British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship in Humanities and Social Sciences The British Academy in United Kingdom

Call for applications: British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowships for early-career researchers in Humanities and Social Sciences.

This is a 3-year postdoctoral fellowship hosted by The British Academy and undertaken at a UK university or approved research institution. The scheme is designed for scholars who want to develop an independent, high-impact, publishable research project while building teaching experience and academic networks in the UK.

Research areas: humanities and social sciences, with scope for disciplines such as history, literature, philosophy, anthropology, sociology, political science, psychology, and related fields.

Funding: the fellowship is supported under Full Economic Costing (FEC). The British Academy covers 80% of salary costs, supports research-related costs, and contributes to indirect institutional costs. This is a strong opportunity for early-career researchers seeking protected time for research and publication.

Eligibility highlights: applicants must hold a PhD in humanities or social sciences, have completed their viva between 1 April 2024 and 1 April 2027, and be based at a UK institution for the duration of the fellowship. Eligible applicants include UK/EEA nationals or PhD holders from UK institutions, with a strong connection to the UK academic research community.

Timeline: application opens 1 July 2026; deadline 30 September 2026 at 17:00 BST; earliest start date 1 September 2027.

How to apply: submit the application through the British Academy’s Flexi-Grant® system. You will need an online form, host institution approval, a research proposal, and support from one independent referee.