University of the Arts London Storytelling Research Fellowship 2026: 6 Paid Research Fellowships Exploring Popular Culture, Media and Social Change

The University of the Arts London (UAL) is inviting applications for six Storytelling Research Fellows through its AKO Storytelling Institute, in partnership with the Power of Pop Fund. The opportunity is designed for experienced researchers interested in storytelling, popular culture, media, narrative change, representation, audience behaviour, social change and related areas.

The nine-month fellowship provides researchers with the opportunity to develop and deliver an independent research project examining how storytelling across different forms of popular culture can influence attitudes, behaviours and public discourse. Fellows will work as part of a cohort, receive support from the Institute’s Head of Research, engage with external partners and ultimately contribute to a public symposium showcasing their research findings.

This opportunity is particularly relevant to researchers who want to connect rigorous research with practical applications in the creative, cultural and social-impact sectors.

Application deadline: 11 September 2026 at 23:55.

Overview of the Storytelling Research Fellows Opportunity

The Storytelling Research Fellowship is being offered by the UAL AKO Storytelling Institute in partnership with the Power of Pop Fund.

The fellowship focuses on the relationship between storytelling, popular culture and social and environmental change. Rather than concentrating exclusively on traditional academic research, the programme encourages researchers to investigate how popular culture and different storytelling formats can shape the way people understand issues, develop attitudes, change behaviours and participate in public conversations.

The selected fellows will each undertake an independent research project during the nine-month fellowship period. Their work is expected to generate meaningful and actionable insights that can be useful to:

• Creative practitioners
• Cultural organisations
• Funders
• Social-impact organisations
• Researchers
• Other stakeholders interested in storytelling and social change

The fellowship will also provide an opportunity to work alongside other researchers as part of a cohort and to share findings through a public symposium.

What Will the Storytelling Research Fellows Research?

The central focus of the fellowship is the role of storytelling and popular culture in creating social and environmental change.

Researchers may investigate storytelling through a range of media and cultural formats, including:

• Television
• Film
• Gaming
• Podcasts
• Digital culture
• Other forms of popular culture and media

The research can explore how these forms of storytelling influence public discourse, attitudes and behaviours.

This makes the fellowship relevant to researchers working across a wide range of disciplines and professional fields where storytelling intersects with culture, communication, society and change.

Potential areas of research interest include:

• Storytelling and social change
• Popular culture and social transformation
• Narrative change
• Representation
• Audience behaviour
• Media and communication
• Cultural change
• Storytelling and environmental issues
• The relationship between creative industries and social impact
• The influence of popular media on public attitudes
• How narratives shape public discourse

Applicants should demonstrate how their proposed research can contribute meaningful knowledge to the broader understanding of storytelling and its relationship with social or environmental change.

What Will Fellows Do?

The selected researchers will be expected to design and deliver an independent research project during the nine-month fellowship.

Their work will involve developing a research approach, conducting the research and translating the resulting evidence into useful findings.

Fellows will be expected to produce rigorous and practical research that can help inform creative and cultural practice.

Key responsibilities will include:

1. Designing an independent research project

   Each fellow will develop a research project aligned with the fellowship’s broader interest in storytelling, popular culture and social or environmental change.

2. Conducting original research

   Fellows will undertake research that generates new evidence and insights into the relationship between storytelling and change.

3. Working with research evidence

   Researchers will be expected to engage critically with relevant evidence and use appropriate research approaches to produce high-quality findings.

4. Communicating research findings

   Fellows will need to communicate complex research ideas clearly to different audiences, including people outside traditional academic environments.

5. Developing practical recommendations

   An important aspect of the fellowship is translating research into actionable insights that can inform creative practitioners, funders and social-impact organisations.

6. Collaborating with other fellows

   Fellows will be part of a cohort, creating opportunities for exchange, discussion and collaboration with researchers working on related questions.

7. Contributing to a public symposium

   The fellowship will culminate in a public symposium where fellows will have the opportunity to showcase and communicate their research findings.

Fellowship Duration and Working Arrangement

The Storytelling Research Fellows opportunity is offered as a nine-month fixed-term appointment.

The position is:

• Contract: Fixed Term
• Duration: 9 months
• Working hours: Part time, 14.8 hours per week
• Working arrangement: Flexible hybrid
• On-site requirement: 50% on-site and 50% working from home
• Location: UAL High Holborn/Home
• Grade: Grade 5
• Job family: Academic & Research

The hybrid structure provides a combination of on-site work at UAL High Holborn and remote working.

Salary and Remuneration

The position is advertised at £48,563 per annum pro rata, with the stated part-time equivalent being £19,425 per annum for the fellowship’s 14.8-hour-per-week schedule.

The position is therefore a paid research opportunity rather than an unpaid volunteer research placement.

The financial arrangement is particularly relevant for experienced researchers looking to undertake focused research while maintaining a part-time working structure.

What Research Experience Should Applicants Have?

The fellowship is intended for experienced researchers whose work connects with storytelling, popular culture, media, narrative change, representation, audience behaviour, social change or related areas.

Applicants should have:

• A PhD or equivalent research expertise gained through academic, independent or professional practice.
• A strong record of conducting high-quality research.
• Experience engaging with external partners.
• Strong critical-thinking abilities.
• The ability to design and manage an independent research project.
• The ability to communicate complex ideas to diverse audiences.
• The ability to translate research evidence into practical recommendations.
• A demonstrated interest in the relationship between storytelling, popular culture and social change.

The opportunity is therefore aimed at researchers who can demonstrate more than an interest in storytelling. Applicants should be able to show evidence of research capability and experience delivering research projects.

Application Requirements

Applicants are required to submit several components as part of their application.

1. Curriculum Vitae

Applicants must provide an up-to-date CV demonstrating their academic, professional and research experience.

The CV should provide evidence that the applicant has the research background and expertise required for the fellowship.

2. Record of Publications

Applicants must provide a record of their publications.

The vacancy information states that the publication record should be included as part of the CV.

This gives applicants an opportunity to demonstrate their research output and experience communicating research through scholarly or professional publications.

3. Research Project Proposal

Applicants must submit a research proposal of 1,000–1,200 words.

The proposal should explain the research project the applicant intends to undertake and demonstrate how it connects with the themes and objectives of the Storytelling Research Fellowship.

The proposal must be uploaded through the Research/published work/portfolio option within the application form.

Applicants should carefully follow the instructions contained in the official call for applications when preparing the proposal.

4. Supporting Statement

Applicants must also submit a supporting statement.

The statement must include at least one example of a research project that the applicant has designed and delivered.

This requirement is important because the fellowship expects researchers to independently develop and manage their own projects. Applicants should therefore use the supporting statement to demonstrate their practical research experience rather than simply describing their academic interests.

The Importance of the Research Proposal

The research proposal is one of the most important elements of the application because it allows applicants to demonstrate how they would approach the fellowship.

A strong proposal should clearly communicate:

• The research issue or question being investigated.
• Why the topic is important.
• How it relates to storytelling and popular culture.
• How the research connects with social or environmental change.
• The approach the researcher intends to take.
• The expected value of the research.
• How the findings could potentially inform creative, cultural or social-impact practice.

Applicants should ensure that their proposed research is realistic for the nine-month fellowship period and clearly demonstrates their ability to produce meaningful research outcomes.

Who Is the Fellowship Looking For?

The UAL AKO Storytelling Institute is specifically seeking researchers whose work engages with areas such as:

• Storytelling
• Popular culture
• Media
• Narrative change
• Representation
• Audience behaviour
• Social change
• Related research fields

The fellowship is particularly suited to researchers who are interested in moving between academic research and practical applications.

Successful candidates are expected to be comfortable working independently while also engaging with a wider cohort and external stakeholders.

The ability to communicate research beyond an academic audience is also important because the fellowship seeks to generate insights that can be used by creative practitioners, funders and social-impact organisations.

Benefits of the Storytelling Research Fellowship

The fellowship offers several professional and research-development opportunities.

Independent Research Experience

Fellows will have the opportunity to develop and deliver an independent research project focused on a subject connected to storytelling, popular culture and social or environmental change.

This can provide valuable experience for researchers seeking to expand their research portfolio.

Collaboration With Other Researchers

Selected fellows will work as part of a cohort.

This creates an opportunity to exchange ideas, discuss research approaches and develop connections with researchers working on related issues.

Support From the AKO Storytelling Institute

Fellows will be supported by the Institute’s Head of Research, providing an institutional research environment in which they can develop their projects.

Engagement With External Stakeholders

The fellowship is designed to produce findings that can be useful beyond academia.

Researchers will therefore have the opportunity to consider how their evidence can inform creative practitioners, funders and social-impact organisations.

Public Presentation of Research

The fellowship will culminate in a public symposium, providing fellows with an opportunity to present their findings and engage wider audiences with their research.

Professional Development

The fellowship can strengthen researchers’ experience in:

• Research project management
• Research communication
• Public engagement
• Knowledge exchange
• Evidence-based recommendations
• Collaboration
• Creative and cultural research
• Social-impact research

Working at the University of the Arts London

The fellowship is hosted by the University of the Arts London, one of the world’s major institutions for art and design education.

UAL states that it has a long history of creative education dating back to 1842 and brings together six colleges:

• Camberwell College of Arts
• Central Saint Martins
• Chelsea College of Arts
• London College of Communication
• London College of Fashion
• Wimbledon College of Arts

The university also has four institutes, five research centres, a pre-degree school and two subsidiary companies delivering specialist activities.

UAL describes itself as a global university with more than 22,000 students and 6,000 staff from 130 countries.

Its research and creative network spans education, culture, industry and wider society, making it a relevant environment for research examining how creative practices and storytelling can contribute to social change.

Employee Benefits

In addition to the fellowship’s salary and research experience, UAL states that its staff benefits include a range of provisions, subject to applicable conditions and exclusions.

These include:

• 39 days of annual leave and two days off for volunteering, in addition to bank holidays.
• Flexible and dynamic working options.
• Discounted medical insurance, including a Digital GP service and various treatment options.
• Free counselling and advice through the Employee Assistance Programme.
• An Equal Parental Leave policy providing six months of full pay for both parents.
• Membership of the Teachers Pension scheme.
• In-house training and development opportunities.
• Apprenticeship opportunities.
• Free places on selected creative courses.
• Interest-free loans for travel and technology.
• Discounts on gym memberships.
• Nursery fee and eye-care discounts.
• Opportunities to attend student shows and exhibitions.

The university notes that conditions and exclusions apply to staff benefits.

Official UAL vacancy and application page

Application Deadline

The deadline to apply for the Storytelling Research Fellows position is:

11 September 2026 at 23:55.

Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible because the vacancy may close before the stated deadline if UAL receives a high level of interest.

The university states that it will aim to provide at least 24 hours’ notice of any changes to the closing date.

Interview Dates

Shortlisted candidates are scheduled to be interviewed on:

• 28 September 2026
• 29 September 2026
• 30 September 2026

Applicants should therefore ensure they are available during this period if selected for the next stage.

Application Process

UAL operates a fair and open anonymous selection process.

Applicants must create an account and submit their application through the university’s job board.

The recruitment process involves:

1. Application
2. Shortlisting
3. Assessment/interview
4. Offer
5. Onboarding

Applicants should carefully review all instructions before submitting their application.

Apply through the UAL Jobs portal

Important Guidance About Using AI in the Application

UAL acknowledges that artificial intelligence tools can be useful in professional work. However, the university specifically encourages applicants to consider carefully whether AI adds value when preparing their application.

The university emphasises the importance of personal authenticity and the candidate’s own voice.

Applicants should therefore ensure that their CV, supporting statement and research proposal accurately represent their own knowledge, experience, research ideas and capabilities.

Rather than relying on generic or heavily automated application language, candidates should clearly demonstrate what makes their research experience and proposed project distinctive.

How to Prepare a Strong Application

Applicants can improve the quality of their application by taking a structured approach.

Step 1: Read the Call for Applications Carefully

UAL specifically instructs applicants to read the full Call for Applications before beginning their submission.

This is important because the call contains detailed instructions about the fellowship and application requirements.

Step 2: Identify Your Research Strength

Consider which aspect of your previous research experience most strongly connects with the fellowship’s themes.

This could involve storytelling, popular culture, media, representation, audience behaviour, narrative change or social change.

Step 3: Develop a Focused Research Question

Avoid proposing an overly broad project.

A focused research question can make it easier to demonstrate what the project will investigate and how the work can be completed within nine months.

Step 4: Demonstrate Previous Research Experience

Use the supporting statement to provide a clear example of a research project you personally designed and delivered.

Explain your role, the research problem, your approach and what the project achieved.

Step 5: Prepare the 1,000–1,200 Word Proposal

Make sure the proposal is within the required word range and clearly explains the proposed research.

The proposal should demonstrate both intellectual strength and practical feasibility.

Step 6: Highlight Your Publications

Include a clear record of publications as part of your CV so that the selection panel can assess your research output.

Step 7: Explain the Practical Value of Your Research

Since the fellowship seeks actionable insights for creative practitioners, funders and social-impact organisations, applicants should clearly consider how their findings could be useful beyond academic publication.

Step 8: Submit Early

Do not wait until the final hours before the deadline.

Because UAL states that the vacancy may close early if there is significant interest, submitting early can help applicants avoid missing the opportunity.

Why This Opportunity Is Relevant to Researchers Interested in Storytelling and Social Change

Storytelling is increasingly connected with discussions about culture, public opinion, representation and social transformation. The Storytelling Research Fellowship provides a structured opportunity to investigate these connections through original research.

The fellowship is particularly distinctive because it does not limit research to one traditional medium. Television, film, gaming, podcasts and digital culture are all identified as areas through which storytelling can influence attitudes, behaviours and public discourse.

This creates space for researchers with different academic and professional backgrounds to investigate questions at the intersection of culture, communication, media and social change.

The emphasis on actionable findings also means that the research is intended to have practical relevance. Fellows are expected to consider how their evidence can help creative practitioners, funders and organisations working toward social impact.

Key Opportunity Details

Conclusion

The UAL Storytelling Research Fellows opportunity offers experienced researchers an opportunity to investigate the relationship between storytelling, popular culture and social and environmental change within a major creative university environment.

With six positions available, the nine-month fellowship combines independent research, cohort collaboration, institutional support and engagement with creative and social-impact stakeholders. Fellows will also have the opportunity to communicate their findings through a public symposium, helping connect their research with audiences beyond traditional academic settings.

The opportunity is particularly suitable for researchers with a PhD or equivalent research expertise who have a demonstrated track record of research and an interest in storytelling, popular culture, media, narrative change, representation, audience behaviour or social change.

Because the application requires a CV, publication record, supporting statement and a 1,000–1,200-word research proposal, prospective applicants should begin preparing their materials well before the deadline.

Application deadline: 11 September 2026 at 23:55.

View the full vacancy and submit your application through University of the Arts London

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