We are a unique global network of changemakers and welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds who are committed to positively impacting social change.

Our Fellows are at the heart of the RSA and have been at the forefront of significant social impact for over 260 years. Fellowship is open to all over the age of 18, and who share our vision and values.

The process

People apply to become Fellows in several ways:

• The Fellowship Development Team sometimes identifies people who have made contributions to social change and asks them to join the RSA
• Our Fellows and staff nominate people they know who share our vision and values
• Partner organisations also aligned to our values may put their members forward

A number of people join us by starting an online application themselves. You do not need to be nominated to join.

Everyone completes the same online form whether they have been nominated or not. All applications are treated in the same way, with the same criteria followed.

This application form should take no longer than 15 minutes to complete and has three parts:

• Personal details and contact information
• Short Q&A about your interests and alignment with our values
• Payment details for a one-off registration fee of £75 and an annual subscription of £198.

If you have independently started an application via our website, we collect information about two referees in the form to support your application. Further information on why we need this is below.

Once you have your completed application, it is reviewed by our admissions panel. Successful applicants will then receive a series of welcome emails once payment is processed. We also send out welcome packs within four weeks of joining.

The cost

All Fellows pay an annual charitable subscription to the RSA of £198. Most Fellows with UK bank accounts choose to pay this in monthly instalments of £16.5. Alongside the annual subscription, all new Fellows pay a one-off registration fee of £75. This payment helps cover the set-up and on-boarding of your Fellowship.

No payment is taken until after your application has been approved. 

We will securely store your payment details and only take payment once your application to join the RSA Fellowship has been approved by the admissions panel.  

If you are unable to make the full subscription, please get in touch as we may be able to offer you financial support. 

Life Fellowship 

We also welcome you to join us as a Life Fellow through a one-time subscription of £3,900 or £2,340 for those over 65.

The Admissions Panel  

Our admissions panel comprises two Fellowship Councillors and an RSA Trustee. Applications are sent forward every Friday and applicants are elected on the following Wednesday. Once you have submitted your application, you can expect to hear back from us within 12 days. 

References

Who could be my reference and why do you need them?

Please provide one referee who has known you for a minimum of two years and who can verify your commitment to achieving positive social change either through your work, professional practice, community activism or volunteering. Your reference does not need to be a Fellow of the RSA.

Please note we will only approach your referee should RSA or our Fellow-led nominations panel ask for further verification when reviewing your application. If we do reach out to your referee, they will be asked a couple of questions based on how they know you and whether they consider you to have a commitment to positive social change. This will be stored securely on our database as part of your application.

What is a fast-track application and am I eligible?

You may not need to provide references if we are independently able to corroborate your alignment with our values and commitment to social change. This is known as our “fast-track application.”

There are several ways for us to confirm this. We do not accept LinkedIn profiles or CVs, however, we would accept documentation such as, but not limited to:

• Third-party business of staff pages mentioning your name and relevant work
• Online articles written about you
• Academic publications
• Any other document that has been independently verified

Whether you work at a social enterprise or volunteer for your local community, we would be delighted to welcome you via our fast-track route. If you’re unsure if this applies to you, we encourage you to contact us and we would be happy to help.

Once we have your information, we will amend your online form, and you will be able to complete it without the need for references.