Turing AI Global Fellowships

This page contains information on the mandatory demand management process for the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Turing AI Global Fellowships.

Application limit: The University of Liverpool is limited to submitting two applications to UKRI for this scheme, so a mandatory internal demand management process is in place. All applicants must follow the following guidance.

Applicant eligibility: You must have been based outside of the UK for at least 24 months prior to submitting an application.

Deadline: The University of Liverpool application deadline is 23 January 2026, 16:00 GMT.

About the scheme

The EPSRC Turing AI Global Fellowships funding opportunity is for exceptional Artificial Intelligence (AI) researchers currently based outside of the UK. 

• EPSRC will fund up to five fellowships worth £4.5 million per fellowship over five years
• The aim of the scheme is to fund established AI researchers from outside the UK who will build world leading, multidisciplinary research groups to undertake transformational core AI research and make a significant impact on the UK’s AI research and innovation landscape
• EPSRC welcomes applications from those working in AI at a fundamental or theoretical level and those who work at the interface between AI and another discipline
• Note that the proposed work must develop AI beyond the current state of the art
• This opportunity may exceptionally provide funding for up to a maximum of three doctoral students.

Eligibility

This prestigious fellowship funding opportunity is looking to support exceptional, world-class AI experts from outside the UK who are either established international leaders in AI or who can demonstrate outstanding potential to shape the future of AI research globally.

This fellowship funding opportunity welcomes applications from researchers who conduct research into AI at a fundamental, foundational, or theoretical level, as well as those working at the interface between AI and other disciplines where the application context drives novel model development or theoretical insight.

• You must have been based outside of the UK for at least 24 months prior to submitting an application
• You must have the support of an eligible UK research organisation, that will be your host organisation if successful, for the time committed to the fellowship.
• There is no nationality requirement - you may or may not have UK citizenship
• In line with standard grant terms and conditions, before you start your fellowship grant, you must have physically relocated to the UK and be considered a UK resident and an academic employee – lecturer or equivalent – of an eligible organisation for this opportunity. This is in line with standard EPSRC eligibility.

There are no standardised eligibility criteria for this fellowship due to the diversity of career paths in AI. EPSRC define established researchers for this funding opportunity as those who have experience of:

• Strategical leadership and management of programme(s)
• Leading and managing team(s) and resources
• Having established, or are in the process of establishing, a clear research specialism
• Having a high or rising international standing in AI who can contribute to the growth and development of the UK’s AI community and economy.

See Turing AI Global Fellowships: outline applications – UKRI for full eligibility details. 

Deadlines for applicants

Internal demand management schedule

Review process

• Anyone wishing to apply for this scheme MUST contact and discuss with the relevant Head of Department to get support
  • Note: the Head of Department will be submitting your application to the internal process
• The Head of Department MUST submit the application by 23 January 2025
• An internal demand management peer review panel, comprising AI for Life frontier co-leads with additional expertise as required, will be convened to select up to two applications to be developed for UKRI submission
  • The panel will review applications against UKRI assessment criteria (Vision and Approach, R4RI)
• Selected applicants will be reviewed by the E-PVC and relevant Dean level to consider the strategic fit to the school and faculty before being invited to submit a full application
• Applicants will be informed of the University of Liverpool's decision as soon as possible after the meeting, and all will receive written feedback.

Internal assessment criteria

The internal application assessment criteria will be based on the UKRI criteria found within the ‘How to Apply’ section of the funding guidelines, which are based on:

• Vision
• Approach
• Applicant capability to deliver.

In addition, reviewers will be asked to assess the fit to the overall scope of the call.