EvEx Policy Fellowship 2026–2027: Funded Policy Fellowship for UK Public and Civil Servants to Work With Leading Academic Experts

The EvEx Policy Fellowship is a funded professional development and knowledge-exchange opportunity designed to bring public and civil servants together with academics and experts from universities and research organisations. The programme gives participants dedicated time to explore real-world policy challenges, access specialist research expertise, strengthen their professional networks and develop evidence-informed approaches to their work.

The fellowship is particularly focused on strengthening connections between policy professionals and the research community. Selected fellows will have the opportunity to spend up to five days in person at a university or universities between December 2026 and May 2027, with the fellowship programme tailored around their individual or team policy needs.

Applications are open to eligible individual public and civil servants as well as small teams of between two and five people who are working on the same policy challenge.

The EvEx Policy Fellowship is funded through the EvEx project, which forms part of the Policy to Research programme of work. The project is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and delivered through a consortium of universities.

About the EvEx Policy Fellowship

The EvEx Policy Fellowship has been developed to create stronger links between people working in public service and researchers with relevant academic expertise.

Public and civil servants regularly encounter complex policy problems that require evidence, specialised knowledge, data analysis and collaboration across different sectors. At the same time, universities and research organisations contain significant expertise that can help policymakers understand these challenges from different perspectives.

The EvEx Policy Fellowship creates a structured opportunity for these two groups to work together.

Rather than being a traditional academic scholarship or classroom-based programme, the fellowship is centred around real policy challenges faced by public and civil servants. Fellows will work with the EvEx team and their university hosts to develop a programme that responds to their specific professional needs.

This could involve discussions with individual academics, cross-disciplinary roundtables, university seminars, research resources and networking opportunities with other public and civil servants.

The overall objective is to help participants make better use of research and academic expertise in their policy work while also developing their professional skills and networks.

What Is the EvEx Policy Fellowship Designed to Achieve?

The programme is designed around several key objectives.

1. Connecting policymakers with academic expertise

One of the central features of the EvEx Policy Fellowship is the opportunity to engage directly with academics whose research is relevant to a fellow’s policy challenge.

Participants can discuss their questions, explore existing research and gain subject-specific knowledge that may be useful in their professional work.

Depending on the policy challenge, discussions may take place with:

• Individual academic researchers
• Researchers from different disciplines
• Groups of academics
• Cross-disciplinary research teams
• Other experts within participating universities

This approach allows fellows to explore policy questions from multiple perspectives rather than relying exclusively on one area of expertise.

2. Supporting evidence-informed policy work

The fellowship is also intended to help public and civil servants strengthen their policy work through greater engagement with research.

Participants will have an opportunity to examine their policy challenges through a research perspective and identify evidence, tools and resources that could inform their work.

This can be particularly valuable for professionals dealing with complex policy issues where decisions require an understanding of data, research findings, evaluation methods and different perspectives.

3. Encouraging professional development

The fellowship provides more than access to academics.

Participants can use the experience to develop broader professional skills, including research engagement, collaboration, data analysis, evaluation and working across organisational boundaries.

The programme therefore offers an opportunity for participants to strengthen skills that can support their careers in government, public institutions and related organisations.

4. Building professional networks

Networking is another important component of the programme.

EvEx Policy Fellows will have opportunities to connect with other public and civil servants participating in the programme. This can help participants develop professional relationships with people working on different policy challenges and in different parts of the public sector.

Over time, these relationships can contribute to a wider community of professionals interested in connecting policy practice with research and academic expertise.

Who Can Apply for the EvEx Policy Fellowship?

The EvEx Policy Fellowship is intended specifically for public and civil servants.

Applicants can be working in:

• Government
• Legislatures
• Public bodies
• Local government
• Devolved administrations
• Other relevant areas of public service

The programme is open to public and civil servants at all levels of seniority.

This means the fellowship is not described as being restricted exclusively to senior officials or executives. Professionals at different stages of their public-service careers may be able to apply, provided they meet the programme’s eligibility requirements.

Applications can be submitted in two formats.

Individual applications

A public or civil servant can apply individually based on a policy challenge they are currently working on.

The fellowship can then be designed around the applicant’s specific professional and policy needs.

Team applications

Small teams can also apply.

A team must consist of between two and five people who are working on the same policy challenge.

A team-based fellowship could allow participants to engage with academics collectively and use the fellowship period to explore a shared policy question, project or challenge.

This format may be particularly useful where a policy issue involves several colleagues or requires collaboration across different areas of an organisation.

What Does the EvEx Policy Fellowship Involve?

Successful fellows or fellowship teams will spend up to five days in person at a university or universities.

These visits will take place during the period:

December 2026 to May 2027

The EvEx team will work with fellows to design a programme that reflects their individual or team’s requirements.

This means that participants should not necessarily expect an identical schedule to every other fellow. Instead, activities will be organised around the policy questions and professional objectives identified by the fellow or fellowship team.

The programme may include several activities.

1. Meetings With Academics

Fellows will have the opportunity to meet academics and discuss the policy issues they are working on.

These discussions can provide participants with access to specialist knowledge and research perspectives relevant to their work.

For example, depending on the policy challenge, a fellow could use these conversations to:

• Explore existing research on a policy issue
• Understand different academic perspectives
• Identify relevant evidence
• Discuss approaches to analysing a policy problem
• Explore potential evaluation methods
• Identify research gaps
• Understand how academic findings could inform policy practice

For team applications, the discussions could involve the entire team working with academics to examine a shared policy question or project.

2. Cross-Disciplinary Discussions

The programme may also involve roundtable discussions involving researchers from different disciplines.

This can be particularly useful for policy challenges that cannot be understood through a single academic field.

Complex public policy issues often involve several interconnected factors, so engaging with researchers from different backgrounds can expose fellows to a broader range of perspectives and approaches.

3. University Seminars and Events

Fellows may also have the opportunity to participate in relevant seminars and events organised by their host university.

These events can expose participants to current research, academic discussions and new developments in areas connected to their policy work.

Participation in university events can also provide additional opportunities for networking and professional engagement.

4. Access to Tools and Resources

Participants will also have opportunities to access tools and resources that can support their professional work.

This can help fellows identify useful research materials and develop a better understanding of how to find and engage with relevant academic evidence.

The ability to locate and interpret useful research can be an important skill for professionals working in policy environments.

5. Networking With Other Public and Civil Servants

Fellows will become part of a broader network of EvEx Policy Fellows.

Participants will have opportunities to meet other public and civil servants who are taking part in the programme.

These connections can provide opportunities to exchange experiences, discuss shared challenges and learn how professionals in different organisations approach policy problems.

Duration and Format of the Fellowship

The fellowship involves up to five days of in-person activity at a university or universities.

The fellowship period runs from:

December 2026 to May 2027

Although the majority of the programme will take place in person, the fellowship may also include opportunities for participants to join meetings or events virtually where appropriate.

This means that engagement with the programme does not necessarily end after the physical university visit. Depending on the needs of the fellow and the programme, virtual participation may be incorporated where necessary.

Key Benefits of the EvEx Policy Fellowship

Participating in the EvEx Policy Fellowship can provide several professional and knowledge-development benefits.

Strengthen your policy work

Participants can use academic expertise and research evidence to strengthen the way they approach their policy challenges.

The opportunity to discuss real professional problems with researchers can introduce new perspectives and approaches that may be useful in day-to-day policy work.

Develop research-informed understanding

The fellowship can help participants better understand their policy area from a research perspective.

Rather than simply accessing research independently, fellows can engage directly with academics and ask questions related to their particular professional circumstances.

Improve data analysis and evaluation skills

The programme can also support the development of skills related to data analysis and evaluation.

These skills can be particularly relevant to professionals who need to assess policies, understand evidence or evaluate the effectiveness of programmes and interventions.

Learn how to engage with academics

Another important benefit is learning how to access relevant research and build relationships with academics.

For public and civil servants, knowing where to find useful research and how to engage researchers effectively can make it easier to incorporate evidence into policy development.

Develop collaborative working skills

The fellowship also provides an opportunity to develop skills related to collaboration.

Participants may engage with academics, researchers, other public servants and professionals from different organisations.

This can help fellows gain experience working across professional and organisational boundaries.

Expand your professional network

Being part of the EvEx Policy Fellowship creates opportunities to connect with other public and civil servants.

The programme’s wider network can potentially become a useful professional community for participants interested in policy, research and public service.

Is the EvEx Policy Fellowship Fully Funded?

The EvEx Policy Fellowships are described as a funded programme.

The fellowship itself is funded through the EvEx project.

However, applicants should pay close attention to the arrangements surrounding travel.

Participants are asked to have their department cover the cost of travelling to and from their fellowship visit.

The information provided also indicates that travel costs may be covered where there is no budget available from the participant’s employer.

Therefore, prospective applicants should not assume that every cost associated with participation is automatically covered by the fellowship. In particular, travel arrangements should be clarified as part of the application and planning process.

Who Funds the EvEx Policy Fellowship?

The Policy Fellowship programme sits within EvEx’s Policy to Research programme of work.

The EvEx project is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and is delivered through a consortium of universities.

The programme is therefore designed around collaboration between public service professionals and the academic research community.

The fellowship is also complementary to another EvEx opportunity focused on research organisations interested in hosting EvEx Associate Policy Fellows.

Why the Policy-to-Research Connection Matters

A major feature of the EvEx Policy Fellowship is its emphasis on strengthening the relationship between policy and research.

Government and public-sector professionals frequently have to make decisions in environments involving limited time, competing priorities and complex social or economic challenges.

Academic research can provide evidence and analytical frameworks that help professionals better understand those challenges.

However, research does not automatically translate into practical policy solutions.

The EvEx model creates space for policymakers and researchers to communicate directly, allowing policy professionals to explain the practical challenges they face while academics can contribute research knowledge and specialist perspectives.

This two-way interaction is an important part of the fellowship’s purpose.

What Could Fellows Gain From the University Experience?

Spending time at a university gives fellows an opportunity to step outside their usual professional environment and focus specifically on a policy challenge.

During the visit, participants may be able to:

1. Discuss their policy questions with researchers.
2. Explore relevant academic literature and research.
3. Participate in seminars and academic events.
4. Develop relationships with researchers.
5. Examine policy challenges from multiple disciplinary perspectives.
6. Identify research and evidence that could support their work.
7. Improve their understanding of data analysis and evaluation.
8. Exchange experiences with other public and civil servants.
9. Access tools and resources that may support their professional responsibilities.
10. Build longer-term connections within the EvEx Policy Fellowship network.

Application Format: Individual or Team

One of the notable features of the EvEx Policy Fellowship is the flexibility around applications.

Applicants do not necessarily need to apply alone.

Individual applicants

An individual public or civil servant can apply based on a specific policy challenge.

The programme can then be tailored around that individual’s needs and professional objectives.

Teams of 2–5 people

Alternatively, a small team can apply if its members are working on the same policy challenge.

The team format may be particularly relevant where a policy issue requires input from colleagues with different responsibilities or areas of expertise.

Teams must consist of two to five people.

Important Dates

The fellowship programme will take place between:

December 2026 and May 2027

Selected fellows will spend up to five days in person at a university or universities during this period.

Application deadline: The information provided for this article does not specify an application deadline. Applicants should therefore consult the official EvEx fellowship announcement for the current application deadline and submission requirements before applying.

Important Funding and Travel Information

Prospective applicants should understand the distinction between the fellowship funding and travel arrangements.

The fellowship is funded through the EvEx project. However, participants are asked to arrange funding for travel to and from the university visit through their department.

Where an employer does not have a budget available for the travel, the programme information indicates that travel costs may be covered.

Applicants should therefore consider discussing the fellowship with their department or employer before committing to the programme, particularly if travel funding needs to be arranged.

Who Should Consider This Fellowship?

The EvEx Policy Fellowship may be particularly relevant to public and civil servants who are currently dealing with a policy challenge and would benefit from direct engagement with researchers.

It could be relevant to professionals who want to:

• Strengthen an existing policy project
• Explore a complex policy challenge
• Access specialist academic knowledge
• Improve their use of research evidence
• Develop data analysis or evaluation skills
• Build relationships with academics
• Expand their professional network
• Learn how to work more effectively across organisational boundaries
• Connect with other public and civil servants working on policy issues

The strongest potential use of the fellowship is likely to come from applicants who have a clear policy question or challenge that can be explored meaningfully with academic experts.

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What Makes the Fellowship Different?

The EvEx Policy Fellowship is not simply an opportunity to attend lectures or complete a conventional training course.

Its emphasis is on using academic expertise to address practical policy challenges.

The programme is therefore built around interaction.

Participants can bring questions from their professional work into an academic environment, discuss them with researchers and explore evidence and approaches that may help them better understand or address those challenges.

For team applicants, this process can happen collaboratively, allowing colleagues working on the same policy issue to engage with academics together.

The fellowship also combines this policy-research exchange with professional development and networking, giving participants the opportunity to develop both their knowledge and their professional connections.

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Conclusion

The EvEx Policy Fellowship offers a structured opportunity for eligible public and civil servants to connect their practical policy work with academic research and expertise.

Through up to five days of in-person engagement at universities between December 2026 and May 2027, fellows can discuss policy questions with academics, participate in relevant seminars, access research tools and resources, develop their professional skills and connect with other public and civil servants.

The programme accepts applications from individual public and civil servants as well as teams of two to five people working on the same policy challenge. It is funded through the EvEx project, which forms part of the Policy to Research programme funded by the ESRC.

For professionals working in government, legislatures, public bodies, devolved administrations or local government, the fellowship provides an opportunity to bring a real-world policy challenge into direct conversation with academic expertise. Its focus on research engagement, problem-solving, professional development and networking makes it particularly relevant to public-sector professionals seeking to strengthen the evidence base behind their work.

Prospective applicants should review the official EvEx information carefully for the latest application instructions, eligibility requirements and application deadline, as no deadline was included in the information provided here.

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