Apply Now: University of Oxford Institute for Ethics in AI 2026 Fully Funded Accelerator Fellowship Programme (In-Person and Remote)
The University of Oxford Institute for Ethics in AI is accepting applications for its Accelerator Fellowship Programme. This is for people who want to do practical, independent work on the ethical issues raised by AI-and connect academia with industry to make it count outside the page.
Here's the short version: you set the agenda, you own your time, and you deliver clear outcomes. The Institute provides the platform, community, and support to help your work land in policy, products, or public debate.
Focus Areas
Your project should align with one of the Institute's core themes:
- AI and Creativity
- AI in Care, Mental Health, and Healthcare
- AI and Humanity
- AI, Law and Policy
The cohort will include three to four Fellows who show strong potential to create original, useful contributions in AI ethics.
Who Should Apply
Open to applicants from academia, industry, civil society, public policy, and the creative and technology sectors. If you want to expand collaborations, build new networks, and progress ethical research or practical solutions for AI development and deployment, this is built for you.
What You'll Get
- Flexible, self-directed research environment
- Professional development and access to strategic networks
- Stipend for both in-person and remote Fellows
- Support for practical and policy-focused outputs
- Visa costs covered and round-trip economy airfare for UK visits
This is not a taught programme. No formal supervision or assessments. You can attend Institute seminars, talks, and University events. Structured touchpoints are minimal: a kick-off meeting and a one-day retreat to build shared context and community.
Format and Expectations
- Run an independent, impact-focused project within one of the four themes
- No fixed weekly time requirements-manage your own schedule
- Define your deliverables early; you may share initial ideas during interviews
- At the end, submit a short written summary for publication on the programme website
- Additional opportunities may include talks, events, podcasts, or video features
Key Dates
2025/2026 Fellowships
- Applications open: 18 November 2025
- Deadline: 10 January 2026
2026/2027 Fellowships
- Applications open: 16 May 2026
- Deadline: 13 June 2026
Start Windows
- In-Person: Start in April or September. If you need a visa, apply at least six months before your planned start. If you don't, apply at least three months before. When in doubt, use the six-month timeline.
- Remote: Earliest start for 2026 remote Fellows is late February 2026.
How to Apply
Review the Institute's guidance and events before applying. Due to volume, the team cannot respond to all queries. Submit all materials as described in the How to Apply section and send them to: aiethicsafp@philosophy.ox.ac.uk
Learn more about the Institute here: Institute for Ethics in AI, University of Oxford.
Practical Tips to Strengthen Your Application
- Anchor your proposal to a real use case, policy question, or deployment risk. Be specific about who benefits and how.
- Show how you'll collaborate across sectors-name partners you have or plan to approach.
- Define concrete deliverables (e.g., policy memo, toolkit, pilot study, dataset, public resource) and a realistic timeline.
- Connect your methods to one of the four themes without jargon. Plain language wins.
If you want to sharpen your skills while shaping your proposal, browse curated learning paths by role: AI courses by job.
Who This Fits
Educators building new curricula, researchers pursuing policy-relevant work, product leaders stress-testing AI features for safety, clinicians exploring responsible deployment in care-this programme gives you the space and support to make your work count.
Call to Action
If you're ready to contribute meaningful, grounded work in AI ethics-and build partnerships that carry it into practice-apply within the timelines above. Send your application materials to aiethicsafp@philosophy.ox.ac.uk as instructed in the How to Apply section.
Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the hiring organization. Contact the official organization directly. Do not send applications to GSO. Due to high email volume, they may not be able to respond to all inquiries.
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