Call for Applications: for Young Leaders in National Security Fellowship 2026, September 7th – 11th 2026

Call for Applications: for Young Leaders in National Security Fellowship 2026, September 7th – 11th 2026

About the Fellowship

The Counter Extremism Group (CEG) Young Leaders in National Security Fellowship aims to identify, nurture, and guide young people interested in counter-terrorism and counter-extremism issues and looking to pursue a career in these or closely related fields in the UK. It is headed by an eminent expert in this field: Lord Carlile of Berriew.
As part of this free, week-long course, CEG will also provide access to a leading range of experts and decision-makers who can provide an exhaustive and unparalleled insight into key issues facing the UK today.

This Includes:

• The nature of the terrorism threat.
• The roots of extremist ideology.
• Why people join terrorist and extremist groups.
• How these areas impact free speech.
• How counter-terrorism and counter-extremism policies actually get made.
• National defence strategy and the international terrorism threat picture.
• How journalists approach covering extremism and terrorism stories.

Who We Are Looking For

We are looking for exceptional individuals who are serious about pursuing a future in national security, counter-terrorism, and counter-extremism in the UK. This Fellowship is designed for those at the beginning of their careers, typically students, recent graduates, or those in the first few years of professional life.

We are particularly interested in applicants who combine intellectual curiosity with a willingness to take clear, well-reasoned positions. You should be motivated not only to understand the challenges posed by extremism and terrorism, but to engage critically with them and contribute to real-world responses.

We welcome applicants from a wide range of backgrounds and disciplines, including those on policy, academic, operational, or media pathways. What matters most is not your specific route, but your drive, intellectual seriousness, and potential to contribute to the future of the field.

This is a competitive programme intended for those who want to play a leading role in shaping the UK’s response to extremism and national security challenges.

Information for Applicants

• The course will be delivered in person in central London between September 7th – 11th 2026.
• The course is free. In addition, CEG will offer financial support to cover travel costs within the UK, six nights accommodation and a small daily per diem
• Interviews will take place online in the last two weeks of June.

How to Apply

Those wishing to apply should send the following documents to fellowship@counterextremism.org.uk:

• CV
• Cover letter explaining
  1. Why you wish to take the course;
  2. Which article, book, or thinker has most influenced your attitudes towards terrorism and/or extremism? (200 words max)
  3. What is the single biggest extremist threat facing Britain today? Why? What is the best argument that you are wrong? (300 words max)
  4. Include a written declaration that you have complied with CEG’s GenAI policy. Please send application documents as an attached word or pdf document.

The deadline for applications is 5pm June 5th 2026.

For more details, refer here