Newton International Fellowships

The Academy of Medical Sciences is pleased to be working with the Royal Society and British Academy to offer Newton International Fellowships, available through the Government Newton Fund which is part of the UK’s official development assistance.  The Newton Fund is a new initiative that aims to develop the long-term sustainable growth and welfare of the partner country through building research and innovation capacity.

These awards will enable talented early career post-doctoral researchers from partner countries (with no more than seven years’ active full time postdoctoral experience) to spend two consecutive years undertaking research at a host university or research institution in the UK, enabling them to benefit from an extended period within a first class research environment in some of the UK’s best universities.

The Academy of Medical Sciences will be awarding Newton International Fellowships for research proposals focused on clinical or patient-oriented research.

For more information on the call for applications in other disciplines please visit:

For the natural sciences:  https://royalsociety.org/grants/schemes/newton-international/

For the social sciences and humanities:  http://www.britac.ac.uk/funding/guide/intl/newton_international_fellowships.cfm

• Applicants should be from eligible Newton Fund countries. These will be confirmed for each round. 
• Applicants should have no more than 7 years active full time postdoctoral experience at the time of application, including teaching experience, time spent in industry, honorary positions and/or visiting researcher positions.
• Applicants in the final stages of their PhD will be accepted provided that the PhD will be completed (including viva) before the start date of the Fellowship.
• Applicants should be working outside the UK and should not hold UK citizenship at the time of application
• The awards offered in partnership with the Academy of Medical Sciences will cover clinical or patient-oriented research.
• Contact between the UK Sponsor and Applicant prior to the application is essential. This contact should lead to a clearly defined and mutually-beneficial research project proposal

Clinical researchers that wish to undertake paid clinical practice while in the UK should bear in mind that this may impact on the tax free status of the fellowship subsistence funding, and on the visa required to come to the UK for non-EEA nationals. For queries concerning clinical practice while holding a Newton International Fellowship, please contact newton-international@acmedsci.ac.uk.

For more details on eligibility please see the detailed scheme notes on the right hand side of the page. Note that partner countries may have specific eligibility requirements so please do check the guidance carefully.

Funding will consist of the following:

• £24,000 per annum for subsistence costs (tax exempt),
• up to £8,000 per annum for research expenses,
• a one-off payment of up to £2,000 for relocation expenses in year one only.

The fellowship also provides a sum of 50% of the total award (i.e. up to £33k for two years) to enable the UK institution to host a Fellowship, and to cover access for the individual to the University and Department facilities (adequate office and laboratory space and access to essential equipment and facilities).

All applications will be assessed by a Selection panel on the following criteria

• The academic research background of the Applicant
• The quality of the proposed research project
• The expected benefits for the career development of the Applicant
• The track record of the UK Sponsor and host organisation in the area of proposed research
• The suitability of the UK Sponsor and host organisation for the Applicant’s research project
• The additional benefits for the UK Sponsor and host organisation.
• The expected benefits to the overseas country, in particular the extend to which the award will achieve the transfer of knowledge and research capabilities which will contribute to advancing economic and social welfare of the partner country.

The Newton Fund is a £375 million fund operated by the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills. It provides £75 million a year for five years, from 2014/15 and the intention is that UK funding is matched by partner countries. Through the Newton Fund, the UK will use its strength in research and innovation to promote the economic development and social welfare of partner countries. By working together on bi-lateral and multi-lateral programmes with a research and innovation focus, the UK will build strong, sustainable, systemic relationships with partner countries. 

More details on the Fund can be found on the website www.newtonfund.ac.uk