The British Academy / Wolfson Research Professorships

The purpose of these awards is to give an opportunity for extended research leave to a small number of the most outstanding established scholars to enable them to concentrate on a significant research programme, while freed from normal teaching and administrative commitments.

Emphasis is also placed by the Academy and the Wolfson Foundation on the importance of award-holders communicating their plans and results to a broad audience. It is expected that four Research Professorships will be awarded on this occasion. There are no quotas for numbers of awards in the humanities and social sciences.

The value of each award is a fixed sum of £204,000, (£63,000pa for time buy-out for each of three years plus £5,000pa for travel and research expenses for each of three years). Funding is expected to be used primarily to meet the costs of replacement teaching, with only a limited sum available to the award-holder as research expenses.

These awards are designed primarily for established UK based scholars who already have a significant track record of publication of works of distinction in their field, and who have a major programme of research which would benefit from the uninterrupted concentration offered by the award of the Research Professorships. The principal purpose of the awards is to enable concentrated effort to be directed towards working on and bringing to completion a significant piece of research likely to enhance the discipline. Candidates need not already hold the title of ‘Professor’ before applying, but those who do not should bear in mind that there is no commitment placed on the employing institution to regrade their post on their return to ordinary duties.

All applicants are required to list four external evaluators who are experts within the applicant's field, who are available to be contacted to provide an assessment of the research proposal.

The British Academy welcomes applications from museums and galleries, including but not necessarily limited to those with Independent Research Organisation (IRO) status.

For more details about the programme and eligibility requirements, please see the British Academy / Wolfson Research Professorships Scheme Guidance and FAQs.