FAQs for election process

Please find below some frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the RSE Fellowship election process. If you have a question not covered here, feel free to contact us at Fellowship@theRSE.org.uk

Jump to: Nomination window Eligibility Seconders Criteria Election cycle CVs Resources Website issues Managing expectations

Nomination window

When do nominations open and close this year?

For 2026, the nomination submission window will open on Monday 1 June 2026, and will close on Friday 26 June 2026, at 17:00.

Are late submissions accepted?

The closing date of the nomination window is absolute. All nominations must be completed and fully submitted before the deadline. Nominations that are still in a draft form at the close of the window will be excluded from the election.

Can I submit my nomination by email?

Nomination forms for Ordinary and International Fellowship are to be completed and submitted online. Neither nomination forms nor unsolicited materials, references, or letters of support will be accepted by email.

The only exception to this is the case for Honorary nominations.

Eligibility

Who is eligible to be a Proposer?

You may nominate a Candidate as a Proposer if:

You work at a different institution from the Candidate.
Outside academia: you do not work for the same organisation as the Candidate, are not partners or associates, and do not have influence or control over the Candidate’s professional or business interests.
You are not a member of the RSE Council, Fellowship Committee, or the Divisional Panel considering the proposal, as these bodies review nominations and influence decisions.
You are a member of a different Divisional Panel from the nominated Candidate.

I am an International Fellow/ Honorary Fellow can I nominate a candidate?

Unfortunately, not. Only FRSE are able to nominate a candidate.

However, IntFRSE and HonFRSE Fellows are able to be a Seconder for a nomination. See guidance on eligibility.

I am a supervisor on my candidate’s PhD. Can I still nominate them?

Being a PhD supervisor for the Candidate does not prevent you from being the Proposer. The relationship must be noted in the nomination for transparency.

I am an honorary / visiting / emeritus professor at the same institution as my candidate. Can I still propose them?

As an honorary, visiting, or emeritus professor, who is not an employee of an institution, you are able to nominate, if all the other eligibility criteria are met.

Seconders

How do I find a Seconder for a nomination?

Seconders can be FRSE, IntFRSE or HonFRSE.

Seconders are usually identified and approached by the Proposer, who may liaise with the Candidate about the choice of Seconder. Seconders should belong to the same discipline as the Candidate, but if that is not possible, at least one should be from the same discipline. Seconders should have personal knowledge of the Candidate’s work but may also know the Candidate by reputation.

RSE staff can help the Proposer with identifying Seconders in under-represented categories and disciplines. See guidance on eligibility.

Where can I find the list of Divisional Panel members, Council, and Fellowship Committee to ensure I don’t ask them to be Seconders?

All the Panels are listed on the website under Governance, or can be found using the following links: Divisional Panels, RSE Council, Fellowship Committee.

Criteria

I would like to nominate two new candidates, is that OK?

Only one new nomination per year may be made by a Fellow for FRSE or IntFRSE. Existing nominations in their second year of consideration do not count towards this limit. See guidance on limitations.

I would like to nominate someone for International Fellowship. What connection to Scotland would be acceptable to note?

IntFRSE must have a clear and continuing connection with Scotland, related to their work, for example, joint research collaborations or ongoing visiting professorships.

Having worked in Scotland for a period of time is not enough.

Can I be the Proposer and be a Seconder for someone else in the same year?

Yes, you can second a nomination and propose another in the same year.

How do I know which discipline is most suitable for my candidate’s nomination?

The selection of which of the 16 disciplines that comprise the four divisional panels, should be the one most closely aligned to the candidate’s field of work. The indicators of excellence will also be useful as they provide examples of how excellence could be represented across each of the three criteria, within each division.

Election cycle

Last year my nomination was unsuccessful. Do I need to complete the nomination form again or will it automatically go forward?

No, you do not need to complete a new nomination for a Candidate being considered in the second year.

After the first year, any important changes (e.g. further achievements, honours, or recognitions) in the case of a Candidate that have arisen after the original nomination was submitted, may be submitted by the Proposer as an addendum to the existing nomination.

No new references will be sought during the second year of the cycle.

Please see the list of forms for nominations in their second year.

My Candidate has been unsuccessful in two elections. Are they still eligible?

Under the previous process, nominations were considered for three years. This changed with the introduction of the new election process in 2025.

Under the current process, each nomination is considered for two consecutive years. A nomination may may be withdrawn, placed on hold, or postponed if additional references are required. However, the two years of consideration must remain consecutive.

Candidates who are not successful after two years of consideration may be re-nominated after a two-year fallow period.

See guidance on how many times a nomination is considered.

I would like to put my nomination on hold for a year. What shall I do?

A Proposer can apply in writing to the Fellowship Secretary (Fellowship@therse.org.uk) to have their nomination placed on hold for a year. Reasons for the need to do so must be provided (such as ill-health of the nominee, new caregiving responsibilities, a change in role that brings a dramatic increase in workload, a transfer overseas, etc.) Granting of this pause is at the discretion of the Fellowship Secretary.

CVs

Some general guidance

Your CV should not exceed 2 pages in total and text added should be no smaller than font size 11.

There must be no hyperlinks.

We recommend using the provided 2-page CV template (46KB, Word document).

Please detail your key achievements. These may include: teaching/education; research; knowledge exchange and impact; leadership; and contribution to civil society or public service. In addition to outlining what you have achieved, you should consider referencing how you achieved it and what the impact of your work has been within your field and more broadly across society. You should also provide evidence of your standing within your field, for example by citing any awards, invitations to speak at major conferences, committee membership, contribution to strategy/policy, membership of relevant bodies or textbooks and magazine articles published.

Remember to review RSE’s indicators of excellence which show examples of how excellence could be represented across each of the three criteria, within each division.

My CV is more than 2 pages, can I still submit it?

No, your CV should not exceed 2 pages in total and text added should be no smaller than font size 11.

Resources

Where is the document, template, or declaration?

Website issues

I am having difficulty with the online forms. Where do I go for help?

If you have any difficulty accessing the online nomination submission form please contact Fellowship@theRSE.org.uk.

I am not tech savvy. Can my Candidate or one of the Seconders submit the nomination on my behalf?

No. Nominations must be submitted by the Proposer. The nomination system records roles on each stakeholder’s contact record. For example, the person who submits the nomination is recorded as the Proposer.

If someone else submits the nomination on your behalf, these relationships may be recorded incorrectly, which could invalidate the nomination.

If you need assistance with completing the submission, please contact Fellowship@theRSE.org.uk, and a team member will be happy to help.

Managing expectations

How likely is it that my Candidate will be elected as an RSE Fellow in the first election cycle, and how can I manage the Candidate’s expectations?

In recent years, approximately 200 nominations have been received annually. The Council, with the agreement of the Fellowship, has set a limit of up to 50 new appointments per year: 40 ordinary, 7 international, and 3 honorary.

Around 75% of nominations are unsuccessful in any given election cycle. Candidates should therefore be advised that the process is highly competitive with no guarantee of success.

It is also important to note that Fellowship is not awarded as a recognition of long service alone. Candidates are expected to be currently active in their field and willing to engage with the work of the RSE in some capacity.

See further election information on

Election process

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Criteria for election

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Guidance for nomination

Please review the important guidance before beginning to complete the nomination form and other candidate paperwork.

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FAQs for election process

Nomination window

Eligibility

Seconders

Criteria

Election cycle

CVs

Resources

1. Documents for Ordinary or International nomination

2. Documents for nominations in second year

3. Honorary Fellowship forms

Website issues

Managing expectations

See further election information on

Election process

Criteria for election

Guidance for nomination