The Atlantic Fellows for Social and Economic Equity (AFSEE) programme at the London School of Economics has opened applications for its next cohort. It is a funded fellowship year for mid-career leaders fighting inequality. Applications close on 11 January 2027 at 5:00pm UK time, and late applications are not accepted.
| Detail | Key fact |
|---|---|
| Programme | Atlantic Fellows for Social and Economic Equity (AFSEE) |
| Host | International Inequalities Institute, London School of Economics, London, UK |
| Tracks | Residential (one year in London, MSc) and Non-Residential (stay in your country, practice-based project, Postgraduate Certificate) |
| Who it is for | Mid-career social-change leaders with at least 7 years of experience |
| Funding | Funded — tuition, travel, visa costs and living support covered |
| Application language | English |
| Deadline | 11 January 2027, 5:00pm UK time |
Two tracks, one fellowship year
The Residential track means one year in London. You complete the MSc in Inequalities and Social Science at LSE and join four fellowship modules during the year, with academics, practitioners, campaigners and civil society professionals. Choose this only if you can leave your job for a full year and meet LSE’s MSc admission requirements.
The Non-Residential track is for people who stay in their home countries and work contexts. You develop a practice-based project during the year and join the four modules with your Residential colleagues, online and in person. On successful completion, LSE awards you a Postgraduate Certificate in Social and Economic Equity. This suits people whose strength comes from the place where they work — staying there keeps the project rooted in the community it serves. After the active year, Fellows join the Senior Fellowship and a lifelong community across all seven Atlantic Fellows programmes.
What the funding covers
For Residential Fellows, the package covers full MSc tuition, a return flight to London, visa and immigration costs, and a living stipend. No stipend figure is published, so treat third-party figures as guesses. For Non-Residential Fellows, the fellowship covers the Postgraduate Certificate costs, travel and accommodation for in-person module sessions, visa fees, and project funding.
The eligibility line you cannot cross
For both tracks, you need at least seven years of experience. The programme is built for mid-career leaders — activists, policymakers, researchers and practitioners — not for recent graduates. You must be able to meet LSE’s English Language Requirements, although you do not have to sit an English test before applying.
The Residential track has one more gate: you must qualify for admission to the MSc in Inequalities and Social Science at LSE. Check the MSc programme page early, because university admission rules take time to understand. If you cannot meet them, the Non-Residential track may still be open. If you have fewer than seven years of experience or your English is not strong enough for master’s-level study, wait for a future round.
What the selectors actually want
Experience is the minimum bar, not the deciding factor. The selection criteria focus on your record of challenging inequality, the clarity of your vision for future impact, and your readiness to learn from and contribute to the community.
The programme is keen on applicants who live in the Global South, come from marginalised and underrepresented groups, or lack the resources to join fellowships like this. A majority of Fellows come from the Global South, and lived experience of inequality is treated as knowledge. There is no demand for a famous university or employer on your CV — the written application rewards plain honesty over polish.
Dates to put on your calendar
- Information webinar — 19 October
- Q&A sessions with AFSEE ambassadors — October to November
- Application tips webinar — 16 November
- Weekly drop-in sessions — November to December
- Application deadline — 11 January, 5:00pm UK time
- Interview invitations — mid-March
- Final decisions — mid-April
- Cohort announced — mid-July
How to apply
Everything runs through LSE’s online application system. Take the short eligibility quiz on the official page first — it forces you to face the hard requirements early. Then review LSE’s English Language Requirements.
Give yourself several weeks, not several days: the application asks about your values, your work and your vision, and those answers cannot be written well in one evening. Submit before 11 January at 5:00pm UK time — late applications are not accepted, and the deadline is in UK time.
How to make your application strong
First, show seven years of real work, not seven years of job titles. The reviewers want evidence that you have challenged inequality — campaigns you helped run, policies you changed, communities you worked with. Write about what you did and what changed because of it.
Second, make your vision concrete. Write what you plan to do in the five years after the fellowship and how this year prepares you for it. Specific beats vague every time.
Third, prove you will add to the community, not just take from it. Show what your peers would learn from you — a perspective, a skill, or a lived experience the cohort would otherwise miss.
Other fellowships worth a look
- Yale World Fellows Program — four fully funded months at Yale for mid-career leaders
- World Bank Government Analytics Fellowship 2027 — a six-month project-based fellowship for public-sector professionals
- Harvard Belfer Center Fellowships 2027-28 — 14 programmes for scholars and practitioners
- Royal Society Career Development Fellowship — a major UK research fellowship for early-career researchers
Frequently asked questions
Q: Do I need to be from the Global South to apply?
A: No. A majority of Fellows come from the Global South, but the official page says this factor is never considered in isolation.
Q: Do I need to take an English test before applying?
A: No. Applicants are not required to sit an English-language test before applying, but you must be able to meet LSE’s English Language Requirements.
Q: What happens after the fellowship year?
A: You begin your Senior Fellowship, with access to funding, initiatives and collaborative projects, and join a lifelong global community of Fellows from all seven Atlantic Fellows programmes worldwide.
