The mandatory criterion — research excellence — requires you to demonstrate international recognition as a leader (ET) or exceptional promise of international leadership (EP). It requires more than good publications — you need evidence of a research identity that is recognised and engaged with internationally. Failing this criterion means rejection regardless of how strong your other criteria are.
What "research excellence" means in practice
The mandatory criterion is not simply asking whether you publish internationally. It is asking whether the international academic community engages with, cites, invites, and recognises your contribution to knowledge. This distinction matters: you can have publications in international journals without being internationally recognised — if your work is read primarily in your home country, that is a national profile, not an international one.
Evidence the panel looks for
- An academic position at a recognised institution with a strong international reputation (not just a UK or home-country university)
- Publications in journals or with presses that are internationally read and respected across multiple countries
- Citations by scholars at institutions outside your home country — a citation profile that shows international reach
- Invitations from researchers or institutions abroad: visiting positions, international collaborations, invited contributions to international edited volumes
- International conference participation where you were invited (not just submitted) — panels abroad, international keynotes
- Media, policy, or public engagement that has crossed international borders
Exceptional Talent: the 'recognised leader' standard
For the ET track, the panel expects you to be able to demonstrate that your field — internationally, not just nationally — regards you as a leader. This is a high bar. It is not enough to be an important figure in your national academic community; your reputation must be recognisable to senior peers at international institutions who may not know you personally.
- Monograph published by OUP or CUP that has been reviewed in international journals abroad
- Cited extensively in publications from universities in multiple continents
- Held visiting fellowships at institutions in two or more countries
- Keynote at a major international conference outside your home country
- Invited to serve on an international research project led by a foreign institution
- Only published in your home country's journals or with home country publishers
- Citations primarily from colleagues at your own institution or in your home country
- Conference presentations abroad that were submitted (not invited)
- References from colleagues who know you personally but are not in senior positions
- Institutional reputation substituting for individual recognition (where you work ≠ who you are as a researcher)
Exceptional Promise: the trajectory standard
For the EP track, the panel is asking: does this early/mid-career researcher show the hallmarks of exceptional promise to become an internationally recognised leader? They are looking for a trajectory — an upward curve of international visibility and impact — not just a snapshot of current achievement.
- Strong publication record for career stage — not just quantity but quality and international reach
- Growing international citation footprint, even if modest in absolute terms
- Early international invitations — visiting researcher positions, contributions to international collaborative volumes, invited talks abroad
- Evidence that your research agenda is internationally oriented (international archives, cross-national comparative work, foreign language sources)
- An international network of researchers who engage with and cite your work
Career history and research trajectory
Unlike RAEng — which focuses primarily on technical outputs and engineering criteria — the British Academy places explicit weight on career history. The peer review panel considers your career progression as direct evidence of how you have developed as an internationally recognised researcher.
- Academic positions held and at which institutions — the progression from postdoc → lecturer → reader → professor, and whether each move represented competitive selection
- Named fellowships or competitive visiting positions at international institutions — IAS Princeton, All Souls Oxford, Wissenschaftskolleg Berlin, Radcliffe Institute at Harvard
- Evidence of early international recognition — prizes, fellowships, or competitive grants won at an early career stage that demonstrate exceptional trajectory
- Any significant interruptions to your career (caring responsibilities, illness) that the panel should weigh when interpreting your output — you can note these in your personal statement