Atlantic Fellows for Social and Economic Equity 2026: Fully-Funded LSE Fellowship

Inequality is the defining challenge of our time. The gap between rich and poor is widening. Access to quality education, healthcare, and economic opportunity remains deeply unequal across lines of race, gender, geography, and class. If you’ve spent years working to address these injustices—as an organizer, policy advocate, researcher, or practitioner—you know how hard this work is and how much more there is to learn.

The Atlantic Fellows for Social and Economic Equity (AFSEE) Programme at the London School of Economics exists for people like you. This is a fully-funded fellowship designed for mid-career leaders who are serious about understanding and dismantling the root causes of inequality. We’re talking about complete financial support: tuition, living expenses, travel, accommodation—everything you need to spend a year (or engage part-time) deepening your knowledge, expanding your network, and strengthening your capacity to create change.

This isn’t a traditional master’s program where you sit in lectures and write papers in isolation. AFSEE is built around a cohort model that brings together activists, researchers, policymakers, and practitioners from around the world. You’ll learn from leading scholars at LSE, yes, but you’ll also learn from each other—from the community organizer in South Africa, the labor rights lawyer in Brazil, the education reformer in India, and the housing advocate in the United States.

The fellowship offers two tracks: a Residential track for those who can relocate to London for a full academic year, and a Non-Residential track for those who need to remain in their current roles while engaging part-time. Both tracks provide access to the same global network, mentorship, and resources. Both are fully funded.

Key Details at a Glance

What This Fellowship Offers

Complete Financial Support
When we say “fully-funded,” we mean it. The fellowship covers your full tuition at LSE (which would normally cost over £30,000), a generous living stipend to cover rent and expenses in London (or support for part-time engagement if you’re in the Non-Residential track), round-trip international travel to London, visa costs, health insurance, and funding for fellowship-related activities like conferences or field visits.

For the Residential track, you’re looking at total support worth approximately GBP 60,000-80,000 depending on your circumstances. This means you can take a year away from paid work without financial hardship. For the Non-Residential track, the support is structured differently but still substantial, enabling you to engage deeply while maintaining your current role.

World-Class Education at LSE
The London School of Economics is one of the world’s leading social science universities. Residential fellows pursue an MSc in Inequalities and Social Science, a rigorous program that examines the causes and consequences of inequality from multiple disciplinary perspectives—economics, sociology, political science, geography, and more.

You’ll take courses on topics like the political economy of inequality, measurement and analysis of inequality, social policy and redistribution, and theories of justice. But this isn’t abstract academic theory disconnected from practice. The program is designed for practitioners, with faculty who engage directly with policy debates and social movements.

Non-Residential fellows don’t pursue the full MSc but engage with LSE faculty and curriculum through intensive modules, online seminars, and periodic in-person sessions. You get access to the same intellectual resources without having to relocate.

A Global Network of Change-Makers
Perhaps the most valuable aspect of AFSEE is the network. You’ll join a cohort of 20-25 fellows from around the world, all of whom have deep experience fighting inequality in different contexts. The diversity of the cohort is intentional—you’ll learn as much from your fellow fellows as from the faculty.

Beyond your cohort, you’ll join the broader Atlantic Fellows network, which includes fellows from six other programs focused on health equity, racial equity, climate equity, and more. This is a network of over 200 leaders who are actively working to create a more just and equitable world. These relationships often lead to collaborations, partnerships, and mutual support that extend far beyond the fellowship year.

Mentorship and Leadership Development
Every fellow is paired with a mentor—someone with deep experience in your area of work who can provide guidance, feedback, and connections. Mentors are carefully matched based on your goals and background. The fellowship also includes leadership development workshops, coaching, and opportunities to develop new skills (public speaking, media engagement, strategic planning, fundraising).

Platform for Your Work
AFSEE provides resources and support to amplify your work. Fellows have access to LSE’s media office, research support, and convening power. If you’re working on a campaign, a research project, or a policy initiative, the fellowship can help you take it to the next level. Many fellows use their time to write reports, launch initiatives, or build coalitions that wouldn’t have been possible without the fellowship’s support.

Who Should Apply

This fellowship is designed for mid-career leaders who have already demonstrated commitment and impact in fighting inequality. You’re not fresh out of university—you’ve been doing this work for years, and you’re ready to deepen your analysis and expand your capacity.

The Ideal Candidate
You’re a strong fit if you have at least seven years of substantial experience addressing inequality in any of its forms: economic inequality, racial injustice, gender inequality, educational inequity, health disparities, housing injustice, labor rights, or other manifestations of systemic unfairness.

You might be a community organizer who has built grassroots power but wants to better understand the policy and economic systems you’re fighting against. You might be a policy advocate who has worked inside government but wants to connect more deeply with social movements and affected communities. You might be a researcher whose work informs activism but who wants to engage more directly with practitioners. You might be a practitioner running programs that serve marginalized communities but who wants to think more strategically about systems change.

Residential Track Requirements
The Residential track is for those who can relocate to London for the full academic year (September 2026 to September 2027). To qualify, you need:

At least seven years of substantial experience working on inequality issues. This can be in any sector—nonprofit, government, academia, private sector, or community organizing. What matters is demonstrated commitment and impact.

Academic qualifications that meet LSE’s requirements for the MSc in Inequalities and Social Science. Typically this means a bachelor’s degree with at least a 2:1 (or equivalent). If you don’t have traditional academic credentials but have extensive relevant experience, you can still apply—LSE considers work experience in lieu of formal qualifications.

English language proficiency at LSE’s Higher English Language Requirement level. If English isn’t your first language, you’ll need to demonstrate proficiency through IELTS (overall 7.0, with 7.0 in writing and 6.5 in other components) or equivalent tests. If you’ve studied or worked extensively in English, you may be exempt.

You typically cannot have completed a PhD or a master’s degree in the last three years. AFSEE is designed for practitioners, not recent graduate students. If you completed a master’s more than three years ago, you’re fine. If you have a PhD but have been working as a practitioner (not in academia) for several years, you may still be eligible—discuss this with the program.

Non-Residential Track Requirements
The Non-Residential track is for those who cannot relocate to London but want to engage with the fellowship while continuing their current work. This track is particularly valuable for people with family obligations, those leading organizations that depend on their presence, or those whose work is deeply rooted in a specific place.

Requirements are slightly different: you need an undergraduate degree (equivalent to a 2:2 or above) or relevant work experience. English language proficiency at LSE’s Standard English Language Requirement (slightly lower than the Residential track). The same seven years of experience working on inequality.

The Non-Residential track is part-time over 18 months rather than full-time over 12 months. You’ll engage through a combination of online seminars, intensive in-person modules in London (typically 2-3 weeks total over the fellowship period), and self-directed learning. You remain in your current role but dedicate significant time to the fellowship.

Insider Tips for a Winning Application

Having reviewed successful applications and spoken with program staff and fellows, here’s what actually makes a difference.

Tell Your Story, Don’t Just List Credentials
The application asks about your experience, but what reviewers really want to understand is your journey. How did you come to this work? What experiences shaped your understanding of inequality? What have you learned from your successes and failures? The most compelling applications are those that show genuine reflection and growth.

Don’t just say “I have 10 years of experience in education equity.” Tell the story: “I started as a teacher in an under-resourced school and watched brilliant students struggle because they lacked basic resources. That led me to organize with other teachers to demand better funding, which led me to work in the district office trying to change resource allocation policies, which taught me that the real barriers are political and economic, not just administrative.”

Be Specific About What You Want to Learn
The application asks why you want to do this fellowship and what you hope to gain. Generic answers like “I want to deepen my understanding of inequality” don’t cut it. Be specific. What particular questions are you grappling with? What skills or knowledge do you need to be more effective in your work?

Strong answers might be: “I’ve spent years organizing low-wage workers, but I don’t fully understand the macroeconomic forces that drive wage stagnation. I want to study labor economics and political economy so I can develop more effective strategies.” Or: “I’ve been working in housing policy, but I’ve realized that housing inequality is deeply connected to racial wealth gaps, education funding, and health outcomes. I want to understand these intersections better so I can build broader coalitions.”

Demonstrate Impact, Not Just Activity
Reviewers see lots of applications from people who have been busy. What they’re looking for is evidence of impact. Don’t just list the organizations you’ve worked for or the projects you’ve been involved in. Explain what changed because of your work.

Instead of “I coordinated a campaign for living wages,” say “I coordinated a campaign that successfully raised the minimum wage in three cities, affecting 50,000 workers and resulting in an estimated $30 million in additional annual wages.” Instead of “I researched education inequality,” say “My research on school funding disparities was cited in a state supreme court case that led to a $2 billion increase in funding for under-resourced schools.”

Show You’re a Team Player
This is a cohort-based fellowship. Reviewers are looking for people who will contribute to the collective learning of the group, not just extract value for themselves. Show that you understand the value of learning from peers, that you’re open to different perspectives, and that you’ll be generous with your own knowledge and experience.

If you’ve mentored others, built coalitions, or collaborated across differences, highlight that. If you’ve changed your mind about something important based on feedback or new information, that shows intellectual humility and openness.

Address the Residential vs. Non-Residential Choice Thoughtfully
If you’re applying for the Residential track, explain why you’re able and willing to relocate to London for a year. If you have family, how will you manage that? If you’re leaving an organization, what’s your plan for returning to the work afterward?

If you’re applying for the Non-Residential track, explain why that’s the right choice for you and how you’ll balance the fellowship with your current responsibilities. Show that you’ve thought through the logistics and that you’re committed to engaging fully even though you can’t relocate.

Get Strong Recommendations
The fellowship requires letters of recommendation. Choose recommenders who know your work deeply and can speak specifically to your impact, your potential, and your readiness for this fellowship. A generic letter from someone famous is less valuable than a detailed, specific letter from someone who has worked closely with you.

Give your recommenders plenty of time and provide them with information about the fellowship, your application, and what you hope they’ll emphasize. Make it easy for them to write a strong letter.

Application Timeline

Here’s a realistic timeline working backward from the January 16, 2026 deadline.

October 2025: Research and Reflection
Start by thoroughly researching the fellowship. Read about past fellows and their work. Watch videos of fellows talking about their experiences. Attend an information session if one is offered. Reflect on whether this is the right opportunity for you at this stage in your career.

Begin thinking about your recommenders. Who knows your work well and can speak to your impact and potential? Reach out to them informally to gauge their interest and availability.

November 2025: Draft Your Application
Start drafting your personal statement and other written components. Don’t try to write it all in one sitting. Write a rough draft, let it sit for a few days, then revise. The best applications go through multiple drafts.

Outline your experience, your motivations, what you hope to learn, and how the fellowship fits into your larger trajectory. Be honest and specific. Show your thinking, not just your accomplishments.

December 2025: Gather Materials and Get Feedback
Finalize your CV. Make sure it clearly shows your seven years of experience working on inequality issues. Organize it thematically or chronologically, but make the through-line clear.

Formally request letters of recommendation. Provide your recommenders with your draft application materials, information about the fellowship, and a deadline that’s at least a week before the actual deadline.

Share your draft application with trusted colleagues or mentors and ask for honest feedback. Is your story clear? Is your motivation compelling? Are there gaps or weaknesses you need to address?

January 1-10, 2026: Revise and Polish
Incorporate feedback from your reviewers. Revise your personal statement for clarity, coherence, and impact. Proofread everything carefully. Check that you’ve addressed all the application questions fully.

Make sure you have all required documents: transcripts, English language test scores (if required), CV, personal statement, and confirmation that your recommenders have submitted their letters.

January 11-15, 2026: Final Review and Submission
Do a final read-through of your entire application. Check for typos, formatting issues, and completeness. Make sure you’ve followed all instructions.

Submit at least 24-48 hours before the deadline. Technical issues always happen on deadline day. Don’t be that person.

February-April 2026: Interviews
Shortlisted candidates are invited for interviews, typically conducted via video call. If you’re invited to interview, prepare by reviewing your application, thinking about questions you might be asked, and preparing thoughtful questions to ask the interview panel.

May 2026: Decisions
Fellows are notified of decisions. If you’re selected, you’ll begin planning for your fellowship year, including visa applications, housing arrangements, and transitions from your current role.

Required Materials

Online Application via LSE Graduate Admissions Portal
You’ll create an account and complete the online application form. This includes basic biographical information, educational history, and responses to several essay questions about your experience, motivations, and goals.

Personal Statement
This is the heart of your application. You’ll have space to explain your journey, your work on inequality, what you hope to learn, and why this fellowship at this time. There’s no strict word limit, but aim for 1,500-2,500 words—enough to tell your story fully but concisely.

Curriculum Vitae
A comprehensive CV showing your educational background, work experience, publications (if any), awards and recognition, and relevant skills. Organize it to clearly show your seven years of experience working on inequality.

Letters of Recommendation
Typically two or three letters from people who know your work well and can speak to your impact, potential, and readiness for this fellowship. Letters should be specific and detailed, not generic.

Academic Transcripts
Official transcripts from all universities you’ve attended. If your transcripts are not in English, you’ll need certified translations.

English Language Test Scores
If English is not your first language and you haven’t studied or worked extensively in English, you’ll need to provide IELTS, TOEFL, or equivalent test scores. Check LSE’s specific requirements for the Higher (Residential) or Standard (Non-Residential) English Language Requirement.

Proof of Work Experience
Some applicants provide letters from employers or organizations confirming their roles and responsibilities, especially if they’re relying on work experience in lieu of traditional academic qualifications.

What Makes an Application Stand Out

Demonstrated Impact
Reviewers want to see that you’ve already made a difference. You don’t need to have changed the world, but you should be able to point to specific ways your work has affected people’s lives, changed policies, shifted narratives, or built power.

Clear Analysis of Inequality
The strongest applications show sophisticated understanding of how inequality works. You don’t need to be an academic, but you should be able to articulate the structural forces that create and maintain inequality in your context. You should show awareness of how different forms of inequality intersect and reinforce each other.

Thoughtful Learning Agenda
Reviewers want to see that you’ve thought carefully about what you need to learn and why. What are the gaps in your knowledge or skills? How will the fellowship help you fill those gaps? How will that make you more effective in your work?

Authentic Voice
The best applications sound like real people, not like someone trying to impress a committee. Write in your own voice. Be honest about your journey, including your doubts and struggles. Show your passion for the work without being preachy or self-righteous.

Commitment to Collective Learning
AFSEE is a cohort-based fellowship. Reviewers look for people who will contribute to the collective learning of the group. Show that you value learning from others, that you’re open to different perspectives, and that you’ll be generous with your own knowledge.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applying Too Early in Your Career
The seven-year experience requirement is real. If you’re only a few years out of university, you’re probably not ready for this fellowship yet. Build your experience, deepen your impact, and apply when you have a substantial track record.

Being Too Academic or Too Jargon-Heavy
This fellowship is for practitioners, not academics. If your application is full of academic jargon and theoretical references but light on real-world impact, you’re missing the point. Ground your application in your actual work and the real people and communities you serve.

Vague or Generic Motivations
“I want to fight inequality” is not a sufficient motivation. Everyone applying wants to fight inequality. What specifically do you want to learn? What particular questions are you grappling with? What will you do differently after the fellowship?

Ignoring the Cohort Model
Some applicants write as if this is an individual degree program. It’s not. The cohort is central to the fellowship. If your application doesn’t show interest in learning from peers or contributing to collective learning, that’s a red flag.

Weak or Generic Recommendation Letters
A letter that says “I recommend this excellent person” without specific examples or details doesn’t help your application. Make sure your recommenders understand what the fellowship is looking for and can speak specifically to your work and potential.

Submitting at the Last Minute
Technical problems always happen. Recommenders sometimes miss deadlines. Don’t put yourself in a position where a minor problem derails your application. Submit early.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I apply if I have a PhD?
It depends. If you completed your PhD recently and have been working primarily in academia, you’re probably not eligible for the Residential track. But if you completed your PhD several years ago and have been working as a practitioner (in nonprofits, government, organizing, etc.), you may be eligible. The key question is whether you’re primarily a practitioner or primarily an academic. Contact the program if you’re unsure.

Can I apply if I don’t have a bachelor’s degree?
Possibly, especially for the Non-Residential track. LSE considers relevant work experience in lieu of formal academic qualifications. If you have extensive experience and can demonstrate readiness for graduate-level work, you may be eligible. Reach out to the program to discuss your situation.

What if I can’t afford to take a year off work?
That’s exactly why the fellowship is fully funded. The living stipend is designed to cover your expenses so you don’t need other income. If you have dependents or other financial obligations, discuss this with the program—there may be additional support available.

Can I bring my family to London?
The fellowship funding is for you as a fellow, but many fellows do bring family members. You’d need to cover their expenses, but the program can provide guidance on family housing, schools, and other logistics. Some fellows find creative solutions like sabbaticals for partners or remote work arrangements.

What’s the difference between Residential and Non-Residential in terms of the experience?
Both tracks provide access to the same network, mentorship, and core learning. The main difference is intensity and immersion. Residential fellows are in London full-time, taking courses, engaging with the cohort daily, and fully immersed in the LSE environment. Non-Residential fellows engage part-time while continuing their current work, with periodic intensive sessions in London. Both are valuable; the right choice depends on your circumstances and learning style.

What do fellows do after the fellowship?
Fellows return to their work with deeper knowledge, stronger networks, and enhanced capacity. Some return to their previous roles with new skills and perspectives. Some launch new initiatives or organizations. Some shift into different roles or sectors. The fellowship doesn’t prescribe a particular path—it’s designed to strengthen whatever path you’re on.

Is there a preferred profile or background?
No. The cohort is intentionally diverse across geography, sector, issue area, and approach. Fellows come from community organizing, policy advocacy, research, legal work, education, health, labor, housing, and many other fields. What matters is demonstrated commitment to fighting inequality and potential for greater impact.

How to Apply

Ready to apply for the Atlantic Fellows for Social and Economic Equity Programme? Here’s exactly what to do:

Step 1: Research Thoroughly
Visit the AFSEE website at https://afsee.atlanticfellows.lse.ac.uk/ and read about the fellowship, past fellows, and the curriculum. Watch videos of fellows describing their experiences. Make sure this is the right opportunity for you.

Step 2: Attend an Information Session
AFSEE typically hosts information sessions in the months before the deadline. Attend one (they’re usually virtual) to learn more and ask questions. This also shows the program you’re serious.

Step 3: Create Your LSE Account
Go to the LSE Graduate Admissions Portal and create an account. Start your application early so you can see all the questions and requirements.

Step 4: Draft Your Materials
Write your personal statement, update your CV, and gather your transcripts and test scores. Take your time with the personal statement—this is where you tell your story.

Step 5: Request Recommendations
Reach out to your recommenders with plenty of lead time. Provide them with information about the fellowship and your application. Follow up to make sure they submit on time.

Step 6: Get Feedback
Share your draft application with trusted colleagues or mentors. Revise based on their feedback.

Step 7: Submit
Submit your complete application through the LSE portal by January 16, 2026. Submit early to avoid last-minute technical problems.

Step 8: Prepare for Possible Interview
If you’re shortlisted, you’ll be invited for an interview. Prepare by reviewing your application and thinking about your goals and motivations.

For complete program details and to access the application portal, visit: https://afsee.atlanticfellows.lse.ac.uk/en-gb/apply

Questions about eligibility or the application process? Contact the AFSEE programme team through the contact information on the website. They’re responsive and helpful.

This fellowship could be transformative for your work and your life. If you’re ready to deepen your analysis, expand your network, and strengthen your capacity to fight inequality, start your application today.