Deadline: November 7, 2026
Applications are open for the HP-UCL IOE Fellowship in AI in Education 2027. As AI reshapes education, many leaders face high-stakes decisions without sufficient evidence, governance frameworks, or understanding of its implications for learning, equity, and trust.
The HP-UCL IOE Fellowship in AI in Education equips senior policymakers and organisational leaders to lead AI transformation responsibly. Bringing together expertise in AI, learning sciences, policy, ethics, and human-computer interaction, the programme supports participants in moving beyond the hype surrounding AI and explores AI’s impact on education and public institutions.
Through engagement with global peers, researchers, and industry experts, fellows address real-world challenges and develop learning-centred strategies that strengthen inclusion, institutional capacity, and effective AI adoption.
Course Structure & Content
Delivered as a hybrid fellowship over 12 months. To begin, fellows participate in weekly live online sessions exploring the foundations, opportunities, and challenges of artificial intelligence in education, culminating in a one-week residential in London and followed up by nine months of mentoring on a capstone project.
- Week 1 – Framing AI in Education Systems
- Week 2 – Foundations of AI, Learning, and Human-AI Interaction
- Week 3 – Ethics and Responsible AI
- Week 4 – Governance, Policy, and Procurement
- Week 5 – Learners, Inclusion, and Equitable Design
- Week 6 – Teachers and Professional Agency
- Week 7 – Evidence, Implementation, and Scaling
- Week 8 – Leadership Clinics and Capstone Launch
- Weeks 9-11 – Project Development and Mentorship
- Week 12 – Residential Week in London
Benefits
- Fully funded: all programme costs are covered on acceptance (excluding airfares and visas).
- Reputation: the world’s leading institution for education: UCL Institute of Education has ranked number one in the world for Education in the QS World University Rankings for 13 consecutive years.
- Expert academic team: learn with academics whose work informs AI in global education policy with UNESCO, the OECD, the Council of Europe and the European Commission.
- Real impact: a nine-month mentored capstone project on a live policy or implementation challenge from your work and organisation.
- Application: curriculum covers ethics, governance, procurement, evidence and scaling, so leaders can interrogate vendor claims and guide effective AI policy.
- Network: connect with a select cohort of international senior leaders and become a member of a global network of fellows.
Eligibility
The Fellowship is designed for leaders from around the globe as a highly interactive leadership journey combining expert-led learning, collaborative discussion, applied activities, and strategic reflection. Fellows engage with international policy frameworks, case studies, and emerging evidence while participating in workshops, peer dialogue, and leadership clinics. It is ideally suited for senior education policymakers, system leaders and organisational leaders working across education, government and the public sector.
The Fellowship is particularly suitable for:
- Senior education policymakers in ministries, government departments and national agencies.
- Regulators and inspectorate leaders responsible for education quality, assessment or data.
- C-Suite executives and senior leaders at international edtech companies.
- Senior officials at international organisations working on education and AI policy
- Regional and local education leaders, including Directors of Education and Children’s Services.
- Leaders of school systems, specifically multi-academy trust and school group CEOs and Directors.
- Leaders of education non-profits, foundations and professional bodies, including teacher and school-leader unions.
Geographies: Europe, Asia and Africa.
Selection Criteria
Applications will be reviewed competitively by the programme team. Selection will be based on:
- Relevance of the applicant’s role to AI and education transformation.
- Demonstrated leadership experience and potential for impact.
- Capacity to participate fully in all programme activities.
- Commitment to responsible, equitable, and human-centred approaches to AI.
- Strength and clarity of the proposed project idea.
- Potential contribution to peer learning and international collaboration.
The programme aims to build a diverse international cohort representing a range of professional, institutional, and geographical contexts.
Application
For more information, visit HP-UCL IOE Fellowship.
