- ~£85,000 / yearSalary reimbursed to employer
- 12 monthsFellowship duration
- 5+ years UK residencySecurity-check requirement
- Hybrid (DSIT + remote)Work mode
- 4 public-sector focus areasProject themes
- Turing + DSIT + MetaDelivery partners
At a glance
full
Funding
€98k
Max amount
Aug 18, 2026
Deadline
United Kingdom (residents with the right to work)
Country
The Alan Turing Institute
Provider
The Open Source AI Fellowship is a 12-month, fully funded programme run by The Alan Turing Institute in partnership with the UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and Meta. Fellows are placed inside DSIT's Incubator for Artificial Intelligence (i.AI) to build open-source AI tools for the public sector, working on areas such as national security document processing, AI trained on UK legal datasets, offline AI for NHS and emergency-service crisis response, and data-driven government decision support. The programme reimburses the fellow's employer up to 85,000 pounds per annum and follows a hybrid model that mixes on-site work at DSIT with remote work. It runs for 12 months, with a typical cohort starting in January, and is delivered as a secondment, so applicants must already be employed by a UK-based organisation that agrees to release them. Eligibility is restricted: applicants need the legal right to work in the UK without sponsorship, at least 5 years of UK residency for the required security check, and a PhD or equivalent professional experience. Because the salary reimbursement cap, the call window, and the focus areas change each round, confirm the exact current-cycle figures and the 2026/2027 deadline on The Alan Turing Institute's official page before you apply.
What's covered
- Salary reimbursement — The fellow's UK employer is reimbursed up to ~£85,000 per annum for the 12-month secondment, depending on role and experience.
- Secondment placement — A full-time placement inside DSIT's Incubator for Artificial Intelligence (i.AI) for the duration of the fellowship.
- Hybrid working — A blend of on-site work at DSIT and remote work, with no relocation requirement beyond UK residence.
- Project resources — Access to public-sector datasets and infrastructure needed to build and ship open-source AI tools.
- Professional network — Collaboration across The Alan Turing Institute, DSIT, and Meta, plus visibility with government and academic leaders.
How to apply
All applications are submitted through The Alan Turing Institute's official application portal during the published call window.
- Confirm your eligibility — Check that you have the right to work in the UK, 5+ years of UK residency, and current UK employment willing to support a secondment.
- Secure employer support — Obtain written confirmation from your employer that they will release you on a 12-month secondment to DSIT.
- Prepare your application materials — Draft a CV and a cover letter setting out your AI experience and the public-sector problems you want to work on.
- Submit through the Turing portal — Upload your CV, cover letter, and employer-support details through the official Alan Turing Institute portal.
- Complete security clearance — If shortlisted, complete the required security check before the fellowship start date.
Eligibility
Right to workLegally eligible to work in the UK; no visa sponsorship is provided.
ResidencyAt least 5 years of continuous UK residence to pass the required security check.
EmploymentCurrently employed by a UK-based organisation willing to support a 12-month secondment to DSIT.
QualificationA PhD, or equivalent professional experience, in AI or a closely related discipline.
SkillsStrong technical and problem-solving ability in AI system design and deployment.
International applicants without existing UK work rights and residency are not eligible, because the programme offers no sponsorship and requires a security check based on UK residence.
Eligible countries
United Kingdom (residents with the right to work)
Deadlines
2026/2027 cohort~18 August 2026 (est.)
Selection
Applications are reviewed on AI technical depth, relevance of experience to the public-sector focus areas, the strength of the proposed contribution, and confirmed employer support for the secondment. Shortlisted candidates must clear a security check before starting.
Verified sources
- The Alan Turing Institute (official)turing.ac.ukofficial
About the provider
The Alan Turing Institute is the UK's national institute for data science and artificial intelligence, based in London. It partners with government and industry, here with DSIT and Meta, to deliver open-source AI tools that serve the public sector.
Frequently asked questions
Answers below are best-effort estimates from the most recent application cycle. Values marked ~ or (est.) may shift year-to-year — confirm specifics on the official scholarship page.
Who can apply for the Open Source AI Fellowship?
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UK-based professionals with AI experience, a PhD or equivalent expertise, at least 5 years of UK residency, and current UK employment willing to support a secondment can apply.
Can international students or researchers apply?
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No. Applicants must already be residing in the UK with the legal right to work; the programme offers no visa sponsorship and requires 5+ years of UK residency for the security check.
What is the salary structure?
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The programme reimburses the fellow's employer up to about £85,000 per annum, depending on the fellow's role and experience.
Is remote work allowed?
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Yes. The fellowship follows a hybrid model that combines on-site work at DSIT with remote work.
What kind of projects will I work on?
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Projects address real public-sector challenges, including AI for legal systems, NHS and crisis response, secure document processing, and government decision support.
Do I need to be employed to apply?
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Yes. You must be employed by a UK-based organisation that agrees to a 12-month secondment to DSIT.
How long is the fellowship?
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The fellowship runs for 12 months, with cohorts typically starting in January.
Who runs the fellowship?
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It is run by The Alan Turing Institute in partnership with the UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and Meta.
Do I need a PhD?
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You need a PhD or equivalent professional experience in AI or a closely related discipline.
Why does the programme require a security check?
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Fellows work on sensitive public-sector projects inside DSIT, so a security check based on at least 5 years of UK residency is required.
How do I submit my application?
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All applications go through The Alan Turing Institute's official portal and require a CV, cover letter, and details of employer support.
Where can I confirm the exact deadline and salary cap?
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Confirm the current-cycle deadline, salary reimbursement cap, and focus areas on The Alan Turing Institute's official website before applying.