The Chancellor’s Fellowship is a fantastic opportunity for experienced, high-quality researchers at Manchester Met to develop policy-related impact linked to their research findings. It provides staff with access to funding of up to £8,000 to support placements with external organisations that can accelerate policy impact or address a challenge identified by the partner. Funding can be used to cover costs such as accommodation, travel, living expenses, and any materials or consumables directly related to the placement. However, it cannot be used to buy out teaching time. Eligible host organisations can include government departments (local, national, or international), think tanks, charities, industry etc.

Key benefits for partners include:

• Access to Cutting-Edge Research and Expertise: Partners can tap into specialist academic knowledge and research capabilities that may not be available in-house. This helps them stay ahead of trends and inform their decision-making with evidence-based insights.
• Driving Innovation and Problem-Solving: Fellows often work on specific, real-world problems identified by the partner organisation, which helps to accelerate research and development (R&D), develop innovative solutions, and validate new ideas or technologies.
• Enhanced Credibility and Reputation: Collaborating with a prestigious academic institution and its researchers can enhance an external partner’s public image and add a level of credibility to their outputs/activities.
• Networking and Long-Term Collaboration: Fellowships facilitate the building of strong personal and corporate links and networks between the academic and non-academic sectors, which often lead to sustained, long-term strategic partnerships and future joint initiatives.
• Access to Resources and Facilities: External partners may gain access to additional support including: university supported events, production of resources and other dissemination channels (social media etc)
• Exposure to New Perspectives: Working with academics brings fresh insights and diverse perspectives to commercial or policy challenges, which can enhance organisational creativity and lead to a more balanced approach to problem-solving

For further information and an application form, please click on the link below (this is for internal Manchester Met staff only)

The Chancellor’s Visiting Fellowship:

The Chancellor’s Visiting Fellowship gives Manchester Metropolitan University researchers the chance to host a senior policy professional and collaborate on generating real‑world policy impact. Fellows must be currently employed in a policy‑focused organisation and bring substantial senior‑level experience. The scheme provides up to £8,000 to support a flexible 20–30‑day placement, and applications are accepted throughout the year.

For enquiries, please contact Nick O’Dowd at n.odowd@mmu.ac.uk.