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Science, engineering, humanities and medicine applicants – eligibility criteria

Applications from those in the science, engineering, humanities and medicine industries will be reviewed by The British Academy, The Royal Society or The Royal Academy of Engineering depending on your specialism.  Please contact us to discuss which Endorsing Body you should apply to.

You must be an active researcher in an academic, industry or research institution to be able to make an application for endorsement in one of these fields.

If you are applying for endorsement on the fast track, you must provide evidence of one of the following:

  1. That you hold, or have held in the 5 years before the date of application, a peer reviewed research fellowship or award named on the list published by your Endorsing Body.
  2. That you have been appointed to an academic or research position at an approved UK Higher Education Institution or research institute named on the list published by your Endorsing body.
  3. That you are working on a research grant issued by an endorsed funder approved by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

There are various evidential requirements which must be satisfied, dependent upon which fast track criteria you are applying under. Please contact us to discuss what evidential requirements you will have to satisfy as part of your application.

If you are applying for a full peer review consideration you must meet each of the following criteria below:

Exceptional TalentExceptional Promise
Mandatory criteria
1. You must be an active researcher in a relevant field, typically within a university, research institute or within industry.1. You must be an active researcher in a relevant field, typically within a university, research institute or within industry.
2. You must have a PhD or equivalent research experience (including industrial or clinical research).2. You must have a PhD or equivalent research experience (including industrial or clinical research).
3. You must meet one or more of the following Qualifying Criteria.3.You must be at an early stage in your career.
4. You must have been awarded, or have held in the past five years, a prestigious UK‐based research fellowship, or an international fellowship or advanced research post judged by the Endorsing Body to be of equivalent standing.
Qualifying criteria (Exceptional Talent only)
1. You must be a member of your national academy or a foreign member of an academy of another country.
2. You must have been awarded a prestigious internationally recognised prize.
3. You must provide a letter of recommendation from a senior member of a reputable UK organisation concerned with research in your field.

If you are applying for a full peer review consideration you must meet each of the following criteria below:

  • a CV outlining your career and publication history; and
  • a letter of recommendation written in support of your application from an eminent person resident in the UK which includes the following:
    • how the author knows you; and
    • your achievements in the relevant field; and
    • how the author considers that you show exceptional talent or promise;
    • how you would benefit from living in the UK; and
    • the contribution you would make to UK research excellence and wider society

For exceptional talent, evidence in relation to at least one of the qualifying eligibility criteria listed above.

Read more about this and other questions in our

Global Talent section.

Disclaimer

Given the fast pace of change, we would stress that this information is designed to be informative, not advisory and represents our understanding of English law and practice as at the date indicated. We would always recommend that you should seek specific guidance on any particular legal issue.

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