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British Council 90th Anniversary Research Fellowships 2027 at the University of Edinburgh: Fully Funded 12-Month Fellowship for Early-Career Researchers from ODA Countries

Isaac O
British Council 90th Anniversary Research Fellowships 2027 at the University of Edinburgh: Fully Funded 12-Month Fellowship for Early-Career Researchers from ODA Countries
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The British Council and the Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities have officially opened applications for the prestigious British Council 90th Anniversary Research Fellowships 2027 at the The University of Edinburgh.

This exceptional international fellowship opportunity is designed for early-career postdoctoral researchers from eligible ODA-recipient countries where the British Council operates. The programme offers selected fellows the opportunity to spend ten months conducting advanced research at the University of Edinburgh, followed by up to two months in their home country focused on knowledge exchange and dissemination activities.

The fellowship provides generous financial support, including a bursary of £2,500 per month for 12 months, travel expenses, office space, library access, mentoring, networking opportunities, and collaboration with one of the world’s leading humanities research communities.

This initiative forms part of a three-year partnership running from 2025 to 2027 between the British Council and IASH, established to celebrate the British Council’s 90th anniversary and strengthen international academic collaboration, research capacity, and knowledge exchange.

About the British Council 90th Anniversary Research Fellowships

The British Council celebrated its 90th anniversary in 2024. To commemorate this milestone, the organization partnered with the Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities at the University of Edinburgh to create an international fellowship programme for promising early-career researchers.

The programme supports research aligned with the British Council’s broader mission of building:

The British Council states that its purpose is:
“To support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide.”

The fellowship therefore seeks projects capable of contributing to:

Fellowship Duration and Structure

Selected fellows will participate in a 12-month programme beginning in January 2027.

The fellowship structure includes:

Phase 1: Residential Research at the University of Edinburgh

Phase 2: Knowledge Exchange in Home Country

This structure allows fellows to strengthen both international academic connections and local impact within their home countries.

Fellowship Benefits

The British Council 90th Anniversary Research Fellowship offers comprehensive academic and financial support.

Benefits include:

Financial Benefits

  1. £2,500 monthly bursary for 12 months
  2. Travel expenses coverage
  3. Support for international research mobility

Academic Benefits

  1. Dedicated office space
  2. University email access
  3. Full library access
  4. Academic mentoring
  5. Participation in seminars and workshops
  6. Opportunities to organize funded academic events

Professional Networking Opportunities

  1. Weekly Fellows’ Lunch community sessions
  2. Work-in-progress seminar series
  3. Interaction with leading scholars
  4. Networking with British Council staff
  5. International academic collaboration opportunities

Research Environment

The Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities offers:

Eligible Research Themes

Research proposals should align with the British Council’s strategic priorities.

Eligible themes may include:

Applicants are encouraged to propose innovative and interdisciplinary projects.

Importantly, fellowship proposals should also demonstrate:

Fellowship Objectives

Applicants must explain in their cover letter how their fellowship will contribute to the programme’s objectives, including:

  1. Generating new knowledge that supports British Council strategy
  2. Expanding diverse global research perspectives
  3. Supporting international research capacity building
  4. Strengthening UK-international research partnerships
  5. Promoting knowledge exchange
  6. Increasing visibility and application of research outputs
  7. Supporting the UK research and development agenda

Eligible Countries

Applicants must be based in ODA-recipient countries where the British Council operates.

Eligible countries include:

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet the following conditions:

Academic Requirements

Applicants who have not formally graduated may still apply if:

Employment Restrictions

Applicants:

However:

Additional Expectations

Applicants should:

Assessment Criteria

Applications will be reviewed by a panel from the University of Edinburgh and the British Council.

Selection criteria include:

  1. Academic and professional background
  2. Quality of research proposal
  3. Relevance to programme themes
  4. Potential impact and dissemination
  5. Experience engaging public or policy audiences
  6. Commitment to long-term knowledge exchange

Application Timeline

Applicants should carefully note the official timeline:

Required Application Documents

Applicants must submit:

One referee must confirm successful PhD completion.

All supporting documents should be emailed to:

Important Fellowship Conditions

Applicants should understand the following conditions:

No regular teaching duties are required.

Webinar Opportunity for Applicants

Interested applicants can attend an online Q&A webinar organized by the British Council and IASH.

Webinar Date:

This session will help applicants better understand:

 

Final Thoughts

The British Council 90th Anniversary Research Fellowships 2027 provide an outstanding fully funded opportunity for early-career postdoctoral researchers from eligible ODA-recipient countries.

With generous financial support, world-class academic resources, mentorship, and international networking opportunities at the University of Edinburgh, the fellowship offers a powerful platform for advancing impactful global research.

Researchers working in areas related to arts, education, international development, cultural diplomacy, peace building, and humanities should strongly consider applying before the deadline.

How to Apply

Applicants should apply through the official application portal and ensure all documents and references are submitted before the deadline.

 

Apply here

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