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Royal Society Wolfson Fellowships

The Royal Society

The Royal Society Wolfson Fellowships enable UK Universities and not-for-profit Research Institutions to attract and recruit internationally leading researchers (and their teams) to their organisation. The objectives of the Royal Society Wolfson Visiting Fellowships are to:

enable UK universities and research institutions to attract outstanding emerging or established international research leaders in key strategic areas to the UK from overseas
enable the Visiting Fellow and the host UK organisation to develop ongoing collaborative research links, share ideas and practice

From 2026 there will be two rounds per year.

The scheme is jointly funded by the Wolfson Foundation and the Royal Society.

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 an evaluation of the scheme, we are implementing the changes below for the 2026 rounds.

Increased flexibility on start dates

Award holders can now start their Fellowship up to one year from the offer of award being made, allowing flexibility for the visit(s) start date.

Data on UK partners

To enable better evaluation of the impact of the collaborations supported by these visiting fellowships, the application form has been updated to include a section on the UK collaborator and the potential benefits of the proposed research to the UK more broadly. The UK collaborator can be at any career stage, and their track record will not form part of the assessment of the proposal.

Extending eligibility criteria to emerging leaders as well as established leaders

We are broadening the eligibility criteria to allow for the appointment of emerging leaders without excluding the established leaders the scheme already attracts. This will enable the fellowships to attract and support more talented mid-career researchers. No specific checks will be made in terms of years of research experience, but candidates need to demonstrate they are internationally leading independent research groups and are recognised in their field.

Two rounds per year

Given the added flexibility in terms of award start dates, we will now be running two rounds per year instead of three. Round opening dates will be kept under review to ensure the timeframe continues to meet the needs of the applicants and host organisations applying for the scheme.

What does the scheme offer?

Royal Society Wolfson Visiting Fellowships can be for 12 months full-time or can be spread over a 24-month period, with a minimum 3 month visit period at any time over the course of the 24 months (totalling 12 months). Candidates can request up to £125,000.

Funds can cover:

Bursary for Visiting Fellows – up to £80,000 per annum full time, although this could be supplemented at the discretion of the host organisation
Research expenses – Including consumables, travel, small pieces of equipment, and other appropriate and justified costs (including fieldwork). Reasonable accommodation and subsistence costs may also be requested as research expenses
Relocation and visa costs for Royal Society Wolfson Visiting 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

If the candidate’s salary is already covered by their overseas host organisation, then the Visiting Fellowship funding should not be used to supplement existing salary, as any overheads associated with the Visiting Fellowship should be covered by the UK host organisation as part of its commitment to the appointment.

We provide flexibility to accommodate personal circumstances including part-time working, sabbaticals and secondments. 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.

Full funding details can be found in the scheme notes.

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

🧠 Common Reasons for Unsuccessful Applications

❌ Applicant not sufficiently independent
❌ Solid but not exceptional publication record
❌ Project too incremental or applied
❌ Weak articulation of long-term vision
❌ Poor career-stage fit
❌ Generic host support

Specialties

Others

Eligibility Requirements

This scheme is for you if:

You are a mid- or senior career researcher, with a proven track record for high-quality scientific research, which may include, as appropriate: a strong publication record, being invited to conferences as keynote speaker and evidence of scientific leadership and/or supervising or mentoring junior researchers
You are at a stage in your career where you have a well-established, fully independent research programme, and can demonstrate significant contributions to your field of research. The applicant should also consider how the scheme will impact their career trajectory and scientific area
You are currently based overseas, and have not developed significant collaborations with the host institution before this fellowship. Nominations will not be accepted for researchers wishing to move between UK institutions
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

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 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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