ERA Winter Fellowship 2027 in Cambridge, UK | Fully Funded

The ERA Winter Fellowship 2027 is a fully funded, 10-week research fellowship in Cambridge, UK, focused on reducing risks from frontier AI. It is run by the Existential Risk Alliance (ERA) and is open to applicants aged 18 or older from a wide range of academic and professional backgrounds. The Winter 2027 fellowship runs from January 18 to March 26, 2027.

Quick Highlights

ERA confirms that Winter 2027 applications are currently open, with the deadline on September 13, 2026. The fellowship begins January 18, 2027 and ends March 26, 2027.

About the Fellowship

The Cambridge ERA Winter Fellowship 2027 gives participants 10 weeks to develop and complete a research project related to frontier AI safety and governance. Fellows receive support from ERA’s research managers, mentors and wider institutional network while working from a co working space in central Cambridge.

The program is designed for people who want to apply their existing knowledge to important questions about increasingly capable AI systems. ERA follows a talent-first approach, so applicants are not required to have a particular degree or professional title.

Other Related Fellowships : OHCHR Indigenous Fellowship Program 2027 in Switzerland (Fully Funded).

Research Areas

The fellowship covers three main research streams.

Technical AI Safety

This stream focuses on the technical challenges involved in making advanced AI systems safer and more controllable. Areas include:

• AI evaluations
• Interpretability
• Robustness
• Alignment
• AI control
• Monitoring model behaviour
• Detecting deceptive or strategically evasive behaviour

ERA also works on questions involving dangerous capabilities, safeguards and maintaining meaningful human oversight of increasingly capable systems.

AI Governance

This stream looks at how governments, companies and international institutions can respond to the risks created by frontier AI.

Research areas include:

• Regulatory design and implementation
• Frontier AI safety frameworks
• Corporate governance
• International coordination
• Governance and accountability

Technical AI Governance

This area connects technical infrastructure with AI governance. Research can involve:

• Compute governance
• Auditing
• Monitoring
• Hardware-enabled verification
• Technical standards

The goal is to develop practical ways to measure, verify and monitor aspects of frontier AI development.

Financial Benefits for ERA Winter Fellowship 2027

The ERA Winter Fellowship 2027 provides:

• £10,000 stipend for the 10-week fellowship
• Travel to and from Cambridge
• Visa sponsorship and support
• Meals during working hours
• Research and social excursions
• Dedicated desk space in central Cambridge
• Research management support
• Expert mentorship
• Access to ERA’s wider research and professional network

ERA states that the stipend includes a portion intended for housing. However, ERA does not provide or guarantee accommodation. It does provide guidance and support to help fellows find accommodation in Cambridge.

Eligibility Criteria

You can apply if you:

• Are 18 or older
• Are from any country
• Have an interest in AI safety, AI governance or related areas
• Can commit to the 10-week fellowship
• Can contribute meaningfully to a research project

There are no formal eligibility restrictions beyond being 18 or older. ERA specifically says it is a talent-first program and values ability and potential beyond formal credentials.

Other Related Fellowships : Yale Peace Fellowship 2027 in USA & UK (Fully Funded)

Who Should Apply

The fellowship may be particularly suitable for:

• Researchers at any career stage
• Technical professionals
• Policy and security professionals
• Lawyers and economists
• People changing their research direction toward AI safety
• Applicants with specialised expertise relevant to advanced AI risks

Prior formal research experience is helpful but not required. ERA says it has accepted undergraduates with strong project work, professionals moving from industry and graduate students.

Application Requirements

The first stage consists of an online application containing personal and essay questions. ERA says the written application should take approximately two hours to complete.

Applicants should be ready to explain their background, research interests and how they would approach important problems in AI safety or governance.

If you progress to Round 2, ERA will also contact your references.

Application Process

1. Visit the official ERA Fellowship application page.
2. Complete the online application and essay questions.
3. Submit your application before September 13, 2026.
4. Shortlisted candidates are invited to Round 1 interviews in late September.
5. Selected candidates then proceed to the shorter Round 2 interview, with references contacted at this stage.
6. Successful applicants receive offers and work with ERA to develop their project and receive a suitable mentor match.

ERA says approximately the top 20% of Stage 1 candidates are invited to Round 1 interviews. This is an interview-selection figure, not an acceptance rate.

Frequently Asked Questions