Royal Society University Research Fellowships (URF) & Early Independence: NERC Independent Research Fellowships (IRF)

Support notes

Note 1 – Participation in this internal process is mandatory for all candidates intending to apply for calls through the School of GeoSciences.

Submission Guidelines

• Form: Download the Stage 1 Form (linked above), complete all sections comprehensively, and submit it to researchorg.geos@ed.ac.uk.
• Deadlines: Submissions must be received by the stated deadline. Late applications will not be considered unless prior approval has been granted by the Research Support Team based on exceptional and compelling circumstances.
• Quality Review: Forms must be fully completed. Incomplete applications will be deemed non-competitive and may be excluded from the selection process.

Note 2 - The School Selection Panel evaluates Stage 1 submissions based on academic track record and evidence of research achievement. Applicants whose profiles are deemed highly competitive will be invited to proceed to Stage 2 of the application process. Those not selected at this stage—for instance, if current achievements are not yet at the required level for this specific call—will receive constructive feedback highlighting areas for development to strengthen future applications. Furthermore, for candidates invited to Stage 2, the Panel may provide strategic recommendations to focus on a particular funding scheme to maximize the proposal’s probability of success.

Note 3 – When drafting a full proposal, several critical administrative and strategic steps must be completed in advance of the final submission.

• System Registration and Profile Management
  Applicants must ensure they have registered and fully configured their user profiles on the relevant submission platforms, such as the UKRI Funding Service or the Royal Society Flexi-Grant system. Early registration is essential to avoid technical delays during the submission window.
• Budgetary Planning and Eligibility
  Initial budget considerations should be aligned with the specific scheme’s terms and conditions. It is the applicant's responsibility to verify allowable cost types and the eligibility of funding for partners or collaborators. The Research Support Team will provide a dedicated university contact to formalise your budget; however, you must confirm the eligibility of major costs early in the process to allow for strategic adjustments. While budgets may remain in draft form to incorporate peer review feedback, the fundamental cost structure should be established early.
• Technical Facilities and Capacity
  If the proposed research requires the use of School research facilities, you must consult with the relevant facility managers during the initial drafting phase. This ensures accurate costings and confirms that the required capacity and technical capabilities are available for your project.
• Resources for Internal Applicants
  Current University of Edinburgh staff may access a library of successful applications via the Edinburgh Research Office (ERO) website. Please note that these resources are proprietary and cannot be shared with external applicants.
• Collaborative Support and Documentation
  For projects involving external partners or collaborators, we recommend securing informal agreements well in advance. While formal letters of support should typically be requested once the intent to apply is confirmed, early engagement ensures that these contributors have sufficient time to provide the necessary documentation. All letters of support must be presented on official letterhead, include a current date, and adhere to the specific requirements of the funding body.

Note 4 - Proposals from highly ranked Stage 1 applicants will undergo a formal peer-review process. The School Selection Panel will then evaluate these full proposals, utilising both panel expertise and peer-review reports to select 5–6 candidates for support under each respective scheme. Please note that applicant groups across different schemes may overlap.

Regardless of the outcome, all candidates will receive the Panel’s consolidated feedback and peer-review comments. This transparency is intended to assist applicants in refining their current submissions or strengthening their profiles for future funding opportunities.

Note 5 - A formal Statement of Support from the Head of School (HoS) is a mandatory component of the application processes. Candidates are required to provide an initial draft of this statement, which the HoS will subsequently review, refine, and submit via the relevant funding portal. Further guidance regarding this requirement—and any applicable templates mandated by the specific funding call—will be shared directly with candidates who successfully progress to this stage.

To ensure a competitive submission, support letters should be highly personalised and articulate a clear strategic fit. The most effective statements demonstrate why the School of GeoSciences at the University of Edinburgh is the uniquely qualified host for the proposed Fellowship. Applicants should highlight specific institutional resources, specialised training programs, and interdisciplinary research networks that will directly facilitate the project's success.

Note 6 - Applicants should be aware that multiple fellowship and research grant submissions often coincide with the same deadline. To ensure your application receives the necessary attention and a thorough quality review, we require that your proposal be in a near-final state at least one week prior to the funding body’s deadline.

• Internal Approval Process
  Before an application reaches the funder, it must undergo a mandatory review by the Edinburgh Research Office (ERO). The ERO team conducts a detailed check to identify errors and provide constructive suggestions for improvement. Completing your draft early ensures you have sufficient time to incorporate this feedback before final submission.
• Final Submission Deadline
  Please note that once you formally submit your application within the system, it must still be reviewed and approved by the ERO before it is released to the funder. This institutional approval must occur before the funder's deadline. To avoid technical or administrative delays, the final version of your application should not be submitted for the first time on the deadline day.