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Royal Academy of Engineering · Engineering research
Show reviewers the research behind your engineering
For engineers doing research in academia, industry or government. Industrial research can count.
- Engineering discipline confirmedChecking
- Route chosen: fast track or peer reviewNext
- Research outputs, including industryNext
- Talent or Promise decidedNext
- UK-based letter authors confirmedNext
What we build with you, step by step
60-second check
Are you a fit for Royal Academy of Engineering?
1Is your discipline in engineering, on this endorsing body's published list of disciplines?
2Are you an active researcher today, in an academic, industry or government research institution?
3Do you hold a PhD, or have at least 3 years of research that you led, with strong outputs?
4Could an eminent person resident in the UK, who knows your work, write a letter for you?
Answer the 4 questions to see where you stand.
A quick self-check, not an assessment. It does not predict any outcome.
The criteria, in plain English
What Royal Academy of Engineering looks for
Tap each point. The official wording is one click away.
Mandatory eligibility for peer review
Before peer review, you must be an active researcher, hold a PhD or equivalent research experience, and supply the required documents.
Read the official wording
“are an active researcher - for example in a university, a research institute or industry; have a PhD or equivalent research experience, including industrial or clinical research; are at an early stage of your career (exceptional promise only); and have provided the required documents to be considered for assessment under peer review.”Royal Academy of Engineering, Route 4: Peer review
What "active researcher" means
An active researcher has a sustained record of research production, wherever that research takes place.
Read the official wording
“Being an active researcher means a sustained track record of research production in your field of talent. All evidence submitted as a part of your application will be used to determine whether or not you meet the eligibility criterion of active researcher, including your track record, career history and your contributions to the field to date.”Royal Academy of Engineering, Global Talent visa FAQ
Research in industry counts
Industrial research can count as equivalent research experience, but practice without research achievements does not.
Read the official wording
“This could include, for example, working in industry, holding a clinical post with dedicated research time, or working in other academic and non-academic settings or having pursued a non-traditional academic career path. Clinical practice without demonstrable research achievements is not considered to represent equivalent research experience.”Royal Academy of Engineering, Global Talent visa FAQ
PhD or equivalent research experience
Without a PhD, you need at least three years of research in which you were the intellectual drive and produced strong outputs.
Read the official wording
“Equivalent research experience to a PhD means significant time spent leading and undertaking research. This would entail at least three years consolidated research time where you have been the intellectual drive behind a project and achieved strong demonstrable outputs from your research experience.”Royal Academy of Engineering, Global Talent visa FAQ
Exceptional Talent or Exceptional Promise
Talent is for established leaders. Promise is for potential leaders at an early stage of their career, on a steep trajectory.
Read the official wording
“Applicants who choose to apply under this part of the route will typically be towards the start of their career and on a steep career trajectory. As future leaders they will be outstanding researchers on a clear route to independence or leadership, having already demonstrated the ability to innovate, and drive advances (and/or translation) in their field of research.”Royal Academy of Engineering, Global Talent visa FAQ
What peer reviewers look for
Reviewers look for originality, independence and leadership, and a credible plan for your work in the UK.
Read the official wording
“The assessors are looking for compelling evidence demonstrating a high degree of originality, creativity, independence, and intellectual leadership in research and innovation.”Royal Academy of Engineering, Route 4: Peer review
Not sure which of these you meet? In a free 30-minute call we map your work against Royal Academy of Engineering's criteria.
Map my criteriaThe difference we make
The rules are public. Meeting them is the hard part.
Tap a card to see how we handle the most common reasons Royal Academy of Engineering cases fall short.
Worried one of these applies to you? We will tell you plainly, before you spend time and fees on an application.
Check my caseRoutes
4 ways in. Pick the one that fits.
Route 1: Academic and research appointments (fast-track)
For people appointed to an eligible academic or research position at an approved UK higher education institution or research institute. The role must involve research or innovation leadership, or research or innovation as a primary function.
Route 2: Individual fellowships (fast-track)
For holders of a named fellowship on the approved list, currently or within five years before applying. The fellowship held decides whether the application is Talent or Promise.
Route 3: Endorsed funders (fast-track)
For researchers and specialists named, by name or job title, in a successful grant from a funder approved by UKRI. The grant must be worth at least £30,000 and cover at least two years.
Route 4: Peer review
For people without a qualifying job, fellowship or grant. Experts in the field review the evidence, and you can apply with or without a job offer.
Your case, led by the founder
Mihir Thaker
Every case is planned and reviewed by Mihir, against Royal Academy of Engineering's published criteria.
The detail
Everything else, when you need it
Who Royal Academy of Engineering covers
- Aerospace, transport and mechanical engineering
- Biomedical and medical engineering, including medical devices, imaging and robotics
- Chemical and process engineering, energy and power
- Civil, construction and built environment engineering
- Computing and communications, including artificial intelligence, data science and software engineering
- Electrical and electronic engineering, materials and mining
- Innovation and policy in engineering, such as entrepreneurship, IP and regulation
- Emerging and multi-disciplinary areas, such as quantum technologies, machine learning and robotics
Not covered, or assessed elsewhere
- Humanities and social sciences, which go to the British Academy
- Natural and medical sciences, which go to the Royal Society
- Non-academic arts and culture, and digital technology, which go to Arts Council England or Tech Nation
- Some engineering disciplines also appear on the Royal Society list, so the published discipline list must be checked
- Clinical practice without demonstrable research achievements, which is not treated as equivalent research experience
- Academic support and professional services roles, which are not eligible under the academic and research appointments route
What you submit
- For peer review: a completed Stage 1 application form, which must include your personal statement
- A short CV of your career and publication history, no more than three sides of A4
- A letter of personal recommendation, with the author's CV
- For Exceptional Talent only: a second letter of objective assessment, with the author's CV
- Full bibliographic references for your most significant publications, and full references and countries for any patents
- A PhD certificate only if your PhD was completed in the 12 months before you apply
- For the fast-track routes: a job description and HR statement of guarantee (Route 1), a fellowship award letter (Route 2), or a grant award letter and statement of guarantee (Route 3)
Letters
Exceptional Promise needs one letter and Exceptional Talent needs two. The personal recommendation must come from an eminent person resident in the UK who knows your work. The Talent second letter must come from a senior member of a reputable UK organisation in your field.
“The letter of personal recommendation must be from an eminent person resident in the UK with internationally recognised expertise in your field of research or innovation.”Royal Academy of Engineering, Route 4: Peer review
Common pitfalls
- Do not submit a general reference letter. Letters must be written specifically for this application.
- Show that each letter author is a credible referee. Without this, the application can be refused or delayed.
- Do not apply under Exceptional Promise unless you are at an early stage of your career. This is a mandatory eligibility check.
- Do not rely on a final-stage PhD or work done during PhD studies. Neither counts as equivalent research experience.
- For Route 1, check the job description states a PhD or equivalent research experience is essential, not desirable.
- Do not send a contract in place of the statement of guarantee or a recommendation letter. It will not contain the required information.
Official sources and guides
- Royal Academy of Engineering: Global Talent visa
- Royal Academy of Engineering: Route 4 peer review
- GOV.UK: Global Talent peer review
- GOV.UK: disciplines covered by the endorsing bodies
- Global Talent endorsement for researchers: Royal Society, Royal Academy of Engineering, British Academy or UKRI?
- Global Talent Visa for creative, research and digital professionals: which evidence fits your field?
- Global Talent Visa recommendation letters: who should write them and what they must say
Criteria quoted from the published guidance, retrieved 21 August 2026. Check the official sources before you apply.
Questions
Royal Academy of Engineering FAQs
Do I need a job offer?
Not for peer review. The appointments route needs an accepted UK post, and the endorsed funder route needs a role on a qualifying grant.
Does research in industry count?
Yes, as long as you have a steady record of research output. Engineering practice on its own does not count.
Do I need a PhD?
You need a PhD or equivalent experience: at least three years of research that you led, with strong results.
Can my letter come from someone outside the UK?
The main letter must come from an eminent person living in the UK. For Exceptional Talent, the second letter must come from a senior member of a reputable UK organisation in your field.
How long does a decision take?
Up to 8 weeks on peer review, and usually about 14 working days on the fast-track routes.
Find out where your Royal Academy of Engineering case stands
A free 30-minute call on your route, your evidence and what is missing.
We are experts in the Stage 1 endorsement application for the UK Global Talent Visa. For immigration advice, please seek the services of an immigration solicitor.