Royal Society Funding Opportunities

The Royal Society is offering a range of prestigious funding opportunities for outstanding researchers at different career stages. These programmes provide support for scientific research, career development, and international collaboration, including opportunities to conduct research in the UK and build partnerships with leading UK institutions. Eligible South African researchers and scientists are encouraged to explore these opportunities and submit applications within the respective timelines. 

1. University Research Fellowship

This scheme is for outstanding scientists who are in the early stages of their research career and have the potential to become leaders in their field. These long-term fellowships provide the opportunity and freedom to build an independent research career in the UK or Republic of Ireland and pursue cutting-edge scientific research.

Who can apply? Early career researchers of any nationality with between three and eight years of research experience post-PhD (excluding career breaks), who do not hold a permanent post in a university or not-for-profit research organisation.

Open and closing date: 14 July 2026 – 9 September 2026

2. International Exchanges: Global, JSPS and NSTC Cost Share rounds

These grants provide support for scientists based in the UK to stimulate new research collaborations with leading scientists overseas, covering travel between the respective countries.

The Global round is for collaborations between researchers based in the UK and in any other country/territory around the world. The Cost Share rounds are for collaborations between researchers based in the UK and in the countries/territories covered by each call: in this Cost Share call, grants are co-funded by Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) and National Science and Technology Council, Taiwan (NSTC).

The Royal Society also runs Global, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Italy (CNR) and National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) Cost Share rounds each spring -please check the scheme page for updated details of this round.

Who can apply? Both the lead and overseas co-applicant must have a PhD/equivalent experience and be based in their respective countries/territories at the time of application and hold a permanent or fixed term contract there for the duration of the award, in an eligible organisation.

Open and closing date: 30 July 2026 – 24 September 2026

3. Faraday Discovery Fellowships

These prestigious long-term awards support emerging research leaders to undertake high-quality, original research in the UK. The programme is aimed at outstanding mid-career STEM researchers and provides grants of up to £8m over a ten-year period.

Who can apply? Mid-career researchers of any nationality (see scheme notes for more details on the definition of mid-career).

Open and closing date (for stage one): 5 August 2026 – 22 September 2026

For further information on eligibility requirements, application guidance and programme details, prospective applicants are encouraged to visit the Royal Society website: Welcome to the Royal Society | Royal Society.