UKRI · Funded research teams
Turn your research grant into a fast-track endorsement
For researchers named on a grant from an endorsed funder, hosted by a UKRI-approved UK organisation.
- Funder on the endorsed listChecking
- Host on the UKRI-approved listNext
- £30,000 and 2-year thresholds metNext
- Named on the grant, or fair recruitment shownNext
- HR letter covers every conditionNext
What we build with you, step by step
60-second check
Are you a fit for UKRI?
1Is your grant or award from a funder on the endorsed funders list?
2Will you be employed or hosted by a UKRI-approved organisation in the UK?
3Is the grant worth at least £30,000 and does it cover at least 2 years?
4Will you spend at least half your time on it, with at least 1 year left on your contract or hosting agreement?
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 UKRI looks for
Tap each point. The official wording is one click away.
A grant from an endorsed funder
Your grant or award must come from an organisation on the published list of endorsed funders.
Read the official wording
“Your grant must have been awarded by an organisation on the list of endorsed funders.”GOV.UK, Global Talent: UK Research and Innovation endorsement
A UKRI-approved UK host
The organisation that employs or hosts you must be approved by UKRI and based in the UK, although the research itself can take place abroad.
Read the official wording
“The organisation employing or hosting you must be approved by UKRI (UK Research and Innovation). The organisation must be in the UK, but you can do research abroad.”GOV.UK, Global Talent: UK Research and Innovation endorsement
Grant size and length
The grant must be worth at least £30,000 and cover at least two years. You must also spend at least half your time on it and have at least one year left on your contract or hosting agreement.
Read the official wording
“be working on a grant worth at least £30,000 that covers at least 2 years”GOV.UK, Global Talent: UK Research and Innovation endorsement
Type of award
The funding must be either a one-off grant or award, or a renewable award that is subject to regular peer review.
Read the official wording
“have either a one-off grant or award or a 'renewable' award with regular peer review”GOV.UK, Global Talent: UK Research and Innovation endorsement
Named on the grant
UKRI can endorse you if you or your role was named on the grant application, from principal investigator down to other graduate-level roles.
Read the official wording
“UKRI can endorse you if you (or your role) was named on the grant application. This can be as the principal investigator, co-investigator or other role at graduate level or above.”UKRI, Getting a Global Talent visa to do research in the UK
An active researcher
Every applicant in the research field, including on the UKRI route, must be an active researcher in an academic, industry or government research institution.
Read the official wording
“An applicant for endorsement in the field of science, engineering, humanities, social science and medicine must be an active researcher in an academic, industry or government research institution.”Immigration Rules, Appendix Global Talent, GTE 8.1
Not sure which of these you meet? In a free 30-minute call we map your work against UKRI'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 UKRI 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.
Endorsed funder (run by UKRI)
Fast-track endorsement if you are or will be working on a research grant from UKRI or another endorsed funder, and are employed or hosted at a UK organisation approved by UKRI. You submit the award evidence and a letter from human resources.
Leading on research or a project
For applicants who will lead a unique research or innovation project, independently or under acceptable supervision. A PhD or equivalent research experience is required, and you or your job title must be on the grant application.
Contributing to research
For applicants who contribute to research in developing new technology or methodology. You need research experience and a UK bachelor's degree, an equivalent overseas research degree or equivalent research experience.
Peer review (not UKRI)
If you are a research leader and not eligible another way, the Royal Society, British Academy or Royal Academy of Engineering can peer review your application. No job offer is needed, and you submit a CV and a letter of recommendation.
Your case, led by the founder
Mihir Thaker
Every case is planned and reviewed by Mihir, against UKRI's published criteria.
The detail
Everything else, when you need it
Who UKRI covers
- Researchers working on a grant from UKRI or one of its councils
- Researchers working on a grant from a funder endorsed by UKRI
- Principal investigators and co-investigators named on the grant
- Other graduate-level roles named on the grant, such as postdoctoral researchers, research assistants or specialists
- Applicants from any research field within the scope and remit of the endorsed funder
- All disciplines in science, engineering, humanities and medicine for applicants who meet GTE 8.1
Not covered, or assessed elsewhere
- Peer review of your record as a leader or potential leader, which the Royal Society, British Academy and Royal Academy of Engineering carry out
- Fast-track endorsement through a job offer or a named individual fellowship, which those three endorsing bodies oversee
- Arts and culture, which has its own Global Talent route
- Digital technology, which has its own Global Talent route
- Grants from funders that are not on the endorsed funders list, unless the funder is first nominated and accepted
What you submit
- A link to your grant or award on a UKRI-approved award database, if it is listed there: CORDIS EU Research Results, the ERC funded project database, the Funding and tenders opportunity portal or UKRI Gateway to Research
- If the grant is not on one of those databases, a letter from your endorsed funder instead
- Confirmation that the grant is worth at least £30,000, covers at least two years, and is a one-off award or a renewable award with regular peer review
- A letter from the director of human resources (or equivalent) at your UK employing or hosting organisation
- Documents for every grant you are relying on in the application
- Details of the fair recruitment process, if you were not specifically named on the grant application
Letter from your employer
The UKRI route does not ask for letters of recommendation, which belong to the peer review route. Instead it requires a letter from human resources at your UK organisation confirming your position and department, that you have accepted the job offer or hosting agreement, that you are essential to the grant and that you will spend at least half your agreed working time on it.
“You also need to provide a letter from the director of human resources (or equivalent) at the organisation where you're working.”GOV.UK, Global Talent: UK Research and Innovation endorsement
Common pitfalls
- Check the host organisation against the live list of UKRI-approved research organisations. A host that is not on the list does not meet the route as published.
- Check the funder against the endorsed funders list. A grant from a funder that is not listed does not qualify unless the funder is nominated and accepted.
- Make sure the grant meets the thresholds: at least £30,000, at least two years, and a one-off award or a renewable award with regular peer review.
- Confirm that at least half of your time goes on the grant. Principal investigators and co-investigators can combine more than one grant to reach this.
- Ask human resources to confirm the one-year-remaining condition explicitly. The Immigration Rules require the HR declaration to confirm it, even though the guidance lists it under eligibility.
- Get the documents right first time. A review can check whether evidence was properly considered, but you cannot give new evidence as part of a review.
Official sources and guides
- GOV.UK: UK Research and Innovation endorsement
- UKRI: Getting a Global Talent visa to do research in the UK
- GOV.UK: UKRI endorsed funders list
- GOV.UK: UKRI list of approved research organisations
- Global Talent endorsement for researchers: Royal Society, Royal Academy of Engineering, British Academy or UKRI?
- How long does a Global Talent endorsement take? Decision times by endorsing body
- Global Talent endorsement documents: a checklist for each endorsing body
Criteria quoted from the published guidance, retrieved 21 August 2026. Check the official sources before you apply.
Questions
UKRI FAQs
Do I need a job in the UK?
You need to be employed or hosted by a UKRI-approved organisation in the UK, with at least one year left on your contract. The research itself can take place abroad.
Do I need a PhD?
Only if you will lead the project. If you will contribute to it, research experience plus a bachelor's degree, or equivalent, is enough.
Do I apply as Exceptional Talent or Exceptional Promise?
Neither. The UKRI route does not use these categories.
What if my funder or host is not on the list?
It can be nominated to be added to the list. Nomination is not guaranteed to succeed.
How long does it take, and what does it cost?
Usually about 2 weeks. The endorsement fee is £561, with a further £205 when you apply for the visa.
Find out where your UKRI 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.