This page is archived

Links to external sources may no longer work as intended. The content may not represent the latest thinking in this area or the Society’s current position on the topic.

Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit Award

This award will no longer receive applications and has been superseded by the Royal Society Wolfson Fellowships.

This scheme was for outstanding scientists who would benefit from a five year salary enhancement to help recruit them to or retain them in the UK.

The scheme provided universities with additional support to enable them to recruit or retain respected scientists of outstanding achievement and potential to the UK by providing a salary enhancement which is paid by the university in addition to the basic salary.

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

Who was eligible to apply?

Applicants were eligible to apply if:

  • they held a permanent post at a university in the UK or had received a firm offer to take effect from the start of the award
  • their basic salary was wholly funded by the university

What was the scheme's value and tenure?

The scheme provided up to five years of funding, after which the award holder continued with a permanent post at the host university.

The focus of the award was a salary enhancement, usually in the range of £10,000 to £30,000 per annum.