International Exchanges grants provide support for scientists based in the UK to stimulate new research collaborations with leading scientists overseas. Grants can cover either a one-off short visit to explore opportunities for building lasting networks or bilateral visits to strengthen emerging collaborations.
The objectives of the International Exchanges scheme are to:
There are multiple calls for applications open each year which are run as Global rounds and Cost Share rounds.
Global rounds
The Global rounds are available for travel to/from all countries/territories outside the UK. The amount of funding available is dependent upon the length of the visit and can be used for both the UK and overseas partner.
The Global rounds also include the possibility to be supported through specific funds:
Cost Share rounds
The Cost Share rounds cover cooperation arrangements that the Royal Society has in place to co-fund International Exchanges grants with overseas funding bodies. The Royal Society provides funding for the UK partner and the overseas funder provides funding for the overseas partner. The UK applicant submits an application to the Royal Society and the overseas applicant simultaneously submits a parallel application to the overseas funder.
The Royal Society currently partners with the following bodies to co-fund International Exchanges grants:
The Royal Society recognises that diversity is essential for delivering excellence in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The Society wants to encourage applications from the widest range of backgrounds, perspectives and experiences to maximise innovation and creativity in science for the benefit of humanity. We regularly review and revise policies and processes to embed equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) principles in all aspects of the grant making process and ensure all talented applicants have an equitable chance to succeed as per the assessment criteria.
See below for details of adjustments we can provide for disabled applicants.
Funds can cover travel, subsistence and research expenses.
Global rounds
The funding available is dependent upon the length of the visit:
Cost Share rounds
Grants are available for multiple visits to be completed over a fixed period of two years:
Full funding details can be found in the scheme notes for the Global round and the Cost Share rounds.
Proposals must align strictly with the Royal Society’s remit—natural sciences (biology, chemistry, physics, engineering, mathematics) .
They prioritize high‐quality, discovery-led research, whether early-career fellowships or grants for seasoned researchers .
The Society offers a wide spectrum of fellowships and grants—e.g., Research Grants for newer independent investigators, Fellowships for career-stage progression, and International Collaboration Awards .
Each scheme has tailored eligibility, objectives, and documentation requirements. Reading the scheme notes fully is essential to avoid administrative triage.
Early consultation with your host department or institution is required. For fellowships, clear support must be demonstrated—e.g., lab space, mentorship, training, and potential proleptic academic appointments .
Research Grants (€30 K, 12 months) are designed for newly appointed PIs (≤5 years) or academics returning to research .
Newton International Fellowships support outstanding early-career non-UK researchers to build independent careers in the UK .
International Collaboration Awards facilitate building UK-led international partnerships for newly independent researchers .
Applicants must:
Use the Flexi-Grant portal
Ensure host institution and referees submit required approvals by the deadline
Follow costing policies and adhere to formatting and document guidelines .
Late or incomplete applications are automatically rejected .
Applications undergo peer review by expert panels. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are integral, with reviewers trained to mitigate bias .
All proposals are assessed on excellence, inclusivity, flexibility, openness, and fairness .
For high-demand schemes, panels first shortlist strong applications, then Chairs make final funding recommendations .
Schemes sometimes employ lottery tie-breakers for equally-ranked proposals .
Applicants should include clear planning for mentoring, public or outreach engagement, and optional international collaboration .
🧭 Summary Table
Success Factor | What to Demonstrate |
---|---|
Scientific excellence | Innovative, rigorous research aligned with remit |
Scheme fit | Choose correct scheme; follow notes strictly |
Host backing | Secure lab space, mentorship, institutional sign-off |
Career stage appropriateness | Be eligible for scheme (e.g., early-career PI) |
Complete & compliant applications | Use Flexi-Grant; include all documents |
EDI commitment | Showcase diverse perspectives and bias-mitigated process |
Peer review readiness | Well-written, methodologically sound proposal |
Tie-breaker readiness | Be clearly fundable to benefit from lottery if needed |
🔧 Practical Tips
Start early—discuss with your host and support office before applying.
Draft meticulously, keeping scope realistic and your CV focused.
Include training and outreach—funders value broader engagement.
Seek feedback before submission; peer review can find critical issues early.
Understand the scoring process, and aim to be one of the top-rated applications.
This scheme is for you if:
Collaborations should be based on a single project and travel can only take place between the UK and a country/territory where the overseas collaborator is based.
This scheme is not intended to support continued research activities between a UK applicant and a co-applicant who was a former colleague or PhD student or to support other existing or recent collaborations between the applicant and co-applicant. Rather, the scheme is intended to stimulate new collaborations between scientists in the UK and overseas.
Read the scheme notes for further information on eligibility. Please ensure that you meet all eligibility requirements before applying.
Eligible Countries:
Sponsor Institute/Organizations: The Royal Society
Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit
Address: 6-9 Carlton House Terrace, London, SW1Y 5AG
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Sep 25, 2025
Sep 25, 2025
$16,489
Affiliation: The Royal Society
Address: 6-9 Carlton House Terrace, London, SW1Y 5AG
Website URL: https://royalsociety.org/grants/international-exchanges/
Disclaimer:It is mandatory that all applicants carry workplace liability insurance, e.g., https://www.protrip-world-liability.com (Erasmus students use this package and typically costs around 5 € per month - please check) in addition to health insurance when you join any of the onsite Trialect partnered fellowships.