Summary: The Royal Society Wolfson Visiting Fellowships 2027 are fully funded sabbatical research fellowships in the UK for exceptional international research leaders. These fellowships aim to drive cross-border scientific collaboration and offer significant financial support for senior researchers to spend up to 12 months in residence at a UK host institution.
- 🌍 The Royal Society Wolfson Visiting Fellowships 2027 offer fully funded research sabbaticals in the UK for outstanding international research leaders to strengthen global scientific collaboration.
- 💷 Fellows can receive up to £125,000 in funding, including bursaries, research costs, relocation, visa expenses, and family support.
- 🏛️ The fellowship is hosted by leading UK universities and not-for-profit research institutions in partnership with the Wolfson Foundation and The Royal Society.
- ⏳ Fellowships last 3–12 months, with the option to spread the stay flexibly over two years.
- 🔬 The program supports long-term international collaboration in STEM disciplines, including Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Engineering, Mathematics, and Physics.
- 💰 Benefits include an annual bursary of up to £80,000, research expenses, travel, fieldwork costs, and equipment funding (up to £10,000).
- ✈️ Relocation and visa costs for fellows and eligible dependents are covered, with additional support available when justified.
Designation: Visiting Fellow
Table of Details:
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Host Country | United Kingdom |
| Funding Partners | Wolfson Foundation & The Royal Society |
| Fellowship Status | Open for Applications |
| Maximum Funding | Up to £125,000 |
| Annual Bursary | Up to £80,000 per annum (full-time) |
| Fellowship Duration | 3–12 months full-time or spread over 2 years |
| Eligible Applicants | International Research Leaders (All Nationalities) |
| Application Deadline | 4 September 2026(three rounds per year) |
Research Area: Strategic STEM areas, including but not limited to:
- Biological Sciences
- Chemistry
- Engineering
- Mathematics
- Physics
Location: United Kingdom (hosted by leading UK universities and not-for-profit research institutions)
Eligibility/Qualification:
- Must be an international research leader with a demonstrable track record of high-quality independent scientific research.
- Must have secured a firm offer from a UK university or not-for-profit research institution.
- Intra-UK transfers from one UK institution to another are not eligible.
- Open to any nationality worldwide.
Job Description:
The fellowship empowers top international scholars to spend up to 12 months (flexibly arranged over two years) in residence at a UK host institution. Fellows will:
- Share expertise.
- Build lasting research networks.
- Meaningfully enrich the UK’s world-class STEM research ecosystem.
- Focus entirely on their scientific work without financial disruption or the burden of out-of-pocket international research expenses.
What the Fellowship Offers:
- Bursary: Up to £80,000 per annum (full-time) for living expenses.
- Research Expenses: Covers consumables, travel, small equipment purchases (up to £10,000), visa costs, and fieldwork expenses.
- Relocation and Visa Costs: Covered for both the Fellow and their dependents.
- Flexible Tenure: 3 to 12 months full-time, or arranged flexibly across two years.
- Family and Carer Support: Maternity and paternity leave provisions and childcare grants are available.
How to Apply:
The application process is nomination-based:
- Host Nomination: The Head of Department at the UK host institution must email seniorfellowships@royalsociety.org to request a nomination link for the candidate. Candidates cannot self-nominate.
- Candidate Invitation: Upon nomination approval, the applicant receives a Flexi-Grant application link to submit the full fellowship application.
- Panel Review: Applications undergo a rigorous multi-stage review process, including expert reviewer assessment, independent peer review, and a final Panel meeting.
- Funding Decision: The Wolfson Fellowships Panel makes final funding recommendations, and successful candidates are notified.
Last Date for Apply: 4 September 2026 (Note: There are three application rounds per year).
