Does the Society fund undergraduate or postgraduate training?
No, the Society focuses its funding at postdoctoral level.
What subjects are covered by the Society's funding schemes?
All areas of the life and physical sciences, including engineering, but excluding clinical medicine. Please contact the Grants section if you have any concern about eligibility.
The Society states that it does not support clinical research. What is defined as clinical research?
The Society considers patient-oriented research and clinical trials to be outside its remit. Please contact the Society if you have any concerns about this.
Do all applications need to be submitted using the Society's electronic Grant Application and Processing system (e-GAP)?
Yes, applications for all funding schemes must be submitted via e-GAP
Can an application be accepted by the Society after the round closing date?
No, all applications must be completed, approved by the host organisation and submitted to the Society by the round closing date.
What happens to my application once it reaches the Society?
The application will be checked to ensure that you meet the eligibility requirements for the scheme and that it contains all the necessary information. You will be contacted if there are any problems. Your application will then be peer reviewed (please see specific scheme details for further information on the peer review process).
How does the Society choose its referees?
The Society relies upon expert independent referees in many of its peer review processes. These referees are often chosen from the Fellowship of the Royal Society but other experts in your field may also be approached.
How does the Society choose its selection panel members?
Panel members are usually chosen from the Fellowship of the Royal Society and are selected for their expertise in a particular research field to ensure that the panel can cover all research areas necessary. However, we do have panel members chosen from outside the Fellowship.
I am a PhD student. Can I apply for one of the Royal Society's grants now before I obtain my degree?
This depends on the scheme applied for but in those cases where you may be eligible, you must have obtained your PhD by the time the award is taken up and you must submit a copy of your degree certificate or evidence of a successful viva voce examination from your supervisor/examiner in writing before the Royal Society can release funding.
What is the difference between the various international schemes the Royal Society offers?
International Travel Grants are available either for conference participation or travel for collaboration. Collaborative visits generally last from between one week to three months.
The Newton International Fellowships allow early-career researchers from around the world to work at UK institutions for two years.
International Joint Projects provide funding over 2 years for the exchange of personnel for collaborative research between a UK and overseas group.
Does the Society provide funding for the organisation of scientific conferences and meetings in the UK?
Yes, however the International Scientific Seminar scheme is only open to Royal Society Research Fellows.
Researchers who are not eligible for this scheme should consider submitting a proposal for a Royal Society Discussion Meeting.
For international visits, can the Royal Society assist with paying bench fees?
No. Royal Society funding covers the movement of scientists only - i.e travel, subsistence and accommodation costs. In some cases, an amount is allocated towards the costs of consumables, but this varies with each scheme applied for and the country visited/country of origin.
Can the Royal Society assist in finding me a suitable overseas host for my visit?
No. Unfortunately, it is not possible to assist scientists in seeking out suitable hosts for their visits. The Royal Society does not keep information on scientists and their current research interests and does not have the resources to match scientists together for collaborations.
Do the Royal Society's international grants cover the costs of dependants?
The Royal Society does not cover costs of accompanying dependants.
Does the Royal Society have its own research laboratories? /Do you currently have any vacant positions in your laboratories?
No. The Royal Society does not have its own research laboratories.
What is the age limit for the Royal Society's schemes?
There are no age limits for any Royal Society schemes however in some cases the scheme may be aimed at researchers with a particular level of experience.