A 2017 survey of 1,286 fellows and grant recipients from four UK national academies found that international collaboration and time working abroad were common in this selected group. Later UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) evidence describes reported gains in networks, skills and careers, while also highlighting barriers such as funding, suitable positions, visas and family circumstances. The findings show why mobility matters to many researchers; they do not establish that moving abroad universally improves research performance.
What the 2017 survey measured
The UK National Academies commissioned Opinion Leader to ask Fellows and grant recipients about their international working experiences. The Royal Society reports 1,286 participants: 762 Fellows and 524 grant recipients. The four academies were the Academy of Medical Sciences, the British Academy, the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Royal Society. Chemistry World reported the survey on 4 May 2017.
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This was not a representative survey of all researchers in the UK or worldwide. Its percentages describe the surveyed academy fellows and grant recipients, and should not be treated as estimates for every researcher. The Royal Society summary does not state a publication year.
How much international collaboration and mobility respondents reported
- International collaboration: 95% said they had been part of at least one international collaboration in the previous five years.
- Working abroad: 58% had spent a year or more working abroad. Among those who had, 64% had spent that time in North America.
- Travel and collaboration destinations: Europe was the continent respondents most commonly reported travelling to (95%) and collaborating with (87%).
- Change over time: 77% said international collaboration was more common than it had been 20 years earlier.
The survey summary does not specify the year against which the 20-year comparison was measured. These findings capture experiences and perceptions within the sample, not a time-series measure of international research activity.
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Why researchers move, and what they say they gain
UKRI’s Global mobility evidence report 2024, published on 24 February 2025, synthesizes literature published from 2010 to 2024. It describes international collaboration as a way to reach specialized expertise, data, infrastructure and resources, encounter different perspectives, and build relationships. Short trips and longer periods abroad can serve different purposes, so mobility is not one uniform career choice.
UKRI summarizes findings from the European Commission’s MORE4 study, published in 2021, on EU28 researchers’ reported experiences in 2019. The following percentages are the shares who said their entire mobility experience had increased or strongly increased each area:
| Reported area of benefit | Share |
|---|---|
| International contacts or network | 83% |
| Advanced research skills | 77% |
| Recognition in the research community | 73% |
| Quality of research output | 72% |
| Overall career progression | 71% |
These are self-reported effects, not proof that mobility alone caused the outcomes. UKRI cautions that definitions of mobility vary, study strength differs, and quantitatively measuring its effect on research performance is difficult.
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In the MORE4 findings summarized by UKRI, post-PhD researchers in the EU most often cited professional and career-related motives. PhD students placed relatively greater weight on access to funding and an available position.
| Post-PhD mobility motive | Share | PhD mobility motive | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| International networking | 87% | Availability of research funding | 80% |
| Research autonomy | 85% | Suitable PhD positions | 78% |
| Working with leading scientists | 83% | International networking | 75% |
| Career progression | 81% | Working with leading scientists | 74% |
| Access to research facilities and equipment | 74% | Research autonomy | 73% |
These figures concern reported motives for mobility within the EU in the MORE4 study; they are not a universal ranking of what researchers value or a guarantee that a move will deliver those benefits.
What can make international mobility difficult
Mobility depends on more than a researcher’s willingness to travel or relocate. UKRI’s review identifies recurring practical barriers in the literature it covers, including research funding, suitable positions, visa costs and processing times, and personal or family circumstances. The 2017 survey report also found that 22% of respondents said the ease of obtaining a visa influenced their choice of collaborator.
That visa finding concerns collaborator choice, not the share of researchers prevented from moving. It nevertheless illustrates how administrative conditions can shape international research relationships. As Venki Ramakrishnan, then president of the Royal Society, said in the 2017 Chemistry World report: “We must work hard to keep barriers for incoming and outgoing researchers and their dependents at a minimum, so that ideas can grow across borders.”
How to assess a mobility opportunity
Because “mobility” covers different durations, career stages and destinations, compare a specific opportunity against the conditions that matter to the researcher rather than assuming that a longer move is always better.
Best Value
- Duration and purpose: Determine whether a short visit, extended placement or sustained period abroad fits the research task and career goal.
- Career stage: Consider whether the opportunity provides what is most relevant now, such as funding and a suitable doctoral position, or professional development, autonomy and collaboration.
- Destination and research environment: Check access to the expertise, data, facilities, equipment and collaborators the work requires.
- Funding and position: Establish whether support covers the placement and whether a suitable role or research position is available.
- Administrative demands: Account for visa eligibility, cost and processing time for the researcher and any dependents.
- Personal circumstances: Weigh family needs and other practical constraints alongside the research and career benefits.
UKRI’s review brings together evidence from varied definitions and populations, so these are practical comparison points, not a universal formula for deciding whether to move.
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