Apply for the Software Sustainability Institute Fellowship Programme 2027 and receive £4,000 funding

Application Deadline: October 5, 2026

Applications are now open for the SSI Fellowship Programme 2027, an international fellowship opportunity for people working to improve software and computational practices in research. The programme is particularly relevant to researchers, research software professionals, educators, and others supporting research infrastructure and digital innovation.

Organised by the Software Sustainability Institute (SSI), the fellowship is designed to help individuals become stronger advocates for sustainable and effective software practices across research disciplines. Around 20 Fellows are selected each year, including up to three international Fellows.

For applicants in Africa and other regions outside the UK, the programme presents an opportunity to connect with an international research software community, develop leadership skills, and advance projects that can contribute to better research practices in their institutions and communities.

The application deadline is 5 October 2026, giving prospective applicants several weeks to develop and refine their applications.

About the SSI Fellowship Programme

The SSI Fellowship Programme aims to improve and promote good computational practice across research disciplines. Rather than focusing only on people with traditional software engineering backgrounds, the programme welcomes individuals working in a wide range of research, training, infrastructure, and academic roles.

Fellows receive financial support to organise or participate in activities that promote better software practices. The 2027 cohort will receive a £4,000 budget for eligible Fellowship activities.

The programme also places strong emphasis on community and professional development. Fellows participate in mentoring, cohort-based learning, monthly community calls, study groups, and the annual Collaborations Workshop. The Fellowship therefore combines funding with opportunities to learn from peers and build long-term professional connections.

The programme runs from 1 January 2027 to 31 March 2028, giving successful Fellows an extended period to develop and implement their plans.

Why research software matters

Modern research increasingly depends on software, data, computational tools, artificial intelligence, and digital infrastructure. However, simply having access to technology does not guarantee reliable or sustainable research.

Good software practices can help researchers improve reproducibility, collaboration, efficiency, documentation, and the long-term usefulness of their work.

The SSI Fellowship provides a platform for people who want to help address these challenges within their own fields and institutions.

Benefits of the SSI Fellowship

Successful Fellows can benefit from:

• £4,000 in financial support for activities that promote good software practices.
• Mentorship from members of the SSI community.
• Cohort-based learning with other Fellows.
• Participation in monthly community calls and study groups.
• Attendance at the annual Collaborations Workshop.
• International networking and collaboration opportunities.
• Greater professional visibility within the research software community.
• Opportunities to develop leadership and advocacy skills.
• Access to a continuing community beyond the initial Fellowship period.

The Fellowship can be especially valuable for professionals who want to move beyond their immediate technical role and influence how research software is developed, used, taught, or supported.

Who Can Apply?

The programme is open to applicants at any career stage and from a wide range of professional backgrounds.

Potential applicants include:

• PhD candidates and other researchers.
• Research Software Engineers.
• Professors and academic leaders.
• Directors and managers of research computing.
• Professionals supporting research infrastructure.
• Individuals involved in research training or education.
• People advocating for better computational and software practices.
• Professionals who contribute to research software without having a formal software background.

International applicants

The 2027 programme offers up to three places for international applicants.

Applicants who are not based in the UK or affiliated with a UK institution need to demonstrate how their Fellowship plans could strengthen international collaboration or contribute a valuable perspective to UK research culture. The SSI also advises international applicants to consider practical issues such as time zones, language barriers, travel expenses, and financial administration.

This makes the opportunity particularly worth exploring for qualified researchers and digital innovation professionals across Africa.

Application Process and Key Dates

The SSI Fellowship application consists of two main components:

1. Application form – Applicants provide information about themselves, their work, and their proposed Fellowship activities.
2. Six-minute screencast video – Applicants explain who they are, what they do, and what they plan to accomplish during the Fellowship.

Applicants who are shortlisted will be invited to an Online Selection Day, involving group activities designed to assess how candidates collaborate, communicate, contribute, and engage with others.

The SSI provides several resources to help applicants prepare, including an application video guide, examples from previous Fellows, eligibility information, selection criteria, and the possibility of being matched with a current Fellow for advice.

Important dates

Milestone	Date
Applications open	10 August 2026
Launch webinar	20 August 2026
Application deadline	5 October 2026
Shortlist confirmed	3 November 2026
Online Selection Day	12 November 2026
Fellowship announcement	9 December 2026
Fellowship period	1 January 2027 – 31 March 2028

How to Strengthen Your Application

A strong application should do more than describe your professional background. It should clearly demonstrate what you want to change and why your proposed Fellowship activities matter.

1. Define a specific problem

Identify a genuine challenge involving research software, computational practice, training, infrastructure, reproducibility, collaboration, or access.

Avoid presenting a broad idea such as “I want to improve software skills.” Instead, explain the specific gap you have observed and who is affected by it.

2. Present a practical Fellowship plan

Show exactly how the £4,000 support and SSI community could help you address the problem.

For example, your plan could involve developing training resources, organising workshops, creating a community of practice, supporting better documentation, or encouraging improved computational practices within a research community.

3. Demonstrate wider impact

Think beyond your personal career development.

Explain how your Fellowship activities could benefit colleagues, students, researchers, institutions, professional communities, or collaborators.

For African applicants, this could include demonstrating how your work can strengthen research capacity, digital skills, open collaboration, or computational practices within African research ecosystems while also contributing to international knowledge exchange.

4. Treat the screencast as an opportunity

The six-minute video is not simply an administrative requirement. It gives applicants an opportunity to communicate their personality, motivation, expertise, and vision.

Keep your presentation focused. Explain who you are, what problem you care about, what you intend to do, and why the SSI Fellowship is the right platform to help you achieve it.

5. Prepare early

Do not wait until the final week to record your video or complete the application. Review the official eligibility and selection criteria, draft your responses, test your screencast, and seek feedback before submission.

The SSI also provides access to previous application examples and current Fellows who can offer guidance.

Why You Should Consider Applying

The SSI Fellowship is more than a funding opportunity. It combines financial support, mentorship, community learning, leadership development, and international collaboration.

For professionals working at the intersection of research, technology, education, data, software, or digital infrastructure, the programme could provide a valuable platform to turn an identified challenge into a practical initiative.

It is also an opportunity to become part of a wider community advocating for better research software practices. The SSI reports that its Fellowship has supported Fellows’ professional development and helped strengthen their knowledge and use of good software practices.

For eligible international applicants, the limited number of places makes it particularly important to develop a focused application that clearly explains the value of their perspective and proposed international collaboration.

Conclusion

The SSI Fellowship Programme 2027 offers an unusual combination of funding, professional development, mentorship, and international community for people working to improve research software and computational practices.

If you have a practical idea for strengthening software practices in your research field, institution, or professional community, this could be a strong opportunity to explore.

Applications close on 5 October 2026. Start preparing your application early, review the official criteria carefully, and use the available resources to strengthen your submission.

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