The University of Edinburgh has formally opened functions for its extremely regarded Heritage Collections Research Fellowships 2026–2027, providing postdoctoral students from world wide a funded alternative to undertake collections-based mostly analysis at one of many UK’s most prestigious analysis establishments. The newest spherical helps analysis visits going down between August 2026 and July 2027, with functions closing on 24 April 2026. This aggressive fellowship is hosted by the Institute for Advanced Studies within the Humanities (IASH) and is designed for students within the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences whose work meaningfully engages with the University’s huge and globally important heritage collections.
Positioned within the historic and intellectually vibrant metropolis of Edinburgh, the fellowship supplies researchers with time, funding, and privileged entry to uncommon supplies which can be usually troublesome to seek the advice of by commonplace archival routes. For students in search of to deepen authentic analysis, increase worldwide networks, and contribute to public-going through humanities work, this fellowship represents a standout alternative for the 2026–2027 educational cycle.
Priority Research Themes for 2026–2027
While proposals are welcomed from throughout all related disciplines, the 2026–2027 name significantly encourages tasks aligned with the next thematic areas:
1# Institutional Histories, Decoloniality, and Colonial Impact
Applications are strongly inspired that discover decolonial views, provenance analysis, and the University of Edinburgh’s historic hyperlinks to colonialism. This contains work related to the University Race Review, colonial-period figures, institutional histories, and particular campus websites equivalent to Old College, Edinburgh College of Art, King’s Buildings, and the Edinburgh Futures Institute.
2# Sustainability, Environmental Emergencies, and Regeneration
The Heritage Collections supply wealthy materials for analysis into local weather historical past, environmental change, extraction practices, and sustainability ethics. Fellows are invited to critically study how historic collections can inform up to date debates round ecological duty, social justice, and the regeneration of cultural and environmental techniques.
3# International Connections with a Focus on Africa
The collections embrace in depth, but underexplored, materials referring to Africa and Scotland–Africa connections. Projects investigating transnational histories, cultural alternate, and world mental networks involving Africa are particularly welcomed for this fellowship spherical.
Funding Plan and Fellowship Support
The Heritage Collections Research Fellowship is structured as a absolutely supported analysis residency lasting three to 6 months on the University of Edinburgh. Successful candidates will obtain a complete funding and help bundle designed to permit full deal with analysis.
Each Fellow is supplied with a bursary of £2,000 per 30 days, supposed to help residing prices throughout the residency interval. Where relevant, an worldwide journey allowance of as much as £500 is out there to assist cowl journey to and from Edinburgh.
Beyond monetary help, Fellows profit from devoted workplace house at IASH, full University e mail and library entry, and privileged use of the Heritage Collections and the Digital Scholarship Centre. Each Fellow can be assigned an instructional mentor from the Centre for Research Collections or a related School throughout the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.
The fellowship expertise is enriched by weekly Fellows’ lunches, a collegial work-in-progress seminar collection, and a vibrant calendar of educational and cultural occasions, fostering significant engagement with a world neighborhood of students.
Who Is Eligible to Apply?
Applications are welcomed from postdoctoral researchers worldwide, together with college-employed lecturers and impartial students, supplied they meet the eligibility standards and UK immigration necessities.
Applicants should have been awarded a doctorate on the time of application, usually throughout the final 5 years. Candidates who’ve accomplished their PhD however not but formally graduated could apply if they’ll present official affirmation of completion. Researchers who’ve held non permanent or quick-time period educational appointments are eligible, however candidates should not have beforehand held a fellowship at IASH.
All candidates should current a nicely-outlined analysis challenge that straight engages with a particular Heritage Collection on the University of Edinburgh and display prior or deliberate contact with related University researchers. Active participation in Heritage Collections actions, equivalent to seminars, workshops, exhibitions, or digital outputs, is a core expectation of the fellowship.
Apply: https://www.iash.ed.ac.uk/heritage-collections-research-fellowships
Application Timeline and Key Dates
The application portal for the Heritage Collections Research Fellowships 2026–2027 is now open.
The final date to apply for analysis visits scheduled between August 2026 and July 2027 is 24 April 2026 at 17:00 GMT. Late or incomplete functions is not going to be thought of. Applicants should additionally make sure that two to 3 confidential references are submitted by the identical deadline.
Following the evaluate course of, choice selections are anticipated to be communicated in July 2026, permitting profitable candidates ample time to plan journey and residency preparations. Fellowship residencies will start from August 2026 onward and should run at any level as much as July 2027, relying on the agreed length.
Heritage Collections Research Fellowships 2026 At University Of EdinburgFULLY FUNDED SCHOLARSHIPS SCHOLARSHIPS SCHOLARSHIPS FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS
