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Isaac Newton Trust

 

Guiding Principles

The Isaac Newton Trust funds research at the University of Cambridge in all subjects.

What we do: 

  • Attempt to be responsive and flexible
  • Prefer to help projects get off the ground, rather than sustain existing projects
  • Aim to help secure funding from outside the University and/or from the School or Faculty
  • Expect applicants to approach other funding bodies first wherever possible
  • Prioritise Early Career Researchers and Postdoctoral Research Associate salaries 
  • Assume that senior PIs will not need to approach the Trust, except for Emergency or Strategic funding
  • Make modest contributions to consumables and travel if a special case is made
  • Occasionally contribute to purchasing a key item of equipment
  • Occasionally fund researchers who have not gained a PhD qualification but are otherwise highly skilled, but only where this is specifically justified 

What we do not: 

  • Fund research undertaken outside the University of Cambridge
  • Provide all the funding for any project or act as a primary funder – other awards should be applied for before applying to the INT
  • Increase, contribute to, or extend existing awards from external funding bodies unless a strong strategic rationale for the necessity is made or where this can be done at no extra cost to the Trust
  • Reconsider unsuccessful applications for the same project unless there has been a substantial material change in circumstances
  • Revise the amount offered (unless there has been an error)
  • Provide long-term funding – we commit to no more than five years at any time and standard Research Grants are almost always for less than three years
  • Tide over post-doctoral researchers repeatedly
  • Consider grant applications between rounds – see our How to Apply page for round deadlines

Eligible Costs Summary

The INT strives to be as flexible as possible to ensure the success of your research project. Therefore, if your proposed project costs are not covered by this summary, please ask.

We fund:

  • Consumables 
  • Research staff salary costs up to point 44 on the University's Single Salary Spine
  • Fellowship salary support starting at point 41 on the University's Single Salary Spine
  • National Insurance, Pension, and Inflation (as set at time of application)
  • Necessary key equipment essential to project success
  • Travel 

We do not fund:

  • Apprenticeship levy
  • ‘Buying out’ PI time (except for College Teaching Officer research leave)
  • Conference Hosting
  • Overheads – including technicians & core University business
  • Publication costs
  • Relocation costs
  • Research that falls under the remit of major funders, such as UKRI
  • Studentships
  • Visa and health surcharge costs
  • Visitors (except as part of a Strategic Programme)

 

Further information can be found in our Terms & Conditions (PDF 163.14 KB).

INT Funding Rounds

For Research Grants:

Easter: 28 April 2025

Michaelmas: 25 September 2025

Lent: 09 January 2026

For Colleges:

Junior Research Fellowship Programme

Next application deadline: 09 May 2025

Widening Participation & Induction Fund

Next application deadline: 16 May 2025 

Support for the Humanities:

Collection-based Research in the Humanities

Application Deadline: 30 May 2025

For Early Career Fellows:

Leverhulme Early Career Fellowships 2025

Successful candidates will be notified by the Leverhulme Trust in May 2025

Trustees' Meeting Dates

Thursday 20 March 2025

Thursday 03 July 2025

Thursday 20 November 2025

Information about INT