About the scheme
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.
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/li>
- 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.
See the ‘Application and assessment process’ page for a general overview of the application and selection steps and below for details specific to this scheme.
Researchers must be nominated by a representative of the host institution before they are able to apply for the Royal Society Wolfson Fellowship:
- The Head of Department (or their nominated representative) will need to contact the Royal Society Grants Office by email on seniorfellowships@royalsociety.org and will be sent a link to a nomination form
- After the completed nomination form has been considered by the Royal Society, the Head of Department (nominator) will be sent a link to invite the nominated researcher (applicant) to complete and submit a full application on Flexi-Grant
- Applications received by the application deadline will be considered at the Selection Panel meeting
Assessment of your application will be overseen by the Wolfson Fellowships Panel.
Following eligibility checks, applications are initially reviewed and assessed by two panel members who have the most appropriate scientific expertise. A shortlist is drawn up, with shortlisted applications subject to independent review. Following completion of independent peer review, applications are then discussed at a Panel meeting where recommendations for funding are made.
Further detail on the application and assessment process is available in the scheme notes.
| Financial year | Eligible applications | Offers | Success rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 43 | 13 | 30.2% |
| 2023/24 | 59 | 16 | 27.1% |
| 2024/25 | 69 | 17 | 24.6% |
Please note:
- Data is based on eligible applications and offers made, and does not include upgraded reserves
- Applicants must be nominated by their proposed host institution
- Fewer rounds were opened in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid, and application numbers were low during these years
The Royal Society welcomes applications from disabled applicants and provides support and adjustments to ensure that they can participate fully in the selection process. If you require support or an adjustment when accessing the application form, attending interviews, or for any other part of the application process, please contact the Grants Team on seniorfellowships@royalsociety.org or call +44 20 7451 2666. All requests for adjustments are made in confidentiality. Any request for an adjustment will not normally be shared with panel members unless it becomes relevant to the assessment process itself. If we need to share your request with anyone (for example if panel members are required to implement any adjustments during interviews), we will ask for your permission first.
Adjustments can include but are not limited to:
- Extension of the deadline
- Additional support to complete the application form
- Receiving the application form in a different format, such as on a Word document
- Support during interviews as required, including technical support for candidates requiring accessibility software or services
- Additional costs that candidates may incur on account of their particular disability to attend an interview
If you have further questions regarding the scheme, please contact the Grants team on seniorfellowships@royalsociety.org or visit our contact us page.
