International Exchanges Grants Programme (United Kingdom)

It is available for scientists based in the UK who want to stimulate new research collaborations with leading scientists overseas through either a one-off visit or bilateral travel.

Objectives

• The objectives of the International Exchanges scheme are to:
  • Stimulate the development of new research collaborations between UK researchers and researchers from around the world
  • Provide seed corn funding to establish partnerships, gather preliminary data, develop research ideas and strengthen applications for further funding
  • Enable UK and international research groups to exchange research staff, to share expertise and exchange ideas.

Funding Information

• The funding available is dependent upon the length of the visit. Applicants may request:
  • Up to £3,000 for a one-off visit lasting up to 3 months;
  • Up to £6,000 for multiple visits to be completed within 1 year (including a maximum of £1,500 for eligible research expenses);
  • Up to £12,000 for multiple visits to be completed within 2 years (including a maximum of £3,000 for eligible research expenses).
• Eligible Costs
  • Travel (incl. subsistence): up to £3,000 for 3 months; up to £6,000 for 1 year; or up to £12,000 for 2 years’ duration
  • Consumables (incl. fieldwork): £0 for 3 months; up to £1,500 for 1 year; or up to £3,000 for 2 years’ project duration
• Royal Society – Sino-British Fellowship Trust International Exchanges Grant
  • Thanks to the support of the Sino-British Fellowship Trust, additional grants for collaborations with researchers in China are available through The Royal Society – Sino-British Fellowship Trust International Exchanges Grant.
  • Up to £12,000 is available for a 2-year project for travel and subsistence including a maximum of £3,000 for eligible research expenses.
• Royal Society – Yusuf and Farida Hamied Foundation International Exchanges Grant
  • Thanks to the support of the Yusuf and Farida Hamied Foundation, additional grants for collaborations with researchers in India are available through The Royal Society – Yusuf and Farida Hamied Foundation International Exchanges Grant.
  • Up to £12,000 is available for a 2-year project for travel and subsistence including a maximum of £3,000 for eligible research expenses.
• Activities fundable under this scheme are as follows:
  • One-off visit collaborations
    • One visit to be taken in either direction, i.e. either the applicant undertakes a visit to the overseas institution, or the co-applicant visits the UK institution.
    • Visits to last between 1 week and 3 months.
    • Up to £3,000 available. Multiple visits collaborations
  • Collaborative visits to be undertaken over a period of either up to:
    • 1 year with up to £6,000 available, £1,500 of which can be spent on eligible consumables
    • 2 years with up to £12,000 available, £3,000 of which can be spent on eligible consumables
• Awards are expected to commence by September 2025. Awards are available for either up to 3 months, 1 year or 2 years.
• Activities must start no earlier than 4 months after the closing date and no later than 30 September 2025.

Costs Covered

• Grants can cover either a one-off short visit to explore opportunities for building lasting networks or bilateral visits to strengthen emerging collaborations. 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.

Eligible Activities

• Applications must be new collaborations. This scheme is not intended to be used to extend an existing or recent project or collaboration.
• Collaborations should be based on a single project.
• Project participants can include the applicant and co-applicant and also members of their teams. Any project participants must be working in a UK/overseas university or research institute. The Royal Society would like to encourage the participation of junior scientists such as PhD students or postdoctoral researchers.
• Applications can only support travel between the UK and the overseas collaborator’s country/territory for the applicant, co-applicant and members of their respective team; costs for travel between a third country/territory are not eligible.

Eligibility Criteria

• The UK based scientist and/or project leader (the lead applicant) and the overseas based scientist and/or project leader (the co-applicant) must have completed a PhD or have extensive experience at an equivalent level at the time of application.
• The applicant and co-applicant must hold a permanent or fixed term contract for the duration of the award in an eligible organisation in their respective countries/territories.
• The applicant and co-applicant must be based in their respective countries/territories and institution at the time of application.
• The applicant and co-applicant cannot be former colleagues or PhD student/supervisor. The scheme is intended to stimulate new collaborations between scientists in the UK and overseas.
• Applications must be started by the applicant on behalf of the co-applicant and the respective teams, i.e. the application must be initiated through the Flexi-Grant application portal of the applicant, which can be accessed when logged onto the system.
• Applicants are not permitted to submit more than one application per round (deadline).
• Holders of a current International Exchanges award with the same overseas country/territory as the (proposed) application cannot apply until the project has ended, the final research report has been submitted to The Royal Society, the final statement of expenditure (financial report) has been submitted to The Royal Society and any unspent amount of money of the current International Exchanges award has been refunded to The Royal Society.
• Visiting academics who have been invited by an eligible UK institution are ineligible.
• Honorary academics of an eligible UK institution are ineligible. Retired scientists who are still active in science must submit their application through an eligible UK institution.

For more information, visit The Royal Society.