas. Before writing your proposal, read Chatham House’s current research priorities on their website and make sure your proposed project connects clearly to one of their active programme areas. A generic proposal about international affairs will not pass the first review stage.

Check out: Swedish Institute Scholarship For Global Professionals | Fully Funded

How to Apply (Step by Step)

The application is submitted through the Chatham House online portal.

1. Read the fellowship guidance and topic notes on the official Chatham House Academy fellowship page before starting your application.
2. Prepare your CV, your two referee details, and your research project proposal.
3. Go to the Chatham House website and complete the online application form for the Richard and Susan Hayden Academy Fellowship.
4. Upload all required documents through the portal.
5. Submit before the deadline.

Read About: Erasmus Mundus IMAPP Scholarship (Fully Funded)

Selection process:

Stage one: all submitted applications are reviewed and shortlisted by the Chatham House selection committee after the submission period closes.

Stage two: shortlisted applicants are invited to a Zoom interview conducted by a member of Chatham House senior management and relevant programme representatives. Fellows are selected after this round and notified by email.

Application Deadline

The 2025 cycle closed on 19 March 2025.

The fellowship ran from October 2025 to July 2026. The opening date for the next cycle has not been announced.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Richard and Susan Hayden Fellowship fully funded?
Yes. It covers a monthly stipend of £2,365, return travel costs, visa fees, three nights of arrival accommodation, baggage fees, NHS healthcare access, and research funding. Fellows also receive a five-year Chatham House membership on completion. You are expected to cover your own day-to-day living expenses from the stipend.

Can African and Nigerian professionals apply for this fellowship?
Yes. The fellowship is open to all nationalities with no country restrictions. Nigerian and African professionals in international affairs, governance, or public policy are eligible to apply, provided they meet the career stage, research experience, and English fluency requirements.

Is there an age limit for this fellowship?
No. Chatham House does not set an age limit for the Richard and Susan Hayden Academy Fellowship. The selection criterion is career stage — early-to-mid career — rather than age.

Can I work or study elsewhere while doing this fellowship?
No. The fellowship requires full-time commitment for the entire ten months. Holding another job or pursuing other studies alongside the fellowship is explicitly not permitted.

What should my research proposal be about?
Your proposal must relate to Chatham House’s thematic research areas, which cover international security, global economy, environment and society, and regional programmes. Read Chatham House’s current research priorities on their website before writing your proposal — the stronger the connection between your proposed project and Chatham House’s active work, the stronger your application.

What happens after the fellowship ends?
On completion, fellows receive a five-year Chatham House membership and access to the Academy alumni network. There is no obligation to remain at Chatham House — the fellowship is designed to strengthen your career and research capacity so you can return to your field or country with stronger credentials and connections.

Disclaimer: All fellowship details, deadlines, award values, and eligibility criteria were verified from the official Chatham House Academy Fellowship page as of June 2026. Information is subject to change without notice. Always confirm the latest details directly on the official source before submitting your application.

Official Application Portal