This program is intended for outstanding researchers who have the ability to lead their fields in the future.
These long-term fellowships give recipients the freedom and opportunity to pursue cutting-edge scientific research while establishing independent research careers in the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland.
The University Research Fellowship (URF), which was previously a five-year fellowship with a three-year extension option, has now changed. The application fee for an eight-year fellowship as well as a research proposal can now be submitted by applicants for the current round.
Costs for years six through eight will be determined by acceptable progress and completion of a mid-fellowship checkpoint review at the beginning of year four. In addition to the adjustment in fellowship term, the award value has been updated in comparison to prior rounds.
Royal Society University Research Fellowship Eligibility
Research must be 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.
Those applying from Ireland (ROI) are funded by Science Foundation Ireland and will need to read the eligibility requirements in the specific scheme notes.
You can apply for this scheme if you:
- have between three to eight years of research experience since your PhD by the closing date of the round. Career breaks are taken into account;
- do not hold a permanent post (including proleptic or rolling contract of employment) in a university or not for profit research organisation
- do not hold, or have not previously held, an equivalent fellowship that provides an opportunity to establish an independent research group and therefore independent researcher status.
Royal Society University Research Fellowship Benefits
The scheme provides:
- Research Fellow’s salary: 80% of the basic salary costs up to £41,675 in the first year, estates costs and indirect costs
- Contribution to research expenses of £90,000 per annum
How to Apply for Royal Society University Research Fellowship
The University Research Fellowship scheme is now open to applications. This round will close on September 6, 2022 at 3pm UK time.
Your application will go through the process detailed on the Making a grant application page overseen by one of their five research appointment panels based on your research area.
- Astronomy, cosmology, physics, earth sciences, environmental physical sciences & geosciences
- Chemistry and engineering
- Pure and applied mathematics, computer science, statistics, communications and computer engineering; the mathematical aspects of astronomy, physics, cosmology, gravitation, theoretical physics
- Molecular and cellular biology, zoology, plant sciences and physiology
- Biomedical Sciences