Applications are open for the ERA Winter Fellowship 2027, a paid research programme for people who want to work on technical AI safety, AI governance or technical AI governance.
The fellowship will take place in Cambridge, United Kingdom, from 18 January to 26 March 2027. Selected fellows receive a £10,000 stipend plus specified support for travel, visas and meals during working hours.
Applicants from any country may apply. ERA has no formal degree or subject restriction, but every fellow must be at least 18 years old by the programme start date. ERA’s official fellowship page provides the core details for the Winter 2027 cycle.
Important fact-check: The Winter 2027 fellowship lasts 10 weeks, not eight weeks. ERA’s current website, FAQ and live application form all give the dates as 18 January to 26 March 2027. Applicants should follow the official 10-week schedule if they see an eight-week duration in another listing.
Information in this guide was checked against official ERA sources on 6 September 2026.
ERA Winter Fellowship 2027 Quick Facts
| Detail | Verified information |
|---|---|
| Fellowship name | Cambridge ERA Fellowship, Winter 2027 |
| Provider | ERA |
| Programme type | Full-time, non-degree research fellowship |
| Research areas | Technical AI Safety, AI Governance and Technical AI Governance |
| Location | Cambridge, United Kingdom |
| Participation format | In person by default |
| Duration | 10 weeks |
| Programme dates | 18 January to 26 March 2027 |
| Funding | £10,000 stipend plus travel, visa and workday meal support |
| Nationality | Open worldwide |
| Minimum age | 18 by the start of the fellowship |
| Formal degree requirement | None stated |
| Planned cohort | About 30 to 35 fellows across three streams |
| Application deadline | 13 September 2026, 11:59 PM Anywhere on Earth, AoE, UTC−12 |
| Application fee | No fee is listed on the official application form |
| Official application | Apply through ERA’s verified Airtable form |
What Is the ERA Winter Fellowship?
The ERA Fellowship is an intensive research programme focused on reducing serious risks from advanced artificial intelligence. Fellows spend the programme developing a substantial research project with support from a research manager, a matched mentor and ERA’s wider network.
The work may lead to a policy brief, working paper, technical report, replication or audit report, code-based output or another format suited to the project. Fellows are expected to present their work at ERA’s Research Symposium. ERA’s official FAQ explains the programme structure and expected outputs.
This is not a bachelor’s, master’s or PhD scholarship. It is a non-degree fellowship for researchers, students, professionals and entrepreneurs at different career stages.
About ERA
ERA runs research programmes aimed at understanding and reducing risks from frontier technologies. Its current ERA work covers technical AI safety, AI governance and technical AI governance.
ERA states that it was founded in 2021 and has supported more than 200 researchers from over 30 countries through its programmes. The organisation shifted its main research focus to AI safety and governance in 2024. Read ERA’s official background.
The programme is based in Cambridge, but applicants should not describe it as a University of Cambridge scholarship. ERA’s official materials say fellows work from its co-working space in central Cambridge. They do not present the fellowship as a University of Cambridge degree or university-administered award.
Host Country, Location and Study Level
The host country is the United Kingdom. The normal format is in person in Cambridge.
ERA says remote participation is generally not expected, although it may discuss an exception with an outstanding candidate after an offer. Applicants should therefore plan on relocating to Cambridge for the full programme.
There is no fixed study level. The fellowship is open across career stages, including students, researchers and employed professionals. Prior formal research experience is helpful but not compulsory.
Accepted professionals need to arrange leave from work, while students need to arrange a break from their studies. ERA says it can provide a support letter where needed. Check the official eligibility and logistics FAQ.
Fellowship Duration and Dates
The Winter 2027 ERA Fellowship runs for 10 weeks:
- Start date: 18 January 2027
- End date: 26 March 2027
- Location: Cambridge, UK
ERA describes the fellowship as full time. Before applying, check that you can attend for the full period and meet any leave, academic or visa requirements.
ERA Winter Fellowship Funding Coverage
ERA labels the programme fully funded and specifies the following support for selected fellows:
- A £10,000 stipend for the 10-week fellowship
- Travel expense coverage to and from Cambridge
- Visa sponsorship, application support and visa expense coverage
- Meals during working hours
- Selected social and research excursions in Cambridge and London
- A desk in ERA’s central Cambridge co-working space
- Research management, mentor support and access to a compute budget
The stipend is a fixed fellowship payment. ERA does not state that each living cost will be reimbursed separately. See ERA’s official funding summary and logistics FAQ.
Accommodation and Costs Not Separately Guaranteed
ERA does not provide or guarantee accommodation. It says the £10,000 stipend includes a portion intended for housing and that its team helps fellows look for accommodation together in Cambridge.
Applicants should plan for housing, a possible rental deposit, meals outside working hours and personal spending. The official pages do not publish a complete list of reimbursable costs.
They also do not confirm separate coverage for travel insurance, passport renewal, local personal travel or family expenses.
Treat any cost not named in the official offer as unconfirmed. Ask ERA for written clarification before booking travel or signing a rental agreement.
Research Tracks
Applicants select one of three tracks:
Technical AI Safety
This track covers research such as evaluations, interpretability, robustness, alignment, AI control, scalable oversight and monitoring model behaviour.
AI Governance
This track focuses on areas such as frontier AI policy, regulatory design, corporate governance, international coordination and institutional safeguards.
Technical AI Governance
This interdisciplinary track connects technical methods with governance needs. Topics include compute governance, auditing, monitoring, hardware-enabled verification, safety evaluations and technical standards.
Choose the track that best fits your skills and proposed work. ERA notes that it may reassign a successful applicant if another track fits the person’s profile and goals better. Review ERA’s official research-track descriptions.
Eligibility Criteria
You may apply if you meet these verified conditions:
- You will be at least 18 years old when the fellowship starts.
- You are interested in contributing to technical AI safety, AI governance or technical AI governance.
- You can take part in the full-time programme in Cambridge, unless ERA later approves an exception.
- You submit your own original application answers.
ERA welcomes applicants from all countries and career stages. Citizenship information is collected to assess visa needs and, according to the application form, does not affect selection.
There is no formal restriction based on degree, university, subject or years of research experience. Relevant applicants may come from computer science, engineering, law, public policy, economics, security or other fields.
ERA also welcomes people who want to redirect existing expertise towards advanced AI risks.
If you need a visa, your passport must be valid until at least 26 September 2027 and contain at least one blank page for the visa vignette. Start a renewal early if your passport does not meet these conditions. Confirm the current rules in ERA’s FAQ.
Required Documents and Application Information
The live Winter 2027 form confirms one required file upload:
- Current CV or resume
You also need to provide:
- Full name, preferred name and email address
- Country or countries of citizenship
- LinkedIn profile, or N/A if you do not have one
- Current career level and most recent higher-education institution, or N/A where applicable
- Your chosen fellowship track
- Short written responses about your motivation, relevant experience and possible research project
- Names, email addresses, roles and relationships for two references
Some extra questions appear after you select a track. Review the full form early so you know which track-specific questions apply to you.
The visible initial form does not request an academic transcript, degree certificate, English-language test result, recommendation letter or passport upload.
ERA may request further information later, but its public materials do not confirm such documents for the initial application.
Important Rule on AI Use
ERA’s application form states that applicants must write all responses themselves. It prohibits outside assistance, including using an AI tool to generate or refine written answers. ERA warns that a breach may lead to disqualification.
Use this guide only to understand the programme. Do not paste text from this article into the application, and do not ask an AI assistant to draft or edit your responses.
Selection Process
ERA uses a multi-stage process:
1. Written Application
Complete the online form with personal details, a CV, two references and short essay responses. ERA estimates that this stage takes about two hours and reviews applications on a rolling basis.
2. First Interview
ERA says roughly the top 20% of applicants will be invited to a first interview. These interviews are planned for late September 2026.
3. Second Interview and Reference Checks
Applicants who advance will attend a shorter second interview in early October 2026. ERA contacts references around this stage and says it will ask the applicant before doing so.
4. Final Offers and Mentor Matching
ERA makes final decisions after considering the full application, interviews and references. It plans to select about 30 to 35 fellows across the three tracks.
After offers, ERA works with selected fellows to refine project ideas and match each person with a mentor.
Selection is competitive. Meeting the basic eligibility conditions does not guarantee an interview or offer. See the official application process and selection FAQ.
How to Apply for the ERA Winter Fellowship 2027
Follow these steps:
- Read the official fellowship page, research themes and FAQ.
- Confirm that you are available from 18 January to 26 March 2027.
- Choose one research track that closely matches your interests and experience.
- Prepare your current CV and the contact details of two suitable references.
- Open the official ERA Winter 2027 application form.
- Complete every required field and write all essay answers independently.
- Check the character limits, email address and referee details.
- Submit before 13 September 2026 at 11:59 PM AoE.
The form says it does not send a confirmation email after submission. Keep a copy of your responses and record the date and time you submitted.
Practical Application Guidance
- Apply early. ERA reviews applications on a rolling basis.
- Study past ERA research before choosing your topic.
- Show why your proposed question matters for reducing large-scale risks from advanced AI.
- Explain your reasoning clearly. ERA says it values transparent reasoning, first-principles thinking and an honest account of uncertainty.
- Focus on substance. The official form advises applicants to prioritise content over polish.
- Use evidence from your own work. Link to a relevant project, publication or code sample where appropriate.
- Contact your references in advance. Make sure their email addresses and relationship details are correct.
- Check your passport now if you expect to need a UK visa.
- Do not use AI or another person to write or edit your application answers.
Application Deadline and Timezone
The verified deadline is:
- Date: 13 September 2026
- Time: 11:59 PM
- Timezone: Anywhere on Earth, AoE, equivalent to UTC−12
AoE is later than local time in most countries, but applicants should not rely on a last-minute conversion. Submit at least one day early to avoid time-zone, internet or form issues. Verify the deadline on ERA’s official page.
Official Application Link
Apply for the ERA Winter Fellowship 2027 through the official form
This Airtable form is the application link published on ERA’s official website for the Winter 2027 cycle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the ERA Winter Fellowship 2027 fully funded?
Yes. ERA calls it fully funded. Fellows receive a £10,000 stipend, travel and visa support, travel expense coverage and meals during working hours.
Accommodation is not directly provided or guaranteed. A portion of the stipend is intended for housing.
Is the fellowship eight weeks or 10 weeks?
It is 10 weeks for Winter 2027. The official dates are 18 January to 26 March 2027. The eight-week detail in some summaries does not match ERA’s current cycle information.
Can applicants from any country apply?
Yes. ERA welcomes applicants worldwide. Citizenship information helps the team identify visa requirements and does not affect selection, according to the official form.
What is the minimum age?
You must be at least 18 years old by the start of the fellowship.
Do I need a specific degree?
No formal degree, subject or study-level restriction is stated. The fellowship is open to people at different career stages. Prior research experience is useful but not required.
Is the fellowship offered by the University of Cambridge?
ERA hosts the programme in Cambridge. Its official pages do not describe the fellowship as a University of Cambridge degree or university-administered scholarship.
Is remote participation available?
The default format is in person. ERA says it sometimes discusses remote participation for exceptional candidates after an offer, but applicants should plan to attend in Cambridge.
Does ERA provide accommodation?
No. ERA helps fellows look for housing, and the stipend includes a housing portion, but accommodation is not provided or guaranteed.
Which document must I upload?
The initial application form requires a CV or resume. It also asks for two references and several written responses. No transcript, degree certificate or English test is listed as a required initial upload.
Can I use ChatGPT to improve my application answers?
No. ERA expressly prohibits using LLMs or other AI assistants to generate or refine application responses. Write every answer independently.
When will interviews take place?
ERA plans first-round interviews for late September 2026 and second-round interviews for early October 2026.
How many fellows will ERA select?
ERA plans to accept around 30 to 35 fellows across its three research tracks. The final distribution may depend on applicant quality.
Will I receive an application confirmation email?
No. The Winter 2027 form states that it does not send confirmation emails after submission. Save your answers and note when you submit.
