British Academy secures additional funding for the next generation of scholars

An additional £10m of Government funding announced today will further outstanding research in the humanities and social sciences from the very best researchers in the UK and overseas.

£10m of the Government’s Global Talent Fund will support 40 additional British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowships for early career academics in the humanities and social sciences over the next four years.

In addition, an allocation from the Government’s Rutherford Fund will support the opening of a new round of British Academy Visiting Fellowships this year, which will allow world-leading overseas academics to study at UK institutions and forge international partnerships.

For over thirty years the British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship scheme has enabled early career academics to undertake a piece of outstanding research and develop their experience in UK universities.

For every £1 invested in this research, on average a further £4 is generated from other sources. Postdoctoral Fellowships ending within the last two years have gained a minimum of £12m in additional extra funding. 70% of the scheme’s alumni are now in permanent academic posts.

The new funding will increase the number of Postdoctoral Fellowships offered by the British Academy this year from 45 to 85.

Welcoming today’s announcement, President of the British Academy Professor Sir David Cannadine commented:

“This funding recognises the critical role that researchers in the humanities and social sciences play in understanding the global challenges of our time, from Brexit to climate change; boosting productivity to an ageing society. Addressing these issues relies on the very best research and innovation from collaboration across disciplines.

“Talented researchers across all subjects and from around the world will help drive the productivity this country needs. Some of the flourishing sectors and success stories of our economy are within the creative, innovative and professional industries, which rely heavily on the humanities and social sciences. Our research base is world class and this funding is critical to maintain this position.”

The British Academy offers a range of other international research funding schemes, including through the Government’s Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF), which harnesses the power of UK research to tackle issues such as sustainable development and building sustainable cities and infrastructure.