The Newton International Fellowship scheme will select the very best early stage post-doctoral researchers from all over the world, and offer support for two years at UK research institutions. The long-term aim of the scheme is to build a global pool of research leaders and encourage long-term international collaboration with the UK. The Newton International Fellowships scheme is run by The British Academy and the Royal Society. The Fellowships cover the broad range of physical, natural and social sciences and the humanities. They provide grants of £24,000 per annum to cover subsistence and up to £8,000 per annum to cover research expenses, plus a one-off relocation allowance of up to £2,000. In addition, Newton Fellows may be eligible for follow-up funding of up to £6,000 per annum for up to 10 years following the completion of the Fellowship.
The fellowships are provided by The British Academy and the Royal Society.
Study Subjects and Level:
The Fellowships cover the broad range of physical, natural and social sciences and the humanities. These fellowships for pursuing postdoctoral research program at any UK university or public research institute.
Eligibility to Apply:
- Applicants should have no more than 7 years of active full time postdoctoral experience at the time of application (discounting career breaks, but including teaching experience and/or time spent in industry).
- Applicants in the final stages of their PhD will be accepted provided that the PhD will be completed (including viva) before the start date of the Fellowship. Confirmation of award of the PhD will be required before any Fellowship award is confirmed.
- Applicants should be working outside the UK and should not hold UK citizenship at the time of application. Individuals already living, working or researching in the UK are not eligible to apply. Individuals working outside the UK but employed by a UK organization are also not eligible to apply.
- Contact between the UK Sponsor and Applicant prior to the application is essential. This contact should lead to a clearly defined and mutually-beneficial research project proposal. Please note that the two implementing academies will not be able to assist in locating a UK Sponsor.
- Applicants must be competent in oral and written English. The UK Sponsor must confirm their competency on the application form and in their supporting statement.
- Applications from individuals who have not studied or worked in the UK previously are encouraged as the scheme aims to establish new links between the applicant and the UK.
- All applicants must be working and be based outside of the UK at the time of application.
- Applicants who completed their PhD at a UK organization must have been working and based outside the UK for at least one year at the time of application.
- Applicants proposing to return to their UK PhD organization and/or PhD supervisor will normally be considered to be ineligible and so applicants must have exceptional reasons for proposing to do so.
- Proposed Fellowships must be carried out in the UK at the UK host organization for the two year period. Applicants cannot conduct their research outside the UK but short fieldwork trips abroad may be possible where appropriate. Short fieldwork trips abroad must not normally total more than one month per annum. Please note that fieldwork is defined as “(practical) gathering of material or data specifically for the Newton Fellowship project”.
- Applicants may only submit one application in a round. The application must be with only one coapplicant at a UK host organization.
Scholarship Open for:
International students (except UK) can apply for these fellowships.
Number of Scholarships:
Approximately 40 Newton fellowships will be available in this round.
Scholarship Duration:
The Fellowships run for two consecutive years in the UK.
Scholarship Value:
Fellows will receive £24,000 per annum for subsistence and up to £8,000 per annum for research expenses and up to £2,000 for relocation expenses, for the duration of the award. In addition, UK host universities will receive 50% of the annual value of the Fellowship as a contribution towards their overhead costs. Newton Fellows may be eligible for follow-up funding of up to £6,000 per annum for up to 10 years following the completion of the Fellowship.
Selection Criteria:
The primary considerations are listed below. Successful applications should be strong in all respects:
- The academic research background of the Applicant.
- The quality of the proposed research project.
- The expected benefits for the career development of the Applicant.
- The track record of the UK Sponsor and host organization in the area of proposed research.
- The suitability of the UK Sponsor and host organization for the Applicant’s research project.
- The additional benefits for the UK Sponsor and host organization.
Notification about results:
Final results will be announced in August 2015.
How to Apply?
Applications for all Newton International Fellowships should be made online through the Royal Society’s Electronic Grant Application and Processing system.
Application Deadline: 25th February 2015.
For further information: http://www.newtonfellowships.org/the-fellowships.aspx
