Learn the Royal Society, in plain English
How the Royal Society assesses GTV applications across natural and medical sciences. Lessons are designed to be read in order, but you can jump straight to whichever topic you're stuck on.
- Lesson 1· 4 min read
What is the Royal Society GTV route?
How the Royal Society endorses natural and medical scientists for the Global Talent visa — the four routes, eligible disciplines, and what the peer review panel looks for.
- Lesson 2· 5 min read
Fast-track Routes 1, 2 & 3: appointments, fellowships, and endorsed funders
How the three fast-track routes work — eligible UK academic appointments (Route 1), approved named fellowships (Route 2), and endorsed funder grants (Route 3) — without going through peer review.
- Lesson 3· 6 min read
Route 4: The peer review process and five assessment criteria
How the Royal Society's full peer review works, the five criteria the panel scores, and what distinguishes Exceptional Talent from Exceptional Promise for Route 4 applicants.
- Lesson 4· 5 min read
Research output: publications, citations, and h-index
What the Royal Society peer review panel looks for in your publication record — journal tiers, citation norms by field, corresponding authorship, and how to present your output.
- Lesson 5· 5 min read
Research funding and competitive fellowships
Which funding bodies and fellowship schemes count — UKRI, Wellcome Trust, ERC, Royal Society grants, and how to present your funding track record.
- Lesson 6· 5 min read
Recognition, prizes, and referee letters
How the panel assesses your scientific standing — prizes, elected fellowships (FRS, FMedSci), and what makes an effective referee letter from an FRS-level scientist.
- Lesson 7· 6 min read
Building your Royal Society application
How to structure your personal statement, choose between the four routes, present your UK research plan, and avoid the most common rejection reasons.
Ready to see where you stand?
Once you've read the basics, submit your profile to our team for a manual expert review.