UKRI’s 2027 overseas placements offer up to £18,500—who can apply?

UKRI’s 2027 International Placement Scheme funds eligible arts and humanities researchers for two to five months at selected institutions in the United States, Japan, China and South Africa, with travel, visa and local living costs included.

The UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) opportunity is open. It offers individual awards ranging from £2,070 to £18,500, depending on the host and length of stay. Applications close at 4pm UK time on 9 March 2027, according to the UKRI funding listing. The scheme is aimed at AHRC-funded doctoral students and eligible early-career researchers working through a UK research organisation.

What does the UKRI International Placement Scheme 2027 cover?

The 2027 round gives researchers a two-to-five-month base at a cultural or research institution outside the UK. Its host network spans the United States, Japan, China and South Africa. UKRI says the placement should provide access to collections, expertise or research networks that build on the applicant’s current work.

The award includes one return trip and a location-based monthly allowance for accommodation, subsistence and local transport. It also contributes to visa fees. UKRI lists a total award range of £2,070 to £18,500, with the amount shaped by the host and the time requested.

The published host rates show how the total can change. US placements receive up to £2,500 to £3,500 a month, plus up to £285 for a visa and £715 for travel. Japan’s National Institutes for the Humanities lists up to £1,700 a month, £50 for a visa and £1,150 for travel. Shanghai Theatre Academy lists up to £1,600 monthly, with £64 for a visa and £1,136 for travel. The Johannesburg Holocaust and Genocide Centre lists up to £1,500 a month, £27 for a visa and £900 for travel. These are published ceilings; the full award depends on the selected host and duration.

Researchers apply for one continuous stay. The scheme also allows salary or stipend support from a current AHRC award to continue during the placement. UKRI pays the award to the submitting research organisation, which must advance the funds to the recipient before the placement so travel and accommodation can be booked.

Who can apply for the UKRI research placements?

Applicants must be based at an eligible UK research organisation and propose primary research in an Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) subject area. UKRI names two eligible applicant groups: doctoral students currently funded by AHRC and early-career researchers in arts and humanities disciplines.

An AHRC-funded PhD student must complete the placement during the funded period of the doctorate and include the training grant reference in the application. The time abroad forms part of the existing award period.

An early-career researcher must hold a contract with an eligible UK organisation that covers the full placement grant. The applicant can self-identify at this career stage and must hold a doctorate by the placement start or show equivalent research or innovation experience. A fixed-term contract qualifies when it covers the full placement grant.

These rules make the scheme a UK research opportunity with overseas placements, rather than a general relocation or international scholarship route. Applicants should check the current UKRI organisation criteria and the full eligibility requirements before planning a proposal.

Which dates and host requirements matter?

The application window opened at 9am UK time on 2 November 2026. UKRI must receive applications by 4pm UK time on 9 March 2027. Placements lasting two to four months should begin by 1 February 2028; a five-month placement must begin by 1 November 2027.

Applicants choose among hosts that match their research. Options include the Library of Congress, Smithsonian Institution and Yale Center for British Art in the United States; the National Institutes for the Humanities in Japan; Shanghai Theatre Academy in China; and Johannesburg Holocaust and Genocide Centre in South Africa. Each host sets its own placement length and collection-access requirements.

Early host preparation matters because the proposal must identify the resources, dates and supervision that make the trip necessary. UKRI requires prospective NIHU and Smithsonian applicants to contact those institutions before applying to identify a supervisor and confirm the resources they plan to use. All applicants should review catalogues and discuss a research plan with their supervisor or department head.

How to apply for the UKRI International Placement Scheme

1. Check that your UK research organisation appears on the UKRI eligibility list and confirm your AHRC-funded PhD or early-career researcher status.
2. Choose a host, review its collections and confirm that the placement length fits its rules. The host requirements and rates appear in UKRI’s official opportunity page.
3. Prepare a focused research plan, timeline, host-resource details and supervisor or department support. Applicants for NIHU or Smithsonian placements should complete the required host contact before submitting.
4. Start the form through the UKRI application portal. Applications are open and close on 9 March 2027 at 4pm UK time. The Funding Service sends the completed proposal to your research organisation for checks and final submission.

UKRI International Placement Scheme: frequently asked questions

How much funding can a researcher receive?

UKRI lists awards from £2,070 to £18,500. Host-specific monthly living allowances and one-off travel and visa payments determine each total.

Can researchers outside the UK apply?

Applicants must work through an eligible UK research organisation and qualify as an AHRC-funded doctoral student or eligible early-career researcher. The research placement itself takes place at a selected overseas institution.

When does the UKRI placement application close?

UKRI must receive the application by 4pm UK time on 9 March 2027. Applicants should also allow time for their research organisation’s internal review and submission process.