WCSJ2027 Travel Fellowship — Travel Support for Journalists and Journalism Students

Admin,

Application Deadline: 23 October 2026 at 23:59 BST.

Applications are open for the WCSJ2027 Travel Fellowship, a competitive opportunity supporting journalists, media professionals, journalism students and eligible professionals who would otherwise be unable to attend the World Conference of Science Journalists 2027 (WCSJ2027) in London.

The fellowship aims to broaden international participation, increase diversity and improve access for professionals with limited funding opportunities in their countries or organisations. The application deadline is 23 October 2026 at 23:59 BST.

What Is the WCSJ2027 Travel Fellowship?

The WCSJ2027 Travel Fellowship provides financial support to selected applicants to attend WCSJ2027 in London. The conference is scheduled for September 2027.

The fellowship is particularly relevant to journalists covering science and related areas such as engineering, climate and health, as well as students studying journalism, science journalism, media studies, science communication or related fields.

Applicants are selected through a competitive international review process. Selection considers professional work, motivation, potential contribution, financial need and the overall diversity and international representation of the fellowship cohort.

What Does the Fellowship Cover?

Successful fellows will receive support toward:

  • Travel to and from London.
  • UK visa application costs, where applicable.
  • Limited local transportation connected with conference activities.
  • Up to six nights of accommodation.
  • Full conference registration.
  • Refreshments and lunches provided during the conference.

However, the fellowship does not provide per diem payments and does not cover every personal expense. Excluded costs include personal expenses, travel insurance, health expenses, meals outside the conference and unrelated local transportation.

WCSJ2027 will arrange and pay directly for approved travel and accommodation, while other approved expenses may be reimbursed after arrival.

Who Can Apply?

The fellowship is open to:

  • Journalists and media professionals covering science and related fields.
  • Freelance, part-time and full-time media professionals.
  • Students in journalism, science journalism, media studies, science communication and related disciplines.
  • Researchers and educators in relevant fields who have a proven track record in journalism.

There is no minimum number of years of professional experience.

However, people working exclusively in public relations, research, teaching or science communication without professional involvement in journalism are not eligible.

Application Requirements

Applicants will need to provide information about their professional background, including:

  • Current employer, institution or professional affiliation.
  • Current role and years of experience.
  • A CV or résumé of no more than two pages.
  • Professional biography.
  • Three examples of published work from the past two years.
  • A supporting letter from an employer, editor, educational institution or relevant professional association.

Applicants will also answer questions about why they want to attend WCSJ2027, what they hope to learn, how the fellowship will benefit their work, what they can contribute and how they intend to share their knowledge after the conference.

A funding statement is also required. Applicants should explain what financial support they already have and why additional assistance is necessary.

How Are Applicants Selected?

The published selection criteria include:

  1. Commitment to science journalism and journalism.
  2. Professional development and engagement with the journalism community.
  3. Motivation for attending WCSJ2027.
  4. Potential benefit and contribution.
  5. Plans for sharing knowledge gained at the conference.
  6. Quality of professional work.
  7. Need for financial support.

WCSJ2027 also aims to create a balanced and internationally representative fellowship cohort. Applicants based in countries classified as low-income or lower-middle-income under the applicable World Bank classifications will receive additional consideration.

Important Information for International Applicants

Applicants should check their UK visa requirements early and ensure that their passport is valid until at least the end of September 2027, or provide evidence that they have applied for a new or renewed passport.

The fellowship covers applicable visa application costs, but applicants remain responsible for applying for and obtaining their visa.

If a selected applicant’s UK visa is refused, the official FAQ states that they will no longer be able to use the fellowship to attend the conference in person but will instead receive full online registration.

How to Strengthen Your Application

Don’t treat the application as simply a request for travel funding. Use it to demonstrate your professional value and potential impact.

Choose three strong work samples that demonstrate the quality of your journalism. Your motivation statement should explain specifically why WCSJ2027 matters to your career rather than simply saying that you want to network.

Also provide a realistic plan for sharing what you learn with your newsroom, professional network, students, media community or audience.

When explaining financial need, clearly show what funding is already available and what gap remains.

Key Details

DetailInformation
OpportunityWCSJ2027 Travel Fellowship
ConferenceWorld Conference of Science Journalists 2027
LocationLondon, UK
Eligible applicantsJournalists, media professionals, eligible students and journalism-experienced researchers/educators
SupportTravel, visa costs, limited local transport, accommodation and conference registration
Deadline23 October 2026, 23:59 BST
Expected resultsEnd of February 2027
Number of fellowshipsThis information was not specified in the official announcement.
Acceptance rateThis information was not specified in the official announcement.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted through the online application form. The downloadable offline form is only provided to help applicants prepare their responses and cannot be submitted as an application.

Official fellowship page, click Here

To apply, click Here

Be one of the first to see new opportunities, Follow Us on social media: Facebook, Whatsapp Channel, LinkedIn

Fellowships & Scholarship opportunities Grants