Royal Astronomical Society Fellowships 2027: Up to Three Years of Salary Support and £5,000 Annual Research Costs

Royal Astronomical Society Fellowships 2027: Up to Three Years of Salary Support and £5,000 Annual Research Costs

The Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) is preparing its 2027 fellowship call for early-career scientists who want to carry out research at a recognised UK research establishment. The call covers two schemes: the RAS Research Fellowship and the Sir Norman Lockyer Fellowship. The Society says the next call is expected to open in September 2026, with fellowships expected to begin on 1 October 2027, and lists 15 November 2026 as the application deadline.

This is a salaried research opportunity rather than a small personal stipend. The award is made as a grant to the host institution. It covers the fellow’s salary on UCU single pay spine points 30 to 36, together with the employer’s National Insurance and pension contributions. The grant can also include an additional £5,000 per year for meetings, conferences, and other research-related costs. A successful applicant therefore needs both a strong research case and a UK host that can provide the required institutional declaration and employment arrangement.

The two schemes share the same application, eligibility, funding, and reporting rules. The RAS Research Fellowship is the broader route for research in astronomy, solar system science, geophysics, and closely related disciplines. The Sir Norman Lockyer Fellowship is focused on research with a substantial astronomical component, including solar system and planetary science. The RAS assigns successful candidates to one of the two fellowship types based on the research topic and its internal considerations.

Key details

The RAS page is the controlling source for the call. It describes the September opening as expected, so applicants should confirm that the live form and any revised 2026 guidance are available before submitting. The date in the current notice is clear, but the online form, host wording, and attachments should still be checked when the call opens.

What the fellowship provides

The most important benefit is protected employment for research at an eligible UK host institution. The RAS grant is paid to that institution, not directly to the individual. The host employs the fellow and places the salary within UCU single pay spine points 30 through 36. The Society will fund the eligible salary range, but if a university decides to appoint the fellow above point 36, the university must pay the extra amount from its own resources. That distinction should be settled with the prospective host before the application is finalised.

The award also covers the employer’s National Insurance and employer pension contribution at the applicable rates. This makes the fellowship useful for departments that can offer a genuine employment environment but need external support for the post. It is not a no-strings personal grant. The host must accept the RAS funding conditions, and the application must include a declaration from an authorised institutional representative.

In addition, the RAS allows up to £5,000 per year for meetings, conferences, and other items related to the research. The published page does not describe this as a general living allowance. Applicants should therefore build a research-facing budget around travel, participation, specialist activity, or other costs that directly support the proposed work. Ask the host research office how the allowance will be administered and which costs it can approve under the current call rules.

The nominal term is up to three years for a full-time fellow. The RAS may consider part-time arrangements when the line manager and department head confirm in writing that the arrangement will not harm delivery of the research. The funding period is then managed against the equivalent of three years of support. The Society also describes how legally required breaks in service can be handled and may consider other breaks in exceptional circumstances.

Which fellowship route fits your research

The RAS Research Fellowship is intended for research in the scientific disciplines advanced by the Society, including astronomy, solar system science, geophysics, and closely related branches. This route may suit a project whose central question is in planetary interiors, stellar or galactic astrophysics, observational astronomy, space science, geophysical processes, or another field that the Society recognises as connected to its remit.

The Sir Norman Lockyer Fellowship is for researchers who will devote most of their time to an astronomical topic. Solar system and planetary science are expressly included. The award is named after Sir Norman Lockyer, the pioneering solar astronomer and discoverer of helium. The distinction is not simply a branding choice. Your proposal should make the astronomical core of the work obvious if you want the Lockyer route to be considered.

Applicants do not appear to submit two independent applications for the same project. The RAS states that successful candidates will be assigned to one of the two fellowship types depending on the research topic and the Society’s internal considerations. In practice, describe the science precisely and explain its relationship to astronomy, geophysics, planetary science, or another relevant RAS discipline. Let the Society decide the final scheme rather than forcing the proposal into a label that does not fit.

Eligibility and host requirements

For a fellowship beginning in 2027, the RAS says the applicant must hold a recognised PhD or equivalent obtained after 1 October 2024. An applicant who has not yet received the degree may still qualify if the PhD viva has taken place by the application deadline and the degree is expected before the fellowship start date. The date rule is important: check the award date, not only the date you submitted your thesis.

Applicants must also be able to demonstrate the right to live and work in the United Kingdom. The public page does not promise visa sponsorship, so anyone who needs immigration permission should ask the proposed host and RAS for current guidance before relying on the fellowship. The right to work requirement is part of eligibility, not an administrative detail to leave until after selection.

Every applicant needs approval from a recognised UK research establishment that agrees to host the fellowship. Eligible hosts can include UK universities listed by UCAS and other not-for-profit research institutions based in the UK. The host declaration must confirm that the institution will accept the fellow as an employee, that it is suitable for the proposed research, and that it will provide appropriate support.

The 2026 call has an institutional cap. A department, school, or unit may support up to two fellowship applications. If more than two proposals are received from one department, only the first two received will be considered. Applicants should therefore contact the department early and ask about its internal selection or submission process. A strong proposal that arrives after a local cap has been reached may not be forwarded.

The RAS also identifies departments that cannot host a 2027-start fellowship because they recently hosted one: Keele University’s School of Chemical and Physical Sciences, the University of Cambridge Institute of Astronomy, and Durham University’s Institute for Computational Cosmology. Check the live call in case this list or the host rules change before submission.

How to prepare the research proposal

The application asks for a 250-word maximum abstract, a CV of no more than three pages, a publication list of no more than three pages, a research proposal of no more than three pages, and a scanned Host Institution Declaration. The RAS requires a minimum 11-point font and 2 cm margins. The scientific documents should be intelligible to non-experts in the field, which means the proposal must explain the significance of the question before moving into specialist detail.

Use the abstract to make the project legible quickly. State the problem, the method, the expected contribution, and why the UK host is a good place to do the work. The three-page proposal then needs to make the plan credible. Define the research questions, explain the methods or data, identify the main risks, and show what can realistically be achieved over three years. A long list of possible topics is less persuasive than a focused programme with a clear first phase and meaningful outputs.

The RAS says selection is based on capability, achievement, promise, and the research proposal. Those are related but distinct. Capability is shown through the skills and preparation needed for the project. Achievement can include publications, data products, instruments, software, fieldwork, or other evidence of completed work. Promise is about the trajectory and the value of the proposed next step, not only the number of papers. The proposal should connect all three rather than assuming the panel will infer the relationship.

Because the documents must be understandable to non-experts, define important terms and avoid using unexplained acronyms. A panel member may understand the broad discipline but not the exact subfield. Explain why the problem matters, what a successful result would change, and which parts of the method are essential. Ask a researcher outside your immediate speciality to read the draft and mark every sentence that needs context.

Application materials and process

Start by finding a host before drafting the final documents. The host is not just a name on the form. The institution must accept employment, confirm its suitability, and describe the support available. Discuss office or laboratory access, supervision, computing or observing resources, research administration, and the route for approving the annual research allowance. These details can also improve the proposal because they show that the project has a workable home.

Complete the online application sections on personal information, PhD details, research information, proposed host institution, diversity information, the 250-word abstract, and the declaration. The RAS says the diversity section is anonymous. Keep it separate from the scientific case and answer it as requested.

Prepare PDFs that meet the page limits and formatting rules. The CV should prioritise research achievements relevant to the proposal. The publication list should be readable and selective enough that the panel can see the contribution of the work. If a publication is in press or a result is not yet public, label its status accurately. Do not imply peer review, acceptance, or authorship that has not happened.

The Host Institution Declaration must be signed or confirmed by an appropriate institutional representative. A prospective supervisor may be enthusiastic but may not have authority to make the required employment and funding commitments. Send the declaration requirements to the department administrator or research office early, and allow time for internal approvals, signatures, and scanning.

Timeline and planning for the 2027 start

The RAS expects the next call to open in September 2026 and lists 15 November as the deadline. The proposed fellowship start is 1 October 2027, or no more than six months after that date. Treat the opening date as a checkpoint rather than a reason to wait. A host conversation, project outline, publication list, and first proposal draft should be ready before the form goes live.

The host process may be the longest part of the preparation. Departments can impose local deadlines earlier than the RAS deadline, and the two-application cap may require an internal competition. Ask the host when it needs a draft, who approves the proposal, and who will sign the declaration. Confirm which university or research establishment will submit the final form and keep a copy of the completed documents.

The call page says that continued funding beyond the first year depends on satisfactory interim reports. If selected, plan from the start to maintain a record of the work completed, results obtained, and research planned for the remainder of the award. The annual interim reports are 1,500 to 2,000 words. A final report, including publications and manuscripts in press or under review, is due no later than three months before the end of the award.

Common mistakes to avoid

The most serious mistake is treating the fellowship as an individual scholarship that can be taken to any institution. The grant is made to the host institution, and the host must accept the fellow as an employee. Discuss the employment and salary arrangement before submission.

Another risk is submitting a scientifically excellent proposal without a complete declaration. The RAS requires the host institution to confirm its suitability and support. A supervisor’s informal email is not a substitute for the required document.

Do not exceed the page limits or use small type to force extra content into the PDFs. The published requirements specify three pages for the CV, three for the publication list, and three for the proposal, with at least 11-point text and 2 cm margins. Edit for decision value. Remove background that does not help the panel judge capability, promise, method, or feasibility.

Applicants should also avoid promising a salary above the funded range without a written host commitment to cover the difference. The RAS funds UCU points 30 to 36; any higher appointment cost belongs to the host. Similarly, do not describe the £5,000 annual allowance as unrestricted living money. Use it for the research-related purposes permitted by the host and current RAS rules.

Finally, do not ignore the institutional cap or the excluded host departments. Ask the department whether it is already supporting two applications and whether the proposed host is eligible for the 2027 start. These checks can save weeks of work.

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2027 call open now?
The RAS page says the next call is expected to open in September 2026. Check the official page for the live form and any updated guidance. The listed deadline is 15 November 2026.

How much money does the fellow personally receive?
The RAS does not publish a single cash stipend in the call notice. It funds the host institution for a salary on UCU single pay spine points 30 to 36, plus employer National Insurance and pension contributions. Ask the host what appointment and take-home salary would apply.

Can a part-time fellowship be proposed?
The RAS will consider part-time arrangements when the line manager and department head confirm that the arrangement will not harm the research. Funding is then managed against the equivalent of three years of support.

Do I need a UK university?
No. The host must be a recognised UK research establishment, which can include universities and other not-for-profit research institutions based in the UK. The institution must agree to employ and support the fellow.

Which disciplines are eligible?
The RAS Research Fellowship covers astronomy, solar system science, geophysics, and closely related fields. The Sir Norman Lockyer Fellowship is for research mainly focused on astronomy, including solar system and planetary science. Read the live call if your project sits near the boundary.

What happens after the first year?
Continued funding depends on satisfactory interim reporting. Fellows submit an annual 1,500 to 2,000-word report describing work completed, results, and the plan for the rest of the award. A final report is due no later than three months before the fellowship ends.

Official links and next steps

Read the Royal Astronomical Society’s official fellowship call, including the linked application form, applicant eligibility, host eligibility, award coverage, duration, reporting, and termination sections. The same page also links an example research proposal and questions from the application form, which are useful for planning before the 2026 call opens.

Your immediate checklist is practical: identify a UK host, confirm that the department can submit an application, check the PhD date rule, outline a three-year project, prepare the short CV and publication list, and ask the host research office to review the declaration requirements. Keep the 15 November 2026 deadline visible, but set an earlier internal deadline for the host’s approval and final document checks.

This fellowship is a strong fit for an early-career astronomer, planetary scientist, geophysicist, or related researcher who needs a supported UK research post and has a host institution ready to make a real employment commitment. It is less suitable for an unaffiliated applicant seeking portable personal funding or for a project whose central question cannot be connected clearly to the RAS’s scientific remit. Verify the live 2026 form and rules before submission, then save the completed application and Host Institution Declaration for your records.