Fellowship•UK · Edinburgh

British Council 90th Anniversary Research Fellowships

Funding

Partial / Stipend

Program dates

Jan 1, 2027 – Dec 31, 2027

The British Council 90th Anniversary Research Fellowships are a partnership between the British Council and the Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities (IASH) at the University of Edinburgh. The scheme awards up to two postdoctoral fellowships a year to early-career researchers based in ODA-recipient countries where the British Council operates. Fellows spend ten months in residence at IASH in Edinburgh and then return home for up to two months of knowledge exchange. Research must align with British Council objectives across arts, education, the English language, international relations, soft power, international development, peace building, and cultural diplomacy; the Institute supports humanities and social-science work, not the hard sciences.

Benefits & funding

  • Stipend of £2,500 per month for 12 months.
  • Travel expenses covered.
  • Desk space, library access, and a University of Edinburgh e-mail account.
  • An assigned University mentor, the weekly Fellows’ Lunch, and a work-in-progress seminar series.
  • No regular teaching duties; fellows give at least one seminar and submit a final research report.

Eligibility

  • Applicants must be based in an eligible ODA-recipient country where the British Council operates (66 countries listed, e.g. China, India, Brazil, Egypt, Nigeria, Kenya, Indonesia, Pakistan).
  • A PhD is required, awarded within the last seven years (with allowances for career breaks), or evidence of imminent award.
  • Early-career researchers who have not held a permanent university position and have not previously held an IASH fellowship; temporary or short-term posts are eligible.
  • Research must sit in the humanities or social sciences (interdisciplinary work such as medical humanities is welcome); the pure/hard sciences are not supported.
  • Applicants must contact a current or emeritus University of Edinburgh staff member to act as mentor before applying.

Application process

  1. 1
    Contact a University of Edinburgh staff member to act as your mentor and agree your fit with the Institute.
  2. 2
    Complete the online application form via the IASH portal, including a CV (max 4 pages), a research proposal, and a cover letter (max 2 pages) addressing the British Council objectives.
  3. 3
    Arrange 2–3 confidential references to be emailed directly to iash@ed.ac.uk by the deadline, and supply degree documentation.

Program timeline

  1. Application portal opens

    5 May 2026

  2. Applicant webinar

    26 May 2026

  3. Application deadline

    31 July 2026 (17:00 BST)

  4. Selection of candidates

    End of September 2026

  5. Fellowship starts

    January 2027

  6. Residential period at IASH, Edinburgh

    January–October 2027

  7. Knowledge exchange in home country

    November–December 2027