British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowships 2025-26

About the fellowships

The British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship offers outstanding early career researchers the opportunity to strengthen their experience of research and teaching in an academic environment. This scheme aims to help develop the award holder’s curriculum vitae and boost their prospects of obtaining a permanent academic post. The primary emphasis is on the completion of a significant piece of publishable research, and the integration of the award holder into the community of established scholars within their field.

Eligibility requirements

• Applicants must be supported by the UK host institution in which they wish to hold the Fellowship.
• Applicants must be within three years of their successful viva voce examination. For this round of competition, applicants are expected to have completed their viva voce between 1 April 2023 and 1 April 2026. Exemption from this criterion may be granted for reasons occurring after the date of the viva voce examination such as maternity leave, illness or family commitments but must be confirmed with the BA prior to application.
• Applicants must be a British citizen or EEA national, or have completed a doctorate at a UK university. Any applicant who does not fall into one of these categories must demonstrate a strong prior association with the UK academic community, for example through a previous period of non-permanent employment (for a minimum of 12 months) at a UK university.
• Not have held a permanent academic post in an institution of higher education at any time in their career.
• Resubmissions of previously unsuccessful applications are not permitted unless by invitation of the British Academy.

Please check the British Academy’s guidance for 2025-26 for full details.

Candidates should note that unsuccessful applicants cannot reapply unless the British Academy invites them to do so. Therefore, we encourage applicants to consider the best time (within the eligibility period) to apply, thinking about the development of their research experience and achievement since their PhD award. 

How to apply

This scheme is extremely competitive. As a result, Queen Mary will only support the strongest of applicants. The School of Law is not accepting Expressions of Interest currently. Applicants for 2025-26 were asked to include the following:

• an explanation of the reasons for your choice of the School and Queen Mary as your host institution which should include a proposed mentor (150 words maximum).
• an outline of your proposed programme of research (1,500 words maximum) including consideration of method, sources, and significance.
• their planned research outputs, e.g. monograph, journal article(s), book chapter(s), digital resources, events (workshops, conferences), other (please specify) (300 words maximum).
• a list of existing publications (1 page maximum).
• a CV (2 pages maximum).
• a draft sample of writing, either published or accepted for publication (article or book chapter length).

The applications should demonstrate:

• that they are eligible according to the BA’s criteria;
• the excellence of their research track record and professional track record (where relevant);
• their fit with the School and relevant links to the Faculty of the Humanities and Social Sciences.

Successful applicants will then have approximately one month to finalise their outline application. For 2025-26 entry, this will be due 2 October 2025. They will also be invited to attend an orientation session run by The Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences about the final stages of application. This will take place the week commencing 2 September 2025 for 2025-26 applicants.