RAS Fellowships

The RAS funds promising early-career scientists to be employed as Research Fellows at UK universities through two fellowship schemes:

1. RAS Research Fellowships
2. Sir Norman Lockyer Fellowships

The RAS intends to issue a call for two RAS Fellowships each year.

The next call for RAS Fellowships is expected to open in September 2026 for fellowships with an expected start date of 1 October 2027. The deadline for applications is November 15.

The fellowships have a nominal duration of up to 3 years for full-time fellows, with equivalent pro-rated terms for part-time fellows.

The conditions for both types of fellowship are identical with the exception of the scientific areas covered:

RAS Research Fellowships

The purpose of the RAS Research Fellowships is to enable outstanding candidates to pursue research in the UK in the disciplines advanced by the RAS i.e. astronomy, solar system science, geophysics and closely related branches of these sciences.

Sir Norman Lockyer Fellowships

Sir Norman Lockyer Fellowships are awarded to enable outstanding researchers to devote the majority of their time to research on an astronomical topic, including solar system and planetary science. They are named after Sir Norman Lockyer (1836-1920), pioneering solar astronomer and discoverer of helium.

Successful candidates will be assigned to one of the two fellowship types depending on their research topic and RAS internal considerations.

Applications for RAS Fellowships will be competitively assessed by an Awards Panel chaired by a senior member of the RAS Council. Selection will be based on capability, achievement, promise and the research proposal.

The eligibility criteria and financial support rules have been revised for the 2026 call – see below.

• How to Apply for an RAS Fellowship
• Applicant Eligibility
• Host Institution Eligibility
• Award Coverage and Payment
• Fellowship Duration
• Reporting and Research Outputs
• Fellowship Termination

How to Apply for an RAS Fellowship

In order to apply for an RAS Fellowship, you should complete and submit the RAS Fellowship Application Form. This has sections:

1. About You
2. PhD Information
3. Research Information
4. Proposed Host Institution
5. Diversity (anonymous)
6. An abstract (250 words maximum)
7. Additional Information and Declaration

The following documents are needed as part of the application:

1. CV (no longer than 3 pages; pdf)
2. List of publications (no longer than 3 pages; pdf)
3. Research proposal (no longer than 3 pages; pdf)
4. Host Institution Declaration (scanned pdf)

A minimum font size of 11 pt and 2 cm margins must be used. It is worth noting that the scientific documents should be intelligible to non-experts in your field.

Should an applicant wish to update any submitted files, please email awards@ras.ac.uk with the revised information.

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Applicant Eligibility

To be eligible for an RAS Fellowship you must:

1. Hold a recognised PhD degree or equivalent obtained after 1 October three years before the start of the fellowship (e.g., after 1 October 2024 if applying in 2026 for a fellowship beginning in October 2027), or
2. Have taken the PhD viva examination by the application deadline and expect to be awarded the PhD degree before the fellowship start date.
3. Be able to demonstrate that you have the right to live and work in the United Kingdom.
4. Have the approval of a recognised UK research establishment that has agreed to host the fellowship (known as the Host Institution).
5. RAS Council members cannot hold a RAS Research Fellowship or a Sir Norman Lockyer Fellowship. Likewise, RAS Research Fellowship or Sir Norman Lockyer Fellowship holders cannot serve on the RAS Council.

Applicants whose research careers have been affected by circumstances such as parental leave, caring responsibilities, long-term illness, disability, or other significant career breaks are encouraged to apply. Such circumstances will be taken into account when assessing eligibility under criteria (1) and (2).

The RAS is committed to inclusivity and welcomes applicants from all backgrounds including under-represented groups.

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Host Institution Eligibility

Note: The Host Institution eligibility criteria have been revised for the 2026 call.

Host Institutions must be recognised research establishments based in the United Kingdom and can include universities as listed by UCAS and other not-for-profit research institutions.

The application must be accompanied by Host Institution Declaration that includes a statement from the relevant Head of Department, School or unit that confirms:

• that the RAS Fellowship-holder will be accepted as an employee;
• the suitability of the host institution to undertake the proposed research;
• the support available to the RAS Fellowship-holder.

Host Institutions may support multiple fellowship applications to this call, with a cap of two per department, school or unit. If more than two proposals are received from any one department, school or unit, only the first two proposals received will be considered.

Any institution that hosts an RAS Fellowship (either an RAS Research Fellowship or a Sir Norman Lockyer Fellow) is ineligible to host another RAS Fellowship for a period of three years beginning at the start date of the first Fellow.

For RAS Fellowships starting on 1 October 2027, or shortly after, proposals from the following departments, schools or units will therefore not be considered:

1. Keele University – School of Chemical and Physical Sciences
2. University of Cambridge – Institute of Astronomy
3. Durham University – Institute for Computational Cosmology

RAS Fellowships are not transferable between organisations except under exceptional circumstances and with the consent of the Council of the RAS.

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Award Payment and Coverage

The award is in the form of a grant to the Host Institution.

The RAS will only fund directly incurred costs and not overheads (including bench fees or “full economic costs”). Applications must include a Host Institute Declaration by an authorised person at the Host Institution, confirming acceptance of this condition.

The RAS grant will cover salaries for RAS Fellowship-holders on the UCU single pay spine from points 30 to 36 inclusive. If the Host Institution, as employer, wishes to pay at spine points above 36, that extra expenditure must be found from their own funds.

In addition to the salary, the RAS grant will cover Employers National Insurance and employer pension contribution at the appropriate rates. If the Host Institution wishes to make additional payments, the extra expenditure must be found from their own resources.

Payment for absence through illness or other causes will be subject to the Host Institution’s conditions of employment. The RAS will compensate the Host Institution at the level equivalent to statutory payments. If the Host Institution, as employer, wishes to make payments above this level the extra expenditure must be found from their own funds.

The RAS accepts no responsibility for any illness, injury or accident which occurs during a fellowship.

RAS Fellowship-holders are not employees of the RAS and are not covered by the RAS’s staff policies.

An additional £5,000 per annum (previously £2,000) may be claimed for costs incurred in attending meetings and conferences or for other items related to the research.

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Fellowship Duration

RAS Fellowships typically support three-years of full-time research. The Fellowship should begin on 1 October of the year after the application (or no more than 6 months after this date).

The RAS will support breaks in service that the Host Institution, as the employer, is legally obligated to allow and will consider supporting breaks in service for other reasons in exceptional circumstances. If approved, the RAS will fund the Fellowship until such a time as the RAS has expended the equivalent of three years’ financial support as outlined above.

The RAS will consider requests for part-time working arrangements; the request must be supported by written confirmation from the line manager and Department Head at the Host Institution that this will not adversely impact the delivery of the research undertaken as part of the Fellowship. Again, if approved, the RAS will fund the Fellowship until such a time as the RAS has expended the equivalent of three years’ financial support as outlined above.

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Reporting and Research Outputs

The recipients of RAS Fellowships are expected to publish original research in RAS journals. Any publications arising from a fellowship should acknowledge funding from the RAS.

Continued funding beyond the first year is contingent on submission of satisfactory interim reports (1500-2000 words in length) at the end of each year of the fellowship. These should provide a factual summary of the work carried out to date, including results, and should outline research planned for the remainder of the award.

A short final report, including a list of any publications and manuscripts in press or under review, should be submitted no later than three months before the end of the award.

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Fellowship Termination

A Fellowship may be terminated if progress, or the recipient’s conduct, is judged to be unsatisfactory by the RAS Council.

If the recipient of a Fellowship discontinues their research or takes up other employment before the end of the award, the RAS must be informed immediately.

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