British Council 90th Anniversary Research Fellowships 2027 at the University of Edinburgh

The British Council, in partnership with the University of Edinburgh’s Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities (IASH), is offering up to two fully funded 12-month Postdoctoral Research Fellowships starting in January 2027. This is a rare and prestigious opportunity for early-career researchers from developing countries to spend a year embedded in one of the world’s top universities, while contributing to global conversations on peace, culture, and international development. The fellowship is backed by the prestige of the British Council’s 90-year legacy of building connections and trust between the UK and the world.

This opportunity is designed for postdoctoral researchers who are based in ODA-recipient countries where the British Council operates. If you have recently completed your PhD and your research touches on arts, education, English language, international relations, cultural diplomacy, or peace and development, this fellowship was built for you. It is especially welcoming of candidates who have not previously studied or lived in the UK or another high-income country.

This post covers everything you need to know: eligibility, eligible countries, benefits, required documents, how to apply, key dates, and tips to help you put your best application forward.

Scholarship Overview

Field	Information
Host Country	United Kingdom (Scotland)
Degree Level	Postdoctoral Research Fellowship
Funding Type	Fully Funded (Bursary + Travel + In-Kind Support)
Deadline	July 31, 2026 at 23:59 UK time
Who Can Apply	Early-career researchers from ODA-recipient countries where British Council operates
Benefits Summary	GBP 2,500/month bursary, travel expenses, desk space, library access, academic mentoring

Eligibility

To be considered for this fellowship, you must meet all of the following requirements:

• Citizenship and Location: You must currently be based in an ODA-recipient country where the British Council operates. A full list of eligible countries is provided below. Simply holding citizenship is not enough; your place of residence at the time of application matters.
• Academic Qualifications: You must have completed your PhD viva examination or oral defense, including any corrections required by your examiners, before the application deadline of July 31, 2026. You do not need to have formally graduated or received your certificate by that date.
• Career Stage: This is an early-career fellowship. You must be within seven years of completing your PhD. The British Council especially encourages applications from researchers who have not previously undertaken undergraduate or postgraduate study in the UK or any other non-ODA recipient country.
• Research Alignment: Your proposed research must align with the British Council’s mission around arts, education, and English language, and with cross-cutting priorities such as international relations, soft power, peace building, international development, cultural relations, or cultural diplomacy.
• ODA Relevance: Your fellowship proposal must include plans for outputs that are relevant to Official Development Assistance (ODA) policy or practice, and which have potential to benefit stakeholders or audiences in your home country or region.
• Language Requirements: No specific language test requirement is stated. Since the fellowship is conducted in English at an English-language institution, you should be able to demonstrate strong academic English proficiency through your academic record.
• Other Requirements: You must be willing and able to engage closely with the British Council during both the UK-based and home-country phases of the fellowship.
  

Eligible Countries

To apply, you must be based in one of the following ODA-recipient countries where the British Council operates:

Africa: Algeria, Botswana, Cameroon, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Libya, Malawi, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Asia: Bangladesh, Cambodia, China (People’s Republic of), India, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam

Americas: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Jamaica, Mexico, Peru, Venezuela

Europe: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Ukraine

Middle East: Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, Yemen

Other: Türkiye

Eligible Fields of Study

This fellowship does not restrict applicants to a single academic discipline. However, your research must be aligned with one or more of the following thematic areas:

• Arts (including visual arts, performing arts, and creative industries)
• Education (including higher education, teaching, and learning)
• English language (including language policy, language teaching, and applied linguistics)
• International relations and soft power
• International development and peace building
• Cultural relations and cultural diplomacy

Research proposals from humanities and social science disciplines are most relevant. The specific focus within these themes can be shaped by your own expertise and interests. Your proposal must also demonstrate a clear link to ODA policy or practice and show potential for knowledge exchange in your home country or region.

Benefits

This is a fully funded fellowship. Here is what is covered:

• Monthly Bursary: GBP 2,500 per month for the full 12-month duration of the fellowship. This is paid as a living and research stipend.
• Travel Expenses: Round-trip international travel costs are covered to support your move to Edinburgh and your return home for the knowledge exchange phase.
• Desk Space: You will be provided with a dedicated workspace at the Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities (IASH) at the University of Edinburgh.
• Library Access: Full access to the University of Edinburgh’s world-class library facilities and digital research resources for the duration of your fellowship.
• Academic Mentoring: You will receive mentoring and support as part of the vibrant IASH scholarly community, which includes visiting fellows from around the world.
• Community and Networking: You will have access to IASH’s rich programme of seminars, workshops, and scholarly events, building connections with UK and international researchers.
• Knowledge Exchange Phase: The final two months of the fellowship are spent back in your home country or region, in active collaboration with the British Council, focusing on disseminating your research to relevant audiences and stakeholders.
  

Required Documents

Prepare the following documents before you apply. Visit the IASH website from May 5, 2026 for the full application guidelines:

1. Valid passport or national identification document
2. Proof that your viva examination/defense has been completed, including any corrections (or confirmation that this will be completed by the application deadline)
3. PhD certificate or official confirmation from your institution of your PhD status and completion date
4. Full academic transcripts (undergraduate and postgraduate)
5. A detailed research proposal outlining your planned fellowship project, including how it aligns with the British Council’s thematic priorities and ODA policy or practice
6. A cover letter specifically addressing how your fellowship proposal will support each of the British Council’s stated objectives for this programme (this is mandatory and distinct from your research proposal)
7. Curriculum vitae (CV) or academic resume, including your publication record, research experience, and engagement activities
8. Evidence of non-academic engagement with your research (for example, policy briefs, practitioner workshops, public writing, or community projects)
   

How to Apply

Step 1: Confirm your eligibility. Check that you are currently based in one of the listed ODA-recipient countries, that you have completed or will complete your viva by July 31, 2026, and that you are within seven years of your PhD completion.

Step 2: Register for the online Q&A webinar on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, from 14:00 to 15:00 UK time via Teams Webinar. Even if you cannot attend live, registering gives you access to the recording, which contains important clarifications for applicants.

Step 3: Visit the IASH website from May 5, 2026 onwards to access the full application guidelines, detailed eligibility criteria, and the official application portal. The link is: https://www.ed.ac.uk/institute-advanced-studies-humanities

Step 4: Develop your research proposal. Ensure it is clearly aligned with the British Council’s thematic priorities in arts, education, or English language, and with cross-cutting themes like international development or cultural diplomacy. Include specific plans for ODA-relevant outputs.

Step 5: Write your cover letter. This is a separate and mandatory document. It must directly address each of the six British Council objectives listed for this programme. Do not treat this as a general motivation letter. Be specific about how your fellowship will serve each objective.

Step 6: Prepare all supporting documents, including your CV, academic transcripts, proof of PhD status, and any evidence of non-academic engagement with your research.

Step 7: Submit your application through the official IASH application portal before July 31, 2026 at 23:59 UK time. Ensure all documents are uploaded correctly and in the required formats.

Step 8: Send any questions before the deadline to Researchglobal@britishcouncil.org. Do not leave this until the final days.

Step 9: After submission, await communication from the selection panel. Candidates will be shortlisted by the end of September 2026, with successful applicants beginning their fellowship in January 2027.

Key Dates and Timeline

Milestone	Date
Application Opens	May 5, 2026 at 10:00 UK time
Online Q&A Webinar	May 26, 2026 at 14:00 UK time
Application Deadline	July 31, 2026 at 23:59 UK time
Shortlisting / Final Selection	By end of September 2026
Fellowship Start Date	January 2027
Edinburgh-Based Phase (IASH)	January to October 2027
Knowledge Exchange Phase (Home Country)	November to December 2027

Application Deadline

The application deadline is July 31, 2026 at 23:59 UK time (Greenwich Mean Time / BST).

Applications submitted after this time will NOT be accepted.

Selection Criteria

The selection panel is made up of staff from both the University of Edinburgh and the British Council. They will assess your application based on the following:

• Research and Professional Background: Your academic record and professional history should relate to the broad thematic remit of the programme, covering arts, education, English language, or related cross-cutting themes.
• Quality of Research Proposal: Your proposal must show clear potential to support the British Council’s stated objectives. Vague or generic proposals will not be competitive.
• Non-Academic Engagement: You must be able to demonstrate experience of engaging non-academic audiences, such as policy makers, practitioners, artists, or the general public, in your research. This is an explicit criterion.
• Commitment to Knowledge Exchange: The panel will look for a genuine and well-planned commitment to disseminating research findings beyond academia, both during and after the fellowship, using the networks and insights gained through the fellowship itself.
• Under-Representation in Global Research: The British Council especially welcomes applications from researchers who come from communities and regions that are under-represented in global research production and academic publishing.
• No Prior UK Education (Preferred): While not a hard requirement, applicants who have not previously studied in the UK or another high-income country are especially encouraged to apply, as this fellowship is designed in part to diversify access to UK academic institutions.
  

Important Tips

1. Register for the Q&A webinar even if you cannot attend live. The recording will give you direct insight into what the selection panel is looking for and may answer questions that are not covered on the official website.
2. Treat the cover letter as a separate document from your research proposal. Many applicants will combine the two or write a generic motivation letter. The cover letter must specifically address each of the six British Council programme objectives, one by one. This is your chance to stand out.
3. Be explicit about ODA relevance. Do not assume the panel will infer the development impact of your research. Spell out how your proposed outputs relate to ODA policy or practice, and name the specific audiences or stakeholders you intend to reach in your home country or region.
4. Highlight your non-academic engagement experience. This is a specific and weighted criterion. If you have contributed to policy processes, worked with community organisations, published public-facing writing, or engaged with artists or practitioners in your field, name it clearly and describe the impact.
5. Do not wait until July to start applying. The full guidelines are available from May 5, 2026. Use the six to eight weeks between the opening of the window and the deadline to develop a thorough, polished application.
6. If you are close to the seven-year career boundary, include a clear explanation of your career timeline in your application. Career breaks for caregiving, illness, or other disruptions may be considered. Contact the organisers to clarify.
7. Write for a mixed audience. Your research proposal will be read by both University of Edinburgh academics and British Council programme staff, who may not share the same disciplinary background. Avoid heavy jargon and make the relevance of your work clear to a non-specialist reader.
8. Email Researchglobal@britishcouncil.org with any specific eligibility questions before you invest significant time in your application. It is better to confirm eligibility early than to discover a disqualifying issue after submission.
   

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to have my PhD certificate in hand before applying? 

No. You must have completed your viva examination and any required corrections before the July 31, 2026 deadline. You do not need to have formally graduated or received your certificate by that date.

Can I apply if I did my undergraduate degree in the UK? 

You can still apply, but the fellowship especially welcomes candidates who have not had an undergraduate or postgraduate education in the UK or another non-ODA recipient country. Having studied abroad will not disqualify you, but it may affect how competitive your application is relative to other candidates.

Is this open to PhD students or only people who have already finished their PhD? 

Only people who have already completed their viva examination (and any required corrections) are eligible. PhD students who have not yet defended are not eligible.

What does “within seven years of PhD completion” mean? 

You must have completed your PhD no more than seven years before the fellowship start date of January 2027. Career breaks for valid reasons such as parental leave, illness, or major life disruptions may be taken into account. Contact the organisers for clarification if you are in a borderline situation.

Is there a specific research topic I must propose?

Not exactly. The fellowship has a broad thematic remit covering arts, education, English language, international relations, cultural diplomacy, and peace building. Within that broad scope, you can shape the specific research focus based on your own expertise and interests. However, all proposals must include outputs relevant to ODA policy or practice.

Can I apply if my country is listed as eligible but I am currently residing abroad? 

The requirement is that you are currently based in an eligible ODA-recipient country, not simply that you hold citizenship from one. If you are living abroad at the time of application, you may not be eligible. Confirm with Researchglobal@britishcouncil.org.

Is the bursary enough to live on in Edinburgh? 

GBP 2,500 per month is the full bursary. Edinburgh is a relatively affordable UK city, and this amount is intended to cover living costs for the duration of the fellowship. Fellows also have access to desk space and library facilities at IASH. Whether additional support such as accommodation assistance is available should be confirmed on the IASH website.

Who do I contact if I have more questions?  

You can email the British Council team directly at Researchglobal@britishcouncil.org. You can also attend or access the recording of the Q&A webinar held on May 26, 2026.

Official Link

Full application guidelines and the application portal are available on the IASH website from May 5, 2026: https://www.ed.ac.uk/institute-advanced-studies-humanities

For enquiries, contact: Researchglobal@britishcouncil.org