Apply Now: British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship 2026

The British Academy is inviting proposals from early-career researchers in the humanities and social sciences wishing to pursue an independent research project.
Aims
The British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship offers outstanding early-career researchers the opportunity to strengthen their experience of research and teaching in an academic environment. This scheme aims to help develop the award holder’s curriculum vitae and boost their prospects of obtaining a permanent academic post. The primary emphasis is on the completion of a significant piece of publishable research and the integration of the award holder into the community of established scholars within their field.

The Fellowship is non-renewable.
Eligibility requirements
The applicant must be a researcher from the humanities and social sciences and be based at an eligible university or research organisation. Suitable institutions include any UK university or recognised research organisation based in the UK. British citizens and any nationals from the EEA are eligible, regardless of where their doctorate was obtained. Anyone of any nationality who has a doctorate from a UK university is eligible. If an applicant does not meet the prior categories, they may be accepted if they can demonstrate ‘strong prior association’ with the UK academic community.

Also:Applicants must be of early-career status and must have completed their viva voce examination between 1 April 2024 and 1 April 2027. The applicant must already be of postdoctoral status at the time when the Research Awards Committee meets. No applicant who has been appointed to a permanent academic post in an institution of higher education at any time in their career, whether in the UK or overseas, will be eligible.
Applicants are encouraged to check the eligibility requirements in the Scheme Guidance Notes. All exemption requests must be approved by the British Academy team prior to the submission.
Please email posts@thebritishacademy.ac.uk to apply for an extension.

The British Academy does not allow for resubmissions for the Postdoctoral Fellowship.
Value and duration
The scheme is covered under the Full Economic Costing (FEC) regime. Currently, the Academy funds 80 per cent of salary costs, directly allocated and indirect costs under FEC. The Fellowship is tenable for three years, starting autumn 2026 in a UK-based university or higher education institution.
Application process
Applications must be submitted online using the British Academy’s Grant Management System (GMS), Flexi-Grant®.
The deadline for submissions and UK institutional approval is Wednesday 30 September 2026 17:00 (BST).
Contact details
Email:posts@thebritishacademy.ac.uk

Apply for the Postdoctoral Fellowships