Call for the British Council 90th Anniversary Research Fellowship is open now!!!
The British Council celebrated its 90th anniversary in 2024. Under a partnership with the Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities at the University of Edinburgh, British Council announces a research partnership between the Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities (IASH) at the University of Edinburgh and the British Council.
This program is awarding up to two 12-month Fellowships starting in January 2027 – open to postdoctoral researchers based in any ODA-recipient country where the British Council operates.
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Fellows will spend the first ten months of their Fellowships at IASH, followed by up to two months based in their home countries focused on knowledge exchange and dissemination in collaboration with the British Council.
The Fellowship provides a bursary of £2,500 per month and travel expenses as well as desk space, library access and academic mentoring as part of the vibrant scholarly community of visiting fellows at IASH. Fellows will also be expected to engage closely with the British Council throughout their Fellowships (including visits to UK offices), with the option to spend time in a British Council office in their home country as part of the knowledge exchange component of the Fellowship.
Research topics should be relevant to the areas of priority across Arts, Education and the English language that are outlined in our strategy, and to areas of cross-cutting strategic British Council interest such as international relations and soft power, international development and peace building, and cultural relations and cultural diplomacy.
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Within this broad thematic remit, the specific research focus of each Fellowship can be shaped by the expertise and interests of the applicant. However, Fellowship proposals should include plans for outputs that are relevant to Official Development Assistance (ODA) policy or practice, and which have potential to advance knowledge or engage stakeholders or audiences in the Fellow’s home country or region.
Benefits
- Research visit at the University of Edinburgh for ten months, followed by up to two months based in their home countries focused on knowledge exchange and dissemination
- Bursary of £2,500 per month for 12 months
- Dedicated office space, University e-mail and library access
- A University mentor from an area relevant to the Fellows’ research interests
- Weekly Fellows’ Lunch to build community
- Collegial work-in-progress seminar series for testing new ideas
- Calendar of engaging events at the Institute and College
- Opportunities to participate in and design funded workshops, colloquia, etc at the Institute
Eligibilities
- Applicants must be from an ODA-recipient country where the British Council operates.
- They must have completed a doctorate (PhD) by the time of application.
- Normally, the PhD should have been awarded within the last seven years (between 2019 and summer 2026).
- Applicants who have not yet formally graduated may still apply if they can provide proof that they have successfully completed their viva and all required thesis corrections.
- The seven-year limit can be extended for those who have taken significant career breaks, such as parental leave or time away from academia.
- Applicants must not have held a permanent university position.
- Applicants must not have previously held an IASH Fellowship.
- Those with temporary, short-term, or recurring academic employment are still eligible.
- Anyone claiming an extension due to a career break should briefly explain why and for how long they were away from academic work.
Application Process
Applicants are required to apply through the Apply link and email the supporting documents to [email protected].
The required documents are:
- CV
- Research proposal
- cover letter
- A minimum of two and maximum of three confidential references
- Applicants should ask their referees to email their reference to the Director at [email protected] by the deadline.
- One referee should certify the successful viva (defense) and final examination of the candidate’s PhD thesis.
Application Deadline: July 31, 2026 (28 Days Remaining)
Apply nowOfficial link
