Cumberland Lodge Fellowships - Cumberland Lodge

A group of Fellows taking a selfie within an Instagram frame

Develop leadership skills and drive social change: the Cumberland Lodge Fellowship is a unique opportunity for doctoral students and early career professionals.

What is the Cumberland Lodge Fellowship?

Cumberland Lodge has re-launched its two-year fellowship scheme in 2025, offering 10 places each year for emerging leaders. Whether you’re a PhD candidate or an early career professional, this programme will enhance your skills in public engagement, interdisciplinary collaboration, leadership, and policy dialogue – building your networks and helping you become a changemaker in your field.

Why apply for the Cumberland Lodge Fellowship?

This UK leadership fellowship is designed to fit around your research or career while providing:

networking opportunities with policymakers, academic experts, and industry leaders;
increased understanding of key societal and political issues facing the world today, particularly the causes and impacts of social division and conflict;
capacity-building workshops to enhance public engagement and social impact;
mentorship from senior figures via our partnership with Windsor Leadership;
a £300 personal development grant to fund projects promoting social cohesion.

Ideal for:

doctoral students seeking leadership skills beyond academia
early career professionals, particularly those in tech, AI, finance, charities, or creative industries, looking to drive social change.

About Cumberland Lodge: developing future leaders

Founded in 1947 as an educational charity in the aftermath of the Second World War, Cumberland Lodge is developing the next generation of leaders to:

drive meaningful change towards more just and inclusive communities
understand the root causes of social division and conflict
develop practical skills to advocate for peaceful solutions.

Our unique approach combines:

Transformative dialogue

residential workshops and conferences at our historic Lodge in Windsor Great Park
intergenerational conversations tackling pressing societal challenges
safe spaces for debate across political and cultural divides.

Leadership development

skills training in public engagement and leadership
opportunities to facilitate discussions and shape policy dialogues
mentoring from senior figures across sectors.

Network building

connecting doctoral researchers with industry professionals
fostering long-term collaborations through our alumni community
cross-sector partnerships with organisations like St George’s House.

Our current Programme themes

Fellows join a global network of alumni working for fairer, more inclusive societies. We focus on five key areas addressing contemporary challenges:

Youth & Democracy
The Rule of Law
Freedom of Religion and Belief
Intergenerational Dialogue – our Gen Z and the City partnership with St Paul’s Cathedral
Exploring Ethics

Who can apply for the Cumberland Lodge Fellowship?

Doctoral Fellows:

Currently enrolled in a PhD programme at a London university, and
passionate about bridging research and real-world impact.

Industry Fellows:

Early career professionals (within five years of starting your career). We are open to all fields but would encourage applications from tech and AI, finance, charity sector, and/or the creative industries.
Must be London-based to participate in events.

Selection criteria: Leadership potential, alignment with our themes, and commitment to social cohesion.

We want to encourage as much contact with the Cumberland Lodge programme as possible during the two-year Fellowship, and for this reason we ask that applicants be resident in the Greater London region.

Fellowship structure and benefits

First year:

Fellows’ Retreat (September)
Workshops/conferences at Cumberland Lodge or St George’s House
Blogging/writing for our newsletter/community engagement via our platform, Circle

Second year:

Create a webinar/podcast (Dialogue & Debate series)
Life Beyond the PhD conference (mandatory for doctoral fellows)
Mentorship and networking with senior leaders

Additional perks:

Free access to our events (e.g. Cumberland Conversations, London Dialogue)
Travel expenses covered for London-based activities
Discounted use of Cumberland Lodge facilities

Fellowship alumni and ambassadorial role

By becoming a Cumberland Lodge Fellow, you’ll join our growing international network of leaders working across academia, industry, and civil society. This intergenerational community is united by a shared commitment to:

strengthening social cohesion through dialogue;
addressing causes of social division; and
building sustainable partnerships for positive change.

As part of your Fellowship, we ask you to represent Cumberland Lodge in your professional networks; share insights from our programmes with your communities; and identify partnership opportunities that align with our mission

This role is supported through our annual Fellows’ Retreat (September) – a chance to reconnect with peers and meet new Fellows.