The Global South Fellowship Program supports the professional development of early-career researchers from universities in the Global South.

Aims of the Program

The program will enable visiting fellows to gain insight into the organization and conduct of research, training, and administration at the University of Birmingham and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Additionally, it promotes research collaboration, partnership development, and further collaboration with the Global South. We welcome application in subject areas related to education access and equity, global health, and sustainability and climate action. Any applicants unsure of their eligibility are encouraged to contact our teams for further clarification. 

Fellowship Term

• The fellowship term at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is July 2026 to September 2027.
• The fellowship term at the University of Birmingham is August 2026 to July 2027.

Funding & Accommodation

Each visiting fellow will receive up to £850 in travel expenses ($1,500 if traveling to Illinois) along with a monthly stipend of £1,500 ($1,500 if staying in Illinois) for up to three months to help cover living expenses and accommodation. Stipend amounts are determined by the cost of travel and living expenses in the respective countries.

On campus accommodation can be booked on fellows’ behalf and the cost deducted from the stipend, however there is no guarantee that university accommodation will be available during the fellowship. Further information on private accommodation options and support with organizing accommodation is available upon request. 

Applications Dates & Deadlines

Applications open now! Please be mindful of the application dates and deadlines:

• Deadline to apply: May 29, 2026
• Results announced: July 10, 2026
• Fellowship term: The fellowship period varies by university.
  • For Illinois placements, the fellowship period is July 2026 to September 2027.
  • For Birmingham placements, the fellowship period is August 2026 to July 2027.
  • Please note the funding is only available for 3 months in this period.

Inquiries

For further information about the program, please contact:

• University of Birmingham: Mary Elliston, Global Partnerships Manager at m.e.elliston@bham.ac.uk.
• University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign: Nicole Stivaletta, Associate Director for Global Relations, nicstiv@illinois.edu.