University of Edinburgh/British Council 90th Anniversary Research Fellowships for early-career researchers.

Application Deadline: 28 July 2025 at 23:59 UK time     

Applications are now open for the British Council 90th Anniversary Research Fellowships at the University of Edinburgh. This is a three-year partnership from 2025 to 2027. The final round of Fellowships – starting in January 2027 – will be awarded in due course as part of the same programme.

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.

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.

Requirements

These Fellowships are intended to support research that is aligned with the overarching vision of the British Council (“a more peaceful and prosperous world built on trust”) and the purpose outlined in their strategy: 

We support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide. 

Applicants must be based in an ODA-recipient country where the British Council operates and be qualified to undertake postdoctoral level research for this early career Fellowship, meaning they must have a PhD, completed within the last seven years (factoring in career breaks, e.g. periods of parental leave or time away from academia).

See the full list of eligible countries below.

Research topics should be relevant to the areas of priority across Arts, Education and the English language that are outlined in our strategy, and to areas of cross-cutting strategic British Council interest such as international relations and soft power, international development and peace building, and cultural relations and cultural diplomacy.

Benefits

IASH hosts a lively scholarly community of visiting fellows. It is a supportive environment for postdoctoral researchers, while also offering networking opportunities with successful mid-career and eminent senior scholars. The Institute occupies a historic building with private courtyard and leafy views – perfect for uninterrupted thinking, reading and writing. Yet there is also plenty of opportunity to socialise and share ideas.

In short, a 2026 British Council 90th Anniversary Research Fellowship provides:

• Research visit at the University of Edinburgh for ten months, followed by up to two months based in their home countries focused on knowledge exchange and dissemination
• Bursary of £2,500 per month for 12 months
• Dedicated office space, University e-mail and library access
• A University mentor from an area relevant to the Fellows’ research interests
• Weekly Fellows’ Lunch to build community
• Collegial work-in-progress seminar series for testing new ideas
• Calendar of engaging events at the Institute and College
• Opportunities to participate in and design funded workshops, colloquia, etc at the Institute

Application Timeline:

29 April 2025                                                   Application portal opens

23 May 2025 at 13:00 UK time                       Applicant webinar (register here: https://bc90webinar.eventbrite.co.uk)

28 July 2025 at 23:59 UK time                     Application deadline

By end of August 2025                                    Selection of candidates

January 2026                                                   Fellowship start date

January – October 2026                                   Fellowships are undertaken at IASH, University of Edinburgh

November – December 2026                          Knowledge exchange and dissemination with British Council

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the British Council 90th Anniversary Research Fellowships at the University of Edinburgh