Application Deadline: 31 July 2026
Applications are now open for the 2027 University of Edinburgh/British Council 90th Anniversary Research Fellowships, a series of 12-month postdoctoral fellowships for international early-career researchers. Fellowships will begin in January 2027. This is a three-year partnership from 2025 to 2027.
British Council is awarding up to two 12-month Fellowships starting in January 2027 – open to postdoctoral researchers based in any ODA-recipient country where the British Council operates (see list of countries on page 139 of their Annual Report or the list below).
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.
Eligibility Requirements
- 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).
- 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
The 2027 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
- 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.
Application and Fellowship timetable
- 5 May 2026 : Application portal opens
- 26 May 2026 : Applicant webinar
- 31 July 2026 : Application deadline
- By end of September 2026 : Selection of candidates
- January 2027 : Fellowship start date
- January – October 2027 : Fellowship undertaken at IASH, University of Edinburgh
- November – December 2027: Knowledge exchange and dissemination with British Council
For More Information:
