L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science UK and Ireland Young Talent Awards 2025

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Key facts

  • Number of scholarships: 5
  • Value: £25,000
  • Opens: 23 July 2025
  • Deadline: 20 August 2025
  • Helps with: Childcare, Equipment and study costs, Internship work placement or project costs, Living costs, Travel costs
  • Duration: 12 months

Summary

The L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science UK and Ireland Young Talent Awards is an annual programme that awards grants worth £25,000 (equivalent € for candidates in Ireland) to five outstanding early-career women scientists in the fields of Engineering, Life Sciences, Mathematics and Computer Science, Physical Sciences and Sustainable Development.  

The grants are designed to provide flexible and practical financial support to enable these women scientists to further their research and careers. In addition to the grant, fellows receive training and networking opportunities supported by L’Oréal. The programme is run in partnership between L’Oréal UK and Ireland, the UK National Commission for UNESCO and the Irish National Commission for UNESCO, with the support of the Royal Society.

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Eligibility

Eligible Disciplines

  • ENGINEERING
  • LIFE SCIENCES
  • MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTER SCIENCE
  • PHYSICAL SCIENCE
  • SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

The full list of subject areas eligible within the five disciplines can be found in the terms and conditions: 2025 L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science - Terms and Conditions

 

Who Is Eligible?

  • Candidates must identify as female postdoctoral level researchers who have already been awarded their research doctorate in the fields of engineering, life sciences, mathematics and computer science, physical sciences, or sustainable development (the ‘eligible disciplines’).
  • Candidates must have no more than 10 years’ active full-time equivalent postdoctoral experience (discounting career breaks but including teaching experience and/or time spent in industry) at the time that their application is submitted.
  • Candidates must not currently hold or have previously held a permanent academic post. They must not have received, before the start date of the award, the promise of a permanent academic post.
  • Candidates must be undertaking research in one of the five eligible disciplines. Psychology, Science Education and Social Sciences are not eligible for this award.
  • Candidates must be conducting their research at a UK or Irish university or research institute.
  • Candidates can be a citizen of any country, but must already have a confirmed position at a university or institute within the UK or Ireland. This contract must cover the 12-month period of the Award.
  • Candidates must reside in the UK or Ireland at the time of application. Applications are welcome from candidates who wish to establish/reestablish themselves after a career break or other period of absence from active research.

Subject eligibility

Aeronautical engineering, Biochemistry, Biology & biological sciences, Biomedical engineering, Biomedical science, Chemical engineering, Chemistry, Civil & environmental engineering, Civil engineering, Computer science, Design manufacture & engineering management, Electronic & electrical engineering, Engineering, Environmental engineering, Forensic science, Health, Immunology, Marine Engineering, Mathematics & statistics, Mechanical & aerospace engineering, Mechanical engineering, Microbiology, Naval architecture, Naval architecture ocean & marine engineering, Ocean engineering, Pharmacology, Pharmacy & biomedical sciences, Physics, Product design, Prosthetics & orthotics, Renewable energy, Science, Software engineering, Sustainability

Levels eligibility

Postgraduate Research

Study modes eligibility

Full Time

Fee Status

England or N. Ireland or Rep. Ireland or Wales, Home (Scottish), International

Student type

Applicant

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Further information

The L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science UK and Ireland Young Talent Awards is an annual programme which aims to promote, enhance and encourage the contribution of women pursuing their research careers in the UK or Ireland. The programme is run in partnership between L’Oréal UK and Ireland, the UK National Commission for UNESCO and the Irish National Commission for UNESCO, with the support of the Royal Society.

The UK and Ireland Young Talent awards are offered under the umbrella of the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Programme, which has promoted women in scientific research on a global scale since 1998. The UK and Ireland awards launched in 2007.

In 2025, five outstanding women scientists in the early stages of their career will receive the award to enable and/or facilitate promising scientific research. The awards are tenable at any UK or Irish university or research institute to support a 12-month period of postdoctoral research in any area of engineering, life sciences, mathematics and computer science, physical sciences or sustainable development.

The value of each award is £25,000 (equivalent € for recipients in Ireland) and are designed to provide flexible support. The award money can be spent in innovative ways to enable women scientists to pursue and continue their research careers – such as buying equipment, paying for childcare or funding travel costs to attend overseas conferences and/or events.

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How to apply

Online Application Procedure and Deadline

Only applications submitted via the online portal are accepted.

To apply, individuals will need to visit https://www.forwomeninscience.com and create an account. Applications must be made for one of the following five disciplines: engineering, life sciences, mathematics and computer science, physical sciences or sustainable development.

Alongside your completed application form, you must submit the following documentation:

  • One Letter of Acceptance from host institution (must confirm that the university/research institute is able to provide you with the appropriate space and facilities for the duration of the 12- month period to undertake the research that the award would support).
  • Two Letters of Recommendation from academic supervisors acquainted with recent periods of formal study or research.
  • One Candidate Statement, including a breakdown of expenditure (maximum 500 words).
  • One Research Proposal (maximum 600 words, not including bibliography)

The application does not need to be completed in one sitting and can be edited as many times as needed up until the point of submission. The various sections can be accessed, and the application form can be printed at any stage.

The deadline for the receipt of completed applications is 23:59 BST on Wednesday, 20 August 2025. Applications which have not been submitted by the deadline, or are incomplete, will not be considered.

It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure that the application, including the additional documentation, is complete and submitted before the deadline. For a complete application to be considered, you must select the ‘submit’ button on the online application form.

A team of multi-disciplinary Readers will review the applications and mark them in accordance with the criteria described in the 2025 L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science - Terms and Conditions. During the shortlisting process, the top applications selected by the Readers will be forwarded for final review by the Jury Panel. The Jury Panel then selects the top 10 candidates for interview.

Interviews will be held virtually in November 2025. The awards reception will take place in early December 2025 at a location in central London. Applicants shortlisted for interview will be notified in early November 2025. Applicants must be available to attend both the interview and awards reception should they proceed to the final.

Successful applicants must take up the award within six months of announcement. The offer will otherwise lapse. Only in exceptional circumstances will a later start date be considered.

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Contact us

For more information on how to apply, visit forwomeninscience.com or email forwomeninscienceuk@loreal.com