The British Academy’s Visiting Fellowships initiative is accepting applications through 2025. It provides a chance for any academic from anywhere in the globe to undertake cutting-edge research at any higher education or research institution in the United Kingdom. Because the purpose was worldwide collaboration, the initiative is open to scholars at any point of their careers and from all areas of the humanities and social sciences. 

Programme Overview and Duration

The Visiting Fellowships are intended to encourage researchers who want to further their research while also contributing to the intellectual life of a host institution in the United Kingdom. Successful Fellows will have the chance to work with top specialists in an intellectually engaging academic environment, with access to world-class research facilities. The fellowship therefore allows for a term of three to six months, with the award holders able to pick a start date between March and August 2025. 

Eligibility and Award Funding

Each fellowship is funded by a maximum award of £40,000, which is meant to cover travel, lodging, sustenance, and research-related expenses. In exchange for the vast sum available, researchers will be able to devote their whole attention to the task at hand, free of any constraints. The following are the requirements that the candidate must meet while applying for the program: 

Academic Qualification: At the time of application, the applicant must be postdoctoral or of higher status, or have equivalent research experience.

Application requirement: The applicant must be based in any nation other than the United Kingdom at the time of application. Scholars with permanent or fixed-term jobs are also eligible, as long as their contract remains beyond the conclusion of the fellowship period. Independent scholars are invited to apply.

UK Host Institution Contact: An applicant must indicate that they have communicated with a UK host institution prior to submission. This is very necessary, as the British Academy cannot enable or help in developing these relationships. 

Application Procedure and Deadline

The application procedure is already open, and the window for applications will stay available until 5 p.m. GMT on October 23, 2024. Selection will be competitive, based on the excellence of the research project and the potential benefits to the candidate and their study from doing it in the UK. Successful applications will be considered at the scheme selection meeting, and all applicants will be notified of their application status by early 2025. 

Importance of the Scheme

The Visiting Fellowships programme is part of the British Academy’s larger international engagement policy, which aims to boost international research and worldwide academic interchange. By bringing scholars from all walks of life and disciplines into touch with academics in the UK, it strengthens the UK’s academic community while also contributing to the worldwide advancement of knowledge in the humanities and social sciences. 

How to Apply

The British Academy welcomes proposals for Visiting Fellowships accessible to academics from any nation outside of the UK in 2022/23 to visit the UK in order to enhance visits and academic partnerships between researchers working in UK institutions and those located elsewhere. As a result, the website provides comprehensive information on the curriculum and application procedure. An online application site gives an overview of eligibility, needed documentation, and application advice to assist you in preparing the best possible application. It is thus advised that scholars begin applying early so that all of the requirements are satisfied before the deadline. 

For further information and to apply, see [thebritishacademy.ac.uk/funding/visiting-fellowships/].(https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/funding/visiting-fellowships/).

This is a unique chance for academics to further their research, expand their international networks, and contribute to the intellectual life of a UK university. Scholars interested in participating in this distinguished program are encouraged to apply, and the application window is currently open.