Call for The British Council 90th Anniversary Research Fellowships 2025 is open now!
The University of Edinburgh celebrating its 90th anniversary in 2024, is delighted to announce a new research partnership with the Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities (IASH) at the University of Edinburgh.
The University of Edinburgh are awarding two 12-month fellowships starting in January 2025 – open to postdoctoral researchers based in any ODA (Official Development Assistance) recipient country where the British Council operates (see ‘Eligibility’ section below).
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.
This is a three-year partnership. Over the coming years, additional rounds of fellowships – starting in January 2026 and January 2027 – will be awarded as part of the same programme.
Notes
- The Institute was established in 1969 by the then Faculty of Arts at the University of Edinburgh to promote enquiry of the highest standards in the Humanities, broadly conceived. It began to receive Fellows in 1970, and is now located as an independent institute within the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. Inter-departmental and interdisciplinary study has always been encouraged.
- Consideration will be given to the academic record and the publications of all applicants and their capacity to disseminate their views among a community of like-minded people. Candidates must give evidence of any contact they have made with researchers at the University of Edinburgh, are required to make such contact before submitting their applications, and those who can evidence the relevance of their proposed project to the University of Edinburgh research community will be regarded favourably. Particular weight will be placed on the quality and timeliness of the project proposed, and we encourage innovative and interdisciplinary topics and approaches.
- For information about the scope of work undertaken at the University of Edinburgh, see Edinburgh Research Explorer, or browse through the staff pages of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.
- Only fully completed formal applications will be considered. It is the responsibility of each applicant to ensure that all documentation is complete, and that referees submit their reports to IASH by the closing date.
- As requested above, please use the cover letter that is required as part of the application process to outline how their Fellowship will support the British Council’s objectives for this programme.
- Fellows must make the Institute their main place of work for the duration of the 10-month residential part of the Fellowship. It is expected that Fellows will be in residence throughout the 10 months and will contribute fully to the life of the Institute during that time. Fellows give at least one seminar presentation during their tenure, and submit a report on their research at the end of their Fellowship. No regular teaching is required
Location:
United KingdomBenefits
- 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.
Eligibilities
- These are early-career fellowships, meaning applicants must be within seven years of completion of their PhD.
- Applicants must be based in an ODA recipient country in which the British Council operates, and should be qualified to undertake postdoctoral level research for the fellowship.
See the full list of eligible countries below.
| Albania | Algeria | Argentina |
| Armenia | Azerbaijan | Bangladesh |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | Botswana | Brazil |
| Cambodia | Cameroon | China |
| Colombia | Cuba | Egypt |
| Ethiopia | Georgia | Ghana |
| India | Indonesia | Iraq |
| Jamaica | Jordan | Kazakhstan |
| Kenya | Kosovo | Laos |
| Lebanon | Libya | Malawi |
| Malaysia | Mauritius | Mexico |
| Montenegro | Morocco | Mozambique |
| Myanmar | Namibia | Nepal |
| Nigeria | North Macedonia | Pakistan |
| Peru | Philippines | Rwanda |
| Senegal | Serbia | Sierra Leone |
| South Africa | South Sudan | Sri Lanka |
| Sudan | Syria | Tanzania |
| Thailand | Tunisia | Türkiye |
| Uganda | Ukraine | Uzbekistan |
| Venezuela | Viet Nam | Occupied Palestinian Territories |
| Yemen | Zambia | Zimbabwe |
Application Process
- The closing date
The closing date for the receipt of the first round of applications (for visits from January 2025) is 23:59 BST on 26 July 2024. Applications received after that date will not be considered. Decisions will be communicated in September. Please ensure that you supply a valid email address so that you can be contacted quickly after decisions are made.
- The application form
Please complete the online application form .
Any additional supporting documents connected with an application should be emailed.
References
- In addition to the application form, a minimum of two and a maximum of three confidential references are required, and a cover letter outlining how the Fellowship will support the British Council’s objectives for this programme.
- Applicants should ask their referees to email their reference to the Director by 26 July 2024. If references are not received by this date, your application cannot be considered.
- Referees should comment on the nature and quality of the research proposal, as well as on the qualifications of the applicant. One referee should certify the successful viva (defence) and final examination of the candidate’s PhD thesis.
Application Deadline: May 25, 2024
Application ClosedOfficial link
