Newton International Fellowships help early-career researchers build an independent research career through a two-year project at an eligible UK host organisation. The programme is jointly run by the Royal Society and the British Academy.
This Royal Society route covers natural sciences, including biological and biomedical sciences, chemistry, engineering, mathematics and physics; humanities and social sciences applications go to the British Academy. The 2026 Royal Society round closed on 11 March 2026.
Benefits & funding
- Applicants may request up to £280,000 over two years; justified relocation and visa costs may take the total above that cap.
- Funding may cover the fellow’s basic salary and associated costs, research expenses, relocation and visa costs for the fellow and eligible dependants, and host estate and indirect costs.
- The fellowship funds 100% of the fellow’s time, while allowing limited teaching or administrative duties averaging no more than three hours per teaching week in term time.
- Fellows can access career-development and engagement opportunities, and successful recipients may later be eligible for alumni networking funding.
Eligibility
- Applicants must hold a PhD or have successfully defended their doctoral thesis by the application deadline.
- They may have no more than five years of active full-time postdoctoral experience at application, including teaching and industry research; qualifying career breaks and part-time work are taken into account.
- Applicants are normally required to be based outside the UK, not employed by a UK organisation, and not hold UK citizenship. Short UK visits totalling under three months in the preceding year are allowed, and refugees in the UK or people with humanitarian protection are excepted; applicants with UK dual citizenship should seek individual guidance.
- Research must fall within the Royal Society’s natural-sciences remit, and applicants must be competent in written and spoken English.
- Each application needs one eligible UK host organisation and one sponsor based at that organisation. A sponsor may support only one application in a round.
- Previous Newton International Fellows cannot apply again. Applicants whose PhD was awarded by a UK organisation must have worked and been based outside the UK for at least one year by the deadline; returning to a former UK PhD organisation or supervisor is normally ineligible unless exceptional scientific reasons are justified.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.
Education required
PhD
Experience required
≤ 5 yrs
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Application process
- 1Check the detailed scheme notes, confirm eligibility, identify an eligible UK host and sponsor, and develop the research proposal with that sponsor.
- 2Register or sign in to Flexi-Grant and start the Newton International Fellowship application.
- 3Complete Parts A, B and C, invite the nominated referee, UK sponsor and Head of Department, and coordinate the budget with the host research or finance office.
- 4Ensure every participant submits their section and the host organisation approver completes approval before the deadline; paper and late applications are not accepted.
- 5Eligible applications enter committee triage using Part A. Longlisted applications receive full review of Parts A and B before shortlisting, committee discussion and the final funding decision.
Program timeline
Applications opened.
Jan 15, 2026
Applications closed.
Mar 11, 2026 at 15:00 UK time
Decision expected by this date.
Aug 31, 2026
Successful fellows may commence their award.
Oct 1, 2026 to Mar 31, 2027
Exactly two years after the selected start date
Fellowship ends.
Next round
The Royal Society has not published an exact opening date.