Apply for International Exchanges Grants (United Kingdom)

The Royal Society International Exchanges Grants support UK-based scientists in developing new international research collaborations through short research visits and bilateral exchanges. Funding can support travel, subsistence, and research expenses, with grants of up to £12,000 from the Royal Society, and additional matching support available through selected overseas cost-share partners.

What Are Royal Society International Exchanges Grants?

The Royal Society International Exchanges Grants provide seed funding for UK scientists who want to establish new research collaborations with scientists in other countries.

The programme is designed to help researchers develop international partnerships before pursuing larger research programmes or funding opportunities.

Supported activities can include:

• Short research visits
• Bilateral scientific exchanges
• Preliminary data collection
• Development of new research ideas
• Exchange of research expertise
• Staff exchanges
• Development of future funding applications
• Establishment of new international research partnerships

The programme focuses specifically on new collaborations, rather than continuing established research relationships.

Purpose of the International Exchanges Scheme

The scheme aims to help scientists use international collaboration to develop innovative research.

Funding can help researchers:

• Establish a new scientific partnership
• Test an early-stage research idea
• Collect preliminary data
• Share specialist knowledge
• Develop new methodologies
• Exchange research staff
• Strengthen international research networks
• Prepare applications for larger research grants

The funding is intended as seed funding, meaning it helps researchers establish a collaboration that could lead to more substantial future research.

Funding Available

Funding depends on the type of International Exchanges round.

Global Round: One-Off Visit

Researchers can receive up to:

£3,000

The funding supports a single visit lasting up to three months.

Global Round: Multiple Visits

Researchers can receive up to:

£6,000

The visits must be completed within one year.

Global Round: Longer Collaboration

Researchers can receive up to:

£12,000

The funding supports multiple visits completed within two years.

Cost Share Round

Under Cost Share rounds, the Royal Society can provide up to:

£12,000

for multiple visits over two years.

An overseas cost-share partner can provide an additional contribution of up to the equivalent of:

£12,000

This creates the potential for combined support of up to £24,000, subject to the relevant overseas funder’s rules and successful parallel applications.

What Can the Grant Pay For?

The funding can support costs directly connected with the international research exchange.

Eligible expenses may include:

• International travel
• Local travel
• Subsistence
• Research expenses
• Costs associated with scientific collaboration
• Other approved expenses directly related to the exchange

The proposed expenditure should clearly support the research collaboration.

Who Is Eligible?

The scheme is intended for scientists based in the UK.

Applicants must:

• Hold a PhD or equivalent research experience
• Be based at an eligible UK organisation
• Hold a fixed-term or permanent contract for the duration of the project
• Conduct research within the Royal Society’s scientific remit
• Collaborate with a researcher based in the relevant overseas country or territory

The research collaboration must involve travel between the UK and the country or territory where the overseas collaborator is based.

Eligible Research Areas

The Royal Society’s remit covers the natural sciences.

Relevant areas can include:

• Biological sciences
• Biomedical sciences
• Chemistry
• Engineering
• Mathematics
• Physics
• Other disciplines falling within the Royal Society’s natural sciences remit

Applicants should ensure that their proposed research falls within the scheme’s specific scientific eligibility requirements.

Eligible Organisations

Applicants must be based at an eligible UK research organisation.

The scheme excludes organisations such as:

• Industrial organisations
• Private commercial organisations
• Commercial companies
• University spin-out companies
• Government bodies

Applicants should verify the eligibility of their specific employing organisation before preparing an application.

New Collaboration Requirement

One of the most important requirements is that the collaboration must be new.

The scheme is designed to establish new international research partnerships.

It does not normally support continued research collaborations involving:

• Former colleagues
• Former PhD supervisors or students
• Existing collaborators
• Recent collaborators
• Established research partnerships

Applicants should demonstrate why the proposed relationship represents a genuine new collaboration.

How the International Exchange Works

The programme follows a collaboration-based model.

Step 1: Identify an Overseas Research Partner

The UK scientist should identify a suitable scientist or research group in the relevant overseas country or territory.

The collaborator should have expertise that complements the proposed research.

Step 2: Develop a Joint Research Idea

The researchers should develop a single research project.

The proposal should explain:

• The research question
• Why international collaboration is needed
• Each researcher’s contribution
• Planned exchange activities
• Expected outcomes

Step 3: Select the Appropriate Funding Round

Applicants should determine whether their project fits:

• A one-off Global visit
• Multiple Global visits
• A two-year Global exchange
• A Cost Share round

Step 4: Prepare the Application

The application should demonstrate:

• Scientific quality
• Value of the collaboration
• Novelty of the partnership
• Feasibility
• Expected research outcomes
• Appropriate use of funding

Step 5: Submit the Application

Applications are assessed through the Royal Society’s grant-making process according to the relevant scheme requirements and assessment criteria.

Step 6: Conduct the Exchange

If successful, researchers undertake the approved visits and collaboration activities within the permitted funding period.

Cost Share Applications

Cost Share rounds operate differently from standard Global rounds.

Both researchers generally need to submit applications to their respective funding organisations.

The UK researcher applies through the Royal Society, while the overseas collaborator applies through the relevant international funding partner.

The two applications must support the same collaborative research project.

Applicants should therefore coordinate closely with their international partner before submission.

Assessment Process

Applications are assessed through the Royal Society’s grant-making process.

Assessment considers factors such as:

• Scientific quality
• Research potential
• Strength of the proposed collaboration
• Value of international exchange
• Feasibility of the proposed activities
• Suitability of the funding for the project
• Potential for future research development

The Royal Society also incorporates equity, diversity, and inclusion principles into its grant-making activities and aims to encourage applications from researchers with a broad range of backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences.

Who Funds the Programme?

The International Exchanges scheme is funded by the UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).

Additional support is available through specific funding partners and funds, including:

• Yusuf and Farida Hamied Foundation
• Sino-British Fellowship Trust
• American Friends of the Royal Society

Availability and eligibility can vary between individual funding rounds and international partner arrangements.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid:

• Proposing an existing or recent collaboration
• Failing to demonstrate why international exchange is necessary
• Applying with a project outside the Royal Society’s natural sciences remit
• Including an ineligible organisation
• Proposing activities unrelated to the research project
• Failing to coordinate Cost Share applications with the overseas partner
• Providing insufficient justification for travel and research expenses

Tips for a Strong Application

A strong application should:

• Clearly explain the research problem
• Demonstrate genuine novelty in the collaboration
• Explain why the overseas partner is particularly suitable
• Define the contribution of both research teams
• Provide a realistic exchange schedule
• Explain how the collaboration could lead to future research
• Show how preliminary results could support larger funding applications
• Provide a clear and justified budget

Why This Grant Matters

The Royal Society International Exchanges scheme provides researchers with an opportunity to establish international partnerships without requiring a large initial research grant.

The seed funding can help researchers develop new ideas, exchange specialist knowledge, collect preliminary evidence, and build relationships that may lead to larger international research programmes.

For early-stage collaborations, this type of funding can be particularly valuable because it reduces the financial barrier to establishing a new international research partnership.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What are Royal Society International Exchanges Grants?

They are grants that support UK-based scientists in developing new international research collaborations through research visits and bilateral exchanges.

How much funding can researchers receive?

Funding ranges from £3,000 to £12,000 from the Royal Society depending on the type and duration of the exchange. Cost Share rounds may provide an additional equivalent contribution from an overseas partner.

Who can apply?

UK-based scientists with a PhD or equivalent research experience who hold an eligible fixed-term or permanent position at an eligible organisation can apply, subject to the specific round requirements.

What research areas are supported?

The scheme supports research within the Royal Society’s natural sciences remit, including biological and biomedical sciences, chemistry, engineering, mathematics, and physics.

Can researchers use the grant for travel?

Yes. Funding can support eligible travel, subsistence, and research expenses associated with the international exchange.

Can an existing research collaboration apply?

Generally, no. The programme is intended to establish new research collaborations and does not support continued work with existing or recent collaborators, former colleagues, or former PhD researchers.

How do Cost Share rounds work?

The UK and overseas researchers submit parallel applications to the Royal Society and the relevant overseas funding organisation. If both applications are successful, funding can be provided by both partners for the same international research collaboration.

Conclusion

The Royal Society International Exchanges Grants provide seed funding for UK scientists seeking to establish new international research collaborations in the natural sciences. With support of up to £12,000 from the Royal Society, and potentially an additional matching contribution through Cost Share partnerships, the scheme can help researchers exchange expertise, conduct preliminary research, develop new ideas, and strengthen future funding applications. The Royal Society assesses applications based on the scientific quality and feasibility of the proposed collaboration, while also promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion within its grant-making process.