Postdoctoral Fellowships

The British Academy is inviting proposals from early career researchers in the humanities and social sciences wishing to pursue an independent research project, towards the completion of a significant piece of publishable research.

The British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship offers outstanding early career researchers the opportunity to strengthen their experience of research and teaching in an academic environment. This scheme aims to help develop the award holder’s curriculum vitae and boost their prospects of obtaining a permanent academic post. The primary emphasis is on the completion of a significant piece of publishable research, and the integration of the award holder into the community of established scholars within their field.

The Fellowship is non-renewable.

Funded by the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT)

Eligibility 

The applicant must be a researcher from the humanities and social sciences and be based at an eligible university or research organisation for the duration of the Fellowship. Suitable institutions include any UK university or recognised research organisation based in the UK. British citizens and any nationals from the EEA are eligible, regardless of where their doctorate was obtained. Anyone of any nationality who has a doctorate from a UK university is eligible. If an applicant does not meet the prior categories, they may be accepted if they can demonstrate ‘strong prior association’ with the UK academic community. Details of the requirements for 'strong prior association' are available in the Scheme Guidance Notes below.

Applicants must be of Early Career Status, meaning they must apply within three years from the date of their successful viva voce examination. For this round of competition, applicants are expected to have completed their viva voce between 1 April 2021 and 1 April 2024.

The applicant must already be of postdoctoral status at the time when the Research Awards Committee meets.

Value and duration

The scheme is covered under the Full Economic Costing (FEC) regime. Currently, the Academy funds 80% of salary costs, directly allocated and indirect costs under FEC. The Fellowship is tenable for three years, starting Autumn 2024 in a UK-based university or higher education institution.

Referee 

Applicants must be supported by one self-nominated referee, who will be asked to fill in a questionnaire via Flexi-Grant. The referee should normally be the external examiner or, if not available, someone else who is as external to the applicant as possible.

The referee may not be the applicant's proposed mentor, doctoral supervisor or internal examiner.

Application process

Applications must be submitted online using the British Academy's Grant Management System (GMS), Flexi-Grant®.

The deadline for submissions and UK institutional approval is Wednesday 4 October 2023 (17:00 BST).

If you have any questions about the Postdoctoral Fellowships or the application process, please see the scheme notes and frequently asked questions, or email [email protected].