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We expect the next fellowship programme to begin in autumn 2027. Keep an eye on our website and social media for the announcement.

Register your interest here and we will send you an email when the next applications open.

Only candidates from the following countries may  apply to the relevant programme:

• Wider Europe and Central Asia: citizens of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, or Uzbekistan. Candidates must be resident in one of the 10 countries.  In exceptional circumstances JST may consider candidates whose work is focused on the development of their home countries/territories but who are temporarily located elsewhere. You are encouraged to email applications@jst.org about your application in this case.
• Leaders in Exile: ‘Future of Belarus’: citizens of Belarus living outside of their country.
• Ukraine Reconstruction and Recovery Leadership Programme: citizens of Ukraine who are living in or outside their country.
• Wider Europe Fellowship: citizens of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine.
• Central Asia Fellowship: citizens of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan
• Our Ideas Exchange Forum is open to all senior JST Fellows.

The recruitment process consists of an online application form, an initial online interview for those who are shortlisted, and a final online interview.

If you are successful in the final interview, we will require a letter of support from your current employer before we formally offer you a place on the relevant programme.

Please check our programme pages for more specific information about the programme for which you are applying.

We select exceptional and influential professionals who are already making an impact in one or more of the following areas:

• Equity, diversity and inclusion
• Governance, justice and security
• Climate, sustainability and energy transitions
• Economic resilience, connectivity and innovation

Fellows can work in any sector, e.g. public sector (public administration at local, regional or national levels, politics), non-profit sector (civil society, NGOs, think tanks, research/education institutions, media) or private sector (legal professions, business/social business, finance).

We facilitate open and honest discussion about the challenges our societies face, the solutions we’ve tried and what we’ve learned. As such, Fellows must share JST values and demonstrate tolerance, respect and openness towards one another at all times. Please see our Fellows’ Charter for more detail on what we expect from Fellows.

Please note that the candidates selected are those whom JST believe will make the most significant long-term positive impact on their society’s development rather than simply the development of their own careers.

JST does not discriminate against candidates based on their country of origin, nationality, ethnicity, gender, faith, or any other personal characteristic.

Fellows are normally aged 25-35.

A high standard of written and spoken English is essential as the programmes are conducted entirely in English. Fellows have preferably already worked or studied in English.

We are looking for people ready to make a substantial commitment to participate actively in the UK residential programme and in the fortnightly online events that make up the rest of the fellowship programme. Fellows who demonstrate their commitment will have the opportunity to take part in further regional and/or UK based network events.

After the residential programme in the UK, Fellows are expected to implement their project and demonstrate progress. We are looking for people who are eager to become active members of JST’s network in the long term.

Your project should address a challenge in policy or practice, which is related to your field of expertise, and which would be enhanced by sharing experience and insights with counterparts from the UK. It should contribute to the positive development of your society within one of our thematic areas:

• Equity, diversity and inclusion
• Governance, justice and security
• Climate, sustainability and energy transitions
• Economic resilience, connectivity and innovation

The project should be ambitious yet feasible to implement.

Each Fellow writes a first draft of their project plan as part of the application process. The plan is then developed and enhanced during the online and UK residential programme through individual or small-group meetings with UK experts, practitioners and counterparts, as well as group discussions and workshop sessions.

The JST team will work with each Fellow in the months leading up to the residential programme to develop an individually tailored programme – meeting with relevant professionals.

These meetings give Fellows the opportunity to ask questions and discuss ideas directly with practitioners and seek input from experts. The meetings also provide numerous opportunities for high-level networking.

Fellows are required to share the results of their project with JST within 12 months of completing the residential.

Fellows will also have the opportunity to share their learning through written insights pieces, contributions to workshops, and network events. Please note, JST cannot provide any financial assistance for the implementation of projects.

Our News and Insights page contains updates from our Fellows on the impact of their projects and their work following the programme.

Candidates must meet the eligibility criteria of the particular fellowship programme to which they are applying.

You can still apply, but JST will only consider candidates outside this age range in exceptional circumstances. Please note that JST selects influential young leaders who have the experience and potential necessary to make a substantial impact on the future development of their society/country/territory. Younger candidates may be encouraged to apply again in the future.

Yes.

We provide a bursary to cover the costs of return economy flights from a Fellow’s home country/territory of residence to the UK and a visa, if required. We cover accommodation in the UK, travel within the UK as required by the programme, and daily subsistence for the duration of the UK programme. All costs related to the workshops, visits and meetings in the UK are covered by JST.

Please note: Fellows are responsible for the cost and provision of their own medical and travel insurance during the residential programme in the UK.

Becoming a JST Fellow is a lifelong opportunity and commitment! Fellows become part of a collaborative community of senior leaders and change-makers. We provide ongoing opportunities for Fellows in our fellowship to connect with and learn from the experiences of counterparts beyond their cohort, working in the public, private and civil society sectors, as well as leaders in the UK and across the regions covered by the programme. Fellows are invited to regular online events as well as regional and UK-based in-person events, often as contributors and facilitators as well as participants.

We keep in regular contact with Fellows after the fellowship programmes, and expect Fellows to provide updates on the implementation of their projects and other work towards positive societal developments in their country or region.

JST strongly condemns Russia’s unlawful act of aggression on Ukraine and supports the people of Ukraine who are defending their freedom. Fellows who take part in our programmes must accept this position. Please see our statement on the war on Ukraine for more detail.

JST condemns Russia’s unlawful act of aggression on Ukraine. We express our ongoing support for the people of Ukraine who are defending their freedom, and we continue to support all efforts to end Russia’s unprovoked invasion.

The war has had a devastating impact on the Ukrainian people, including many of our Fellows. It has also impacted people across the region. We are deeply saddened and concerned for their welfare. At the same time, we are proud that our Fellows are leading efforts to counter the impacts of the Russian invasion and that Fellows from across our network have shown solidarity and support.

In light of this context, the Board of Trustees has been keeping aspects of our upcoming Fellowship Programmes under review. We remain firmly committed to the principle of non-discrimination and value-based selection. However, operational factors relating to Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, mean that we cannot proceed with the participation of citizens of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus in our regional Fellowship programmes until further notice.

Nonetheless, we recognise the importance of supporting exceptional young professionals from Russia and Belarus, who are living in exile and have a shared vision of a more tolerant, peaceful and sustainable future for their countries and want to work together to realise that future. We therefore are currently running separate programmes for exiled leaders.