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Newton International Fellowships

The Royal Society

The Newton International Fellowship (NIF) programme provides support for outstanding early career researchers to make a first step towards developing an independent research career through gaining experience across international borders. The fellowships enable researchers to access expertise, gain new perspectives and build long-lasting collaborative relationships.

This scheme is jointly run by the British Academy and the Royal Society.

The overarching aim of the Newton International Fellowship programme is to attract and retain emerging talent in the UK and build a globally connected, mobile research and innovation workforce. The objectives are to:

Attract talented international early career researchers to establish and conduct their research in the UK
Support early career researchers to pursue high-quality and innovative lines of research
Provide opportunities to acquire new skills and knowledge through training and career development
Foster long-term relationships through networking opportunities and the Newton International Fellowships alumni programme.

Applications for the humanities and social sciences should be made to the British Academy.

If you are unsure about which academy to apply to, contact info@newtonfellowships.org.

The Royal Society recognises that diversity is essential for delivering excellence in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The Society wants to encourage applications from the widest range of backgrounds, perspectives and experiences to maximise innovation and creativity in science for the benefit of humanity. We regularly review and revise policies and processes to embed equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) principles in all aspects of the grant making process and ensure all talented applicants have an equitable chance to succeed as per assessment criteria.

See below for details of adjustments we can provide for disabled applicants.

Changes to the scheme

Following a steep increase in applications in recent years, we have introduced changes to the eligibility criteria, selection process and sponsor limits from the 2026 round, in order to ensure that we can continue to run the scheme in a sustainable way.

In order to be eligible, applicants must have been awarded their PhD or successfully defended their doctoral thesis by the closing date for applications, and have no more than five years’ active full-time postdoctoral experience post-PhD, taking into account career breaks
Sponsors are limited to supporting one application per round. This does not mean one application per institution, it means that each UK academic Sponsor can only support one application in any round.
Selection process:
- There will be a single submission application process but application forms will be reviewed in two parts, with a ‘triaging’ stage by committee based on the outline application part. Full applications will then be reviewed for those applicants that are longlisted.

Full details will be provided in the scheme notes, to be published in due course.

Additional awards

Earlier this year, the Royal Society announced up to £30m in funding over the next two years to attract global talent to the UK. As part of this announcement, an allocation of £10m will be used to attract early career researchers from overseas, including through the Newton International Fellowships, University Research Fellowships and Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowships. We anticipate making additional awards through the scheme standard rounds. Applicants should submit their application through the standard NIF round.

ISPF-Funded and Privately-Funded Fellowships

We welcome applications from all countries.

The Royal Society also has funding through the International Science Partnerships Fund to support additional Newton International Fellowships for applicants applying from Switzerland.

The Royal Society’s partnership with the K C Wong Education Foundation also allows us to fund additional fellowships for applicants applying from China. These awards are termed Royal Society K C Wong International Fellowships.

It is not possible to apply directly for one of these fellowships. They are selected from the same pool of applicants as the Newton International Fellowships and are of equal value and prestige.

What does the scheme offer?

The maximum award value will be £280,000 over two years.

Funds can cover:

basic salary as set by the host institution and associated on-costs
research expenses
relocation and visa costs for Newton International Fellows and their dependents (partner and children). The total grant cap may be exceeded to cover relocation/visa costs if this is well justified in the application
estate costs and indirect costs

Further detail on these changes is available in the scheme notes and in our Royal Society Funding Guidance (costing policy)

We provide flexibility to accommodate personal circumstances including part-time working for health reasons or caring responsibilities. There is provision for maternity, paternity, shared parental, adoptive or extended sick leave, as well as financial support for childcare costs that arise from attending conferences and research visits.

Royal Society Research Fellows also have the opportunity to access a range of career development and engagement opportunities including training on leadership, science communication and public engagement, and activities coordinated by our science policy and schools engagement teams. For further detail on these additional benefits, read our opportunities page.

Successful applicants may also be eligible to receive alumni funding to support continued networking activities with UK-based researchers following completion of their fellowship.

AI Based Application Success Predictor

1. Investigator Excellence (Most Important Factor)

Royal Society funding is people-focused, not project-heavy.

Strong predictors include:

A high-quality publication record relative to career stage

Evidence of original contributions (not incremental work)

Intellectual independence from PhD/postdoc supervisors

Clear trajectory toward international scientific leadership

🔑 For fellowships (URF/Dorothy Hodgkin): the person matters more than the project.

2. Original, Curiosity-Driven Science

The Royal Society prioritizes:

Fundamental research questions

High-risk, high-reward ideas

Long-term scientific value (not short-term application)

Projects that are:
❌ overly applied
❌ narrowly translational
❌ framed mainly around impact metrics

…are typically less competitive.

3. Career-Stage Fit to the Scheme

Each Royal Society scheme targets a very specific career window.

Examples:

URF → early-career researchers with exceptional promise and independence

Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship → excellent researchers needing flexible working

Research Grants → established investigators with strong track records

International Exchanges → collaborative, bilateral research

🎯 Mismatch between applicant stage and scheme is a common reason for rejection.

4. Clear Scientific Vision (Not Over-Detailed Methods)

Successful proposals emphasize:

Big scientific questions

Why the problem matters fundamentally

Why you are uniquely placed to solve it

Royal Society reviewers prefer:
✔ conceptual clarity
✔ intellectual ambition
✔ long-term vision

…over exhaustive experimental detail.

5. Independence and Leadership Potential

Especially for fellowships, reviewers look for:

Clear distinction from previous supervisors

Evidence of initiating ideas, collaborations, or techniques

Mentoring, supervision, or leadership activities (as appropriate)

🔑 Future Fellow of the Royal Society potential is an implicit (but real) consideration.

6. Host Institution Strength & Commitment

For fellowships:

The host department must provide a strong research environment

Clear institutional support (space, facilities, integration)

No expectation of teaching overload during fellowship

Weak or generic host support letters reduce competitiveness.

7. International Standing or Potential

The Royal Society is globally focused.

Predictors include:

International collaborators

Invitations, talks, or visiting positions

Publications with global visibility

Strong case for international leadership (for UK-based schemes)

8. Discipline-Agnostic Excellence

Unlike many funders, The Royal Society:

Does not prioritise thematic calls

Does not require societal impact narratives

Evaluates purely on scientific excellence

This favors:
✔ theoretical work
✔ blue-sky research
✔ cross-disciplinary science

Specialties

Others

Technology Development

Eligibility Requirements

This scheme is for you if:

You have a PhD, or will have successfully defended your doctoral thesis before the closing date for applications
You have no more than five years of active full-time postdoctoral experience post-PhD at the time of application (discounting career breaks, but including teaching experience and/or time spent in industry on research)
You are based outside the UK
You do not hold UK citizenship
You are competent in oral and written English
Your research is within the Royal Society’s remit of natural sciences, which includes but is not limited to biological research and biomedical sciences, chemistry, engineering, mathematics and physics. For a full list, please see the breakdown of subject groups and areas supported by the Royal Society. Applications for the humanities and social sciences should be made to the British Academy.

All applications are developed with the support of a UK sponsor. The Sponsor should work with the lead applicant to develop the project proposal and should provide mentoring, support, and guidance throughout the duration of the award. Please note, Sponsors are limited to supporting one application per round. This does not mean one application per institution, it means that each UK academic Sponsor can only support one application in any round.

Applicants can be of any nationality and those requiring a visa are eligible to apply for a Global Talent Visa under the fast-track process of endorsement.

Read the scheme notes and FAQ for further information on eligibility. Please ensure that you meet all eligibility requirements before applying.

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: The Royal Society

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: 6-9 Carlton House Terrace, London, SW1Y 5AG

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