Newton International Fellowship 2026 | Explore Royal Society UK Fellowships Today

Newton International Fellowship 2026

The Newton International Fellowship is a prestigious International Fellowship designed for outstanding early-career researchers seeking to build an independent research career in the UK. Jointly run by the Royal Society and the British Academy, this program offers a transformative Fellowship Opportunity for life science graduates to gain international research experience, develop new skills, and establish long-term global collaborations.

About the Royal Society

The Royal Society is the UK’s national academy of sciences and one of the world’s most prestigious scientific institutions. Through initiatives such as the Newton International Fellowship, the Royal Society supports excellence in science, fosters global collaboration, and promotes inclusive, equitable access to UK Fellowships for researchers worldwide.

Newton International Fellowship Details: 

• Fellowship Type: Postdoctoral / Early Career Research Fellowship
• Administered by: The Royal Society & The British Academy
• Location: United Kingdom
• Duration: Up to 2 years
• Maximum Funding: £280,000
• Key Dates
  • Applications Open: 15 January 2026
  • Application Deadline: 11 March 2026
  • Funding Decision By: 31 August 2026

About the Fellowship

The Newton International Fellowship (NIF) supports outstanding early career researchers from outside the UK who wish to conduct research in the UK and take their first steps toward an independent research career.

The fellowship enables researchers to:

• Gain international research experience
• Access world-class expertise
• Develop new perspectives
• Build long-term international research collaborations

The scheme is jointly run by The Royal Society and The British Academy.

Humanities & Social Sciences applicants must apply through the British Academy.
For guidance on which academy to apply to, contact: [email protected]

Programme Objectives

• Attract talented international early career researchers to the UK
• Support innovative, high-quality research
• Enable skill development, training, and career progression
• Foster long-term collaborations via alumni and networking opportunities

Recent Changes to the Scheme (From 2026 Round)

Eligibility Updates

• Applicants must have been awarded their PhD or successfully defended their thesis by the application deadline
• Maximum of 5 years active full-time postdoctoral experience post-PhD (career breaks excluded)

Sponsorship Limits

Each UK academic Sponsor may support only one application per round

Application Form Changes

• Application consists of Parts A, B, and C
• Heads of Department confirm support via questions (no PDF letter required)
• One nominated reference required (UK or overseas)

Selection Process Updates

• Single submission process
• Triaging stage based on Part A
• Full review of Parts A & B for longlisted applicants

Additional Awards & Funding

• Up to £30 million announced to attract global talent
• £10 million allocated to early career researchers, including NIF awards
• Additional awards may be made within standard NIF rounds

Privately Funded Fellowships

• Royal Society K C Wong International Fellowships available for applicants from China
• Automatically selected from the NIF applicant pool
• Equal value and prestige to standard NIF awards

What the Fellowship Offers

Funding (Up to £280,000 over 2 years)

Eligible costs include:

• Salary and institutional on-costs
• Research expenses
• Relocation and visa costs (including dependents)
• Estate and indirect costs

Relocation and visa costs may exceed the grant cap if fully justified.

Flexibility & Additional Support

• Part-time working options
• Support for caring responsibilities
• Maternity, paternity, adoptive, shared parental, and extended sick leave
• Childcare support for conferences and research visits

Career Development Opportunities

• Leadership training
• Science communication and public engagement
• Science policy and schools engagement activities

Alumni Funding

• Networking support following completion of the fellowship

Eligibility Criteria for Newton International Fellowship

You are eligible if you:

• Hold a PhD or will have successfully defended your thesis by the deadline
• Have ≤ 5 years postdoctoral experience (excluding career breaks)
• Are based outside the UK
• Do not hold UK citizenship
• Are proficient in written and spoken English
• Conduct research within the natural sciences remit of the Royal Society

Applicants in the humanities and social sciences must apply via the British Academy.

UK Sponsor Requirement

All applications must be developed with a UK academic Sponsor

• Sponsors provide mentoring and project support
• Each Sponsor may support one application per round only

Visa Eligibility

Applicants requiring visas may apply for a Global Talent Visa via a fast-track endorsement route

Application & Assessment Process

• Applications submitted via Flexi-Grant®
• Initial eligibility screening
• Expert review of Part A
• Full review of Parts A & B for longlisted candidates
• Final funding recommendations made by Fellowship Committees

Application Statistics for Newton International Fellowship

Figures exclude upgraded reserves.

Support for Disabled Applicants

The Royal Society provides confidential support and reasonable adjustments, including:

• Deadline extensions
• Application format alternatives
• Interview support and accessibility services
• Coverage of disability-related interview costs

Contact: [email protected]
Phone: +44 20 7451 2666

Contact Information

For general enquiries: [email protected]

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