Apply for British Academy/Wolfson Fellowships 2026-27

The British Academy is now inviting applications for the British Academy/Wolfson Fellowships 2026-27 competition. The application form is available online on Flexi-Grant®, the Academy’s grant management system.

It is expected that up to six British Academy/Wolfson Fellowships will be available for award.

Purpose the Scheme

The fifth round of competition for the British Academy/Wolfson Fellowships continues a joint initiative between the British Academy and the Wolfson Foundation to support the next generation of research and public engagement leaders in the humanities and social sciences.

These three-year awards are designed to support UK-based early career researchers who show exceptional talent in both research and public engagement.

The awards emphasise and demonstrate the importance of academic research and creative thought at a time of rapid political and societal change.

The programme will provide researchers with the most valuable commodity – time – by releasing them from some of their day-to-day duties to pursue their research, along with funding for public engagement, travel and mentorship. Applications will be judged both on the quality of the research proposed and on the capacity of the applicant to communicate with a broad audience.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants must be:

resident in the United Kingdom;
within seven years of the award of their doctorate (counted from the date of the viva voce examination which has to have happened on or after 14 December 2019 – ie seven years before the closing date of this round of this scheme);
and have a permanent or fixed term post that covers the length of the award (three years) at a UK-based Higher Education Institution (HEI) or an Independent Research Organisation (IRO).

Exemption from the seven-year post-PhD criterion may be granted for reasons occurring after the date of the viva voce examination such as: maternity leave, illness, family commitments etc. Please note that each circumstance will be considered on a case-by-case basis, but must be discussed with the Academy before the application is submitted.

Applicants on part-time contracts are encouraged to apply as the scheme aims to be flexible in offering support, including those who have taken maternity leave or have caring responsibilities.

Applicants at UK-based HEIs and IROs, who do not have a PhD, but have equivalent experience, are also welcome to apply. Equivalent experience in this context is defined as, for example, a clear demonstration of the applicant’s capability to deliver impact as an early career individual. This could include, but is not limited to:

academic publications, major exhibitions,
an excavation,
public engagement programmes,
cataloguing outputs or interpretation of a collection or site.

The scheme encourages those working within Independent Research Organisations (IRO) to apply. This includes, but is not limited to, curators, cataloguers and conservators. The applicant must have a track record of research achievement consistent with the early career focus of the scheme, demonstrated through their previous professional and public engagement activity.

Value and duration

The Fellowship is tenable for three years in a UK-based university or higher education institution or independent research organisation. It is expected that up to six British Academy/Wolfson Fellowships will be available. The value of the award is set at a maximum of £140,000 over three years and is not on a Full Economic Costing basis (FEC).

Applying for this scheme

Applications are online via the Academy’s grant management system, Flexi-Grant®.

Deadline for applications and organisational approval: 14 December 2026, 17:00 (GMT).
Notification of results: May 2027.
Starting period of Awards: 1 September 2027 – 1 January 2028.

For further information on the British Academy/Wolfson Fellowships scheme 2026-27, please view the scheme guidance notes, application guidance notes and frequently asked questions on our website.

You can also see our case studies from successful award holders of the past, Dr Lloyd De Beer and Professor Aja Murray.