We are delighted to be awarding two new 12-month Postdoctoral Fellowships, starting in January 2026, at the Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities (IASH) at the University of Edinburgh.
Applications are open to postdoctoral researchers based in any ODA-recipient country where the British Council operates (please see list at the bottom of this page).
Fellows will spend the first ten months of their Fellowships at IASH, followed by up to two months based in their home countries or regions focused on knowledge exchange and dissemination in collaboration with the British Council.
The Fellowship provides a bursary of £2,500 per month and travel expenses as well as desk space, library access and academic mentoring as part of the vibrant scholarly community of visiting fellows at IASH. Fellows will also be expected to engage closely with the British Council throughout their Fellowships, both in the UK and in their home country or region, as part of the knowledge exchange component of the Fellowship.
Subject focus and eligibility
These Fellowships are intended to support research that is aligned with the overarching vision of the British Council (“a more peaceful and prosperous world built on trust”) and the purpose outlined in our strategy: We support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide.
Applicants must be based in an ODA-recipient country where the British Council operates and be qualified to undertake postdoctoral level research for the Fellowship.
These are early-career fellowships, meaning applicants must be within seven years of completion of their PhD. We especially welcome applications from candidates who have not already had an undergraduate or postgraduate education in the UK or other non-ODA recipient country.
Research topics should be relevant to the areas of priority across Arts, Education and the English language that are outlined in our 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.
Within this broad thematic remit, the specific research focus of each Fellowship can be shaped by the expertise and interests of the applicant. However, Fellowship proposals should include 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.
Objectives
In addition to proposing research and outputs in line with the above thematic remit, applicants should use the cover letter that is required as part of the application process (see below) to outline how their Fellowship would support the following British Council objectives for this programme:
- 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)
Criteria for assessment
Applications will be considered by an assessment panel comprised of University of Edinburgh and British Council staff. Assessment will take account of the extent to which candidates meet the following criteria:
A research and/or professional background and academic record that relates to broad remit of the programme, outlined above
- A research proposal with clear potential to support the British Council’s objectives for the programme, outlined above
- 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
Q&A session
The British Council and IASH are holding an online Q&A webinar on Friday 23 May 2025 from 13:00 to 14:00 UK time on Zoom Webinar.
The session will be recorded. Prospective Fellowship applicants are encouraged to register for this session even if they cannot attend ‘live’ as this will give them access to the recording afterwards.
Application and fellowship timetable
| Application window opens | April 29 at 10:00 UK time |
| Q&A webinar | May 23 at 13:00 UK time |
Application deadline |
July 28 at 23:59 UK time |
| Selection of candidates | By end of August 2025 |
| Fellowships start date | January 2026 |
| Fellowships are undertaken at IASH, University of Edinburgh | January - October 2026 |
| Knowledge exchange and dissemination with British Council | November – December 2026 |
Further details and how to apply
Please visit the IASH website for full application guidelines, detailed eligibility criteria, and details of the Bursary and other support provided as part of the Fellowship.
Note: As requested above, please use the cover letter that is required as part of the application process to outline how their Fellowship will support the British Council’s objectives for this programme.
Questions
Please contact Researchglobal@britishcouncil.org
Eligible countries
Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil , Cambodia, Cameroon, China (People’s Republic of), 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 and Zimbabwe.