British Council 90th Anniversary Research Fellowships – University of Edinburgh (2027)

Application Deadline: July 31, 2026

About the Fellowship

Through a new partnership between the British Council and the Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities (IASH) at the University of Edinburgh, a series of 12-month postdoctoral fellowships for international early-career researchers is being awarded. In January 2027, fellowships will begin. From 2025 to 2027, this three-year partnership runs. In 2024, the British Council celebrated its 90th anniversary. A research partnership between IASH at the University of Edinburgh and the British Council is announced with pleasure. For visits between January and December 2027, the latest round is now open.

Fellowship Structure

Up to two 12-month Fellowships starting in January 2027 are being awarded – open to postdoctoral researchers based in any ODA-recipient country where the British Council operates.

• January – October 2027: The first ten months of their Fellowships will be spent by fellows at IASH, University of Edinburgh
• November – December 2027: Up to two months based in their home countries will be focused on knowledge exchange and dissemination in collaboration with the British Council

Fellowship Benefits

The following benefits are provided:

• Bursary: £2,500 per month for 12 months
• Travel expenses are covered
• Desk space at IASH is provided
• Library access to University of Edinburgh resources is granted
• Academic mentoring as part of the vibrant scholarly community of visiting fellows at IASH is offered
• Engagement with the British Council throughout the Fellowship (including visits to UK offices) is expected
• Option to spend time in a British Council office in the home country as part of the knowledge exchange component is available

What IASH Offers:

• A lively scholarly community of visiting fellows is hosted
• A supportive environment for postdoctoral researchers is provided
• Networking opportunities with successful mid-career and eminent senior scholars are offered
• A historic building with private courtyard and leafy views – perfect for uninterrupted thinking, reading and writing is occupied by the Institute
• Weekly Fellows’ Lunch is held to build community
• A collegial work-in-progress seminar series for testing new ideas is run
• A calendar of engaging events at the Institute and College is maintained
• Opportunities to participate in and design funded workshops, colloquia, etc. are provided

Subject Focus and Eligibility

Research aligned with the overarching vision of the British Council (“a more peaceful and prosperous world built on trust”) and the purpose outlined in their strategy is intended to be supported by these Fellowships. “We support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide.”

Eligibility Criteria:

• Being based in an ODA-recipient country where the British Council operates is required of applicants (see list of eligible countries)
• Qualification to undertake postdoctoral level research for this early career Fellowship is required, meaning a PhD completed within the last seven years must be held (career breaks factored in, e.g. periods of parental leave or time away from academia)
• If graduation has not yet occurred, a transcript, testamur, or a letter of completion/eligibility to graduate showing successful viva examination completion and all necessary thesis corrections must be produced as part of the application
• A permanent position at a university or a previous Fellowship at IASH should not have been held
• Those who have held temporary, recurring and/or short-term employment are eligible to apply
• Parental leave or other time away from academia will not count towards the seven-year limit

Research Focus

Relevance to the areas of priority across Arts, Education and the English language outlined in the British Council’s strategy, and to areas of cross-cutting strategic British Council interest such as international relations and soft power, international development and peace building, and cultural relations and cultural diplomacy, is required for research topics. Within this broad thematic remit, by the expertise and interests of the applicant, the specific research focus of each Fellowship can be shaped. However, plans for outputs that are relevant to Official Development Assistance (ODA) policy or practice, and which have potential to advance knowledge or engage stakeholders or audiences in the Fellow’s home country or region, should be included in Fellowship proposals.

British Council Objectives for the Programme

In addition to proposing research and outputs in line with the above thematic remit, how their Fellowship would support the following British Council objectives should be outlined by applicants using the cover letter:

• To generate new knowledge that builds on or complements British Council data, evidence, insight and expertise and supports British Council programming and strategy
• To diversify and broaden the British Council’s knowledge base, including through providing opportunities for knowledge exchange with researchers from regions and communities under-represented in global research production and discourse
• To support the international capacity building and professional development of up-and-coming research experts from eligible countries
• To foster longer-term connections, networks and partnerships between UK and international researchers and British Council staff
• To promote the academic engagement and professional networking of British Council staff and partners
• To enhance the visibility, use and application of the data, evidence and other forms of knowledge and insight generated through the British Council’s programmes and network
• To contribute more broadly to the UK research and skills agenda (including the UK Research and Development Roadmap and the Research England Knowledge Exchange Framework)

Eligible Countries

Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Cambodia, Cameroon, China, Colombia, Cuba, Egypt, Ethiopia, Georgia, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kosovo, Laos, Lebanon, Libya, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Occupied Palestinian Territories, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Rwanda, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Türkiye, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Assessment Criteria

By an assessment panel comprised of University of Edinburgh and British Council staff, applications will be considered. The extent to which candidates meet the following criteria will be taken into account during assessment:

• A research and/or professional background and academic record that relates to the broad thematic remit of the programme
• A research proposal with clear potential to support the British Council’s objectives for the programme
• Demonstrable experience of engaging non-academic audiences and stakeholders in research (e.g. through engagement with policy makers, practitioners, artists or other public audiences)
• A clear commitment to knowledge exchange and dissemination as part of the fellowship and beyond the timeframe of the fellowship itself, based on the networks, insights and learnings developed through their research

Application Procedure

Timeline:

• May 5, 2026 – Application portal opens
• May 26, 2026 – Applicant webinar (online Q&A on Teams Webinar)
• July 31, 2026 (17:00 BST) – Application deadline
• By end of September 2026 – Selection of candidates
• January 2027 – Fellowship start date
• January – October 2027 – Fellowship undertaken at IASH, University of Edinburgh
• November – December 2027 – Knowledge exchange and dissemination with British Council

Application Requirements:

Submission of the following is required from applicants:

• A completed application form (portal open now – click here to apply)
• A Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• A research proposal
• A cover letter outlining how the Fellowship will support the British Council’s objectives for this programme
• A minimum of two and a maximum of three confidential references

References:

• To the Director at iash@ed.ac.uk by the deadline, referees should email their reference
• If references are not received by this date, your application cannot be considered
• On the nature and quality of the research proposal, as well as on the qualifications of the applicant, referees should comment
• The successful viva (defence) and final examination of the candidate’s PhD thesis should be certified by one referee

Additional Supporting Documents: Should be emailed to iash@ed.ac.uk

Important Notes

• In January 2027, the Fellowship begins and runs to 31 December 2027. No other start date is possible
• Evidence of any contact made with researchers at the University of Edinburgh must be given by candidates, and such contact is required before submitting their applications. Favour will be shown to those who can evidence the relevance of their proposed project to the University of Edinburgh research community
• For the duration of the 10-month residential part of the Fellowship, the Institute must be made their main place of work by fellows
• Throughout the 10 months, being in residence and contributing fully to the life of the Institute is expected of fellows
• At least one seminar presentation during their tenure is given by fellows, and a report on their research at the end of their Fellowship is submitted
• No regular teaching is required
• Only fully completed formal applications will be considered
• Ensuring that all documentation is complete, and that referees submit their reports to IASH by the closing date, is the responsibility of each applicant

Webinar: On Tuesday 26 May 2026 on Teams Webinar, an online Q&A webinar will be held by the British Council and IASH. Registration to attend is available, and a recording will be made available afterwards.

Contact Information: For any questions, please contact: researchglobal@britishcouncil.org

Additional supporting documents connected with an application should be emailed to: iash@ed.ac.uk

Click here to apply

For More Information: Visit the Official British Council 90th Anniversary Research Fellowships Page