British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowships 2026–27: Applications Open

British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowships 2026–27: Applications Open

The British Academy has opened applications for its Postdoctoral Fellowships 2026–27, offering outstanding early-career researchers in the Humanities and Social Sciences an opportunity to undertake an independent research project at an eligible UK university or research organisation. The fellowship is funded by the UK Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT). (The British Academy)

Fellowship Details

• Organization: The British Academy

• Programme: Postdoctoral Fellowships 2026–27

• Fields: Humanities and Social Sciences

• Career Stage: Early-career / Postdoctoral researchers

• Host Institution: Eligible UK university or recognised UK research organisation

• Duration: 3 years

• Number of Fellowships: Up to 40 expected

• Scheme Opened: 1 July 2026

• Application Deadline: 30 September 2026, 5:00 PM BST

• Earliest Start Date: 1 September 2027 (The British Academy)

About the Fellowship

The programme supports early-career researchers in developing a significant piece of publishable independent research while strengthening their research and teaching experience.

Postdoctoral Fellows may also gain limited teaching experience during the fellowship, with teaching normally restricted to no more than five hours per week. (The British Academy)

Funding

The Fellowship operates under the Full Economic Costing framework. The British Academy currently funds:

• 80% of salary costs, directly allocated and indirect costs under FEC

• Research expenses at 100% up to £10,000 over the three-year fellowship (The British Academy)

Eligibility

Applicants must be early-career researchers working in the Humanities or Social Sciences.

Key eligibility conditions include:

• Applicants should normally have completed their viva between 1 April 2024 and 1 April 2027

• British citizens and nationals of the European Economic Area are eligible regardless of where their doctorate was obtained

• Applicants of any nationality who obtained their doctorate from a UK university are eligible

• Other applicants may qualify if they can demonstrate a strong prior association with the UK academic community

• Applicants who have previously held a permanent academic post are generally not eligible, subject to specified exemptions (The British Academy)

Application Process

The competition has two stages. Applicants first submit an Outline Stage application. Candidates shortlisted from this stage will be invited to submit a full Second Stage application.

Applications must be submitted online through the British Academy Flexi-Grant system, and institutional approval must also be completed by the deadline. (The British Academy)

Deadline: 30 September 2026 at 5:00 PM BST

Apply for the British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship

Official Fellowship Details

Early-career researchers planning an academic career in the Humanities and Social Sciences are encouraged to review the detailed eligibility requirements and coordinate with their proposed UK host institution well before the deadline.

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