The British Academy/Leverhulme Senior Research Fellowships give established scholars up to a year away from teaching and administration to bring a major piece of research towards completion. The Leverhulme Trust and other non-government sources fund the scheme; the British Academy runs it.
Fellows stay at their own UK institution while a full-time replacement covers their duties. Fellowships start between 1 September 2027 and 1 January 2028.
Benefits & funding
- Pays the salary of a replacement lecturer, normally early career at the usual starting salary, plus employer NI and USS costs (and London Allowance where applicable); no set maximum value.
- Research expenses up to £5,000; books, computer hardware and publication costs are not covered.
- Up to 12 months, paid quarterly to the institution from autumn 2027; any underspend is refunded.
Eligibility
- Must be a serving staff member employed at a UK university, other UK higher education institution or Independent Research Organisation; no nationality rule is stated.
- Research in any humanities or social sciences field.
- Aimed at established researchers who have already published work of intellectual distinction and whose research has been held back by heavy teaching, administrative or curatorial duties.
- No age or job-title limit.
- Cannot be held alongside a British Academy Mid-Career or Postdoctoral Fellowship.
Can you apply?
Check who can apply
“The Academy invites applications from serving members of staff employed in UK universities, other UK institutions of higher education or Independent Research Organisations.” Eligibility
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Application process
- 1Apply through the British Academy’s Flexi-Grant system.
- 2Nominate one referee from outside your employing institution (overseas is fine); the reference must be in before the application can be approved.
- 3Your employing institution must approve and submit the application by 5pm GMT, 11 November 2026; the Academy recommends submitting at least five days earlier.
- 4Peer review, then the Research Awards Committee decides; no interviews and no feedback.
Program timeline
Institutional approval and submission deadline
11 November 2026, 5pm GMT
Results by email
Late March 2027
Fellowship starts
1 September 2027 – 1 January 2028