British Council 2026 Research Fellowships | How to Apply

The British Council 2026 Research Fellowships at the University of Edinburgh offer a prestigious opportunity for early-career researchers around the world to conduct postdoctoral research at the Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities (IASH) at the University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom.

This fully funded program is available to researchers looking to collaborate with scholars from around the globe and immerse themselves in one of the UK’s top academic environments. 

This article covers the full details about the fellowship, including eligibility, benefits, and the application process. If you’re ready to take your research to the next level, keep reading to find out more.

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British Council 2026 Research Fellowships Summary

• Host Country: United Kingdom
• Study Abroad: Study in UK
• Host Institution: University of Edinburgh (Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities)
• Category: Fellowship
• Program Duration: 12 Months
• Rewards: £2,500 Per Month| Travel Expenses | Library Access | Work Space |Academic Mentorship
• Application Deadline: July 28th, 2025.

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British Council 2026 Research Fellowships Details

The British Council 2026 Research Fellowships, in partnership with the Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities (IASH), are thrilled to award two new 12-month postdoctoral fellowships to early-career researchers to celebrate the British Council’s 90th Anniversary. This means that the applicant must be within seven years of completion of their PhD program. Fellows will spend the first ten months of their fellowships at IASH and two months in their home countries. The fellowship program has been scheduled to begin in January 2026 to December 2026 at the University of Edinburgh.

The British Council 2026 Research Fellowships offer a monthly stipend of £2,500, cover your travel expenses, and provide a conducive work space, library access, academic mentorship, and the opportunity to explore the vibrant community of visiting fellows at IASH. Applications are open to postdoctoral researchers based in any ODA-recipient country where the British Council is functional.

This fellowship is designed to support research that aligns with the overall vision of the British Council, which includes: a more peaceful and prosperous world built on trust. Research topics that align with the British Council’s interest across Arts, Education, language, and international relations.

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.

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British Council 2026 Research Fellowships Eligibility Requirements

To apply, you must:

• Be based in any of the ODA-approved countries where the British Council operates.
• Candidates must have completed a PhD degree within the last 7 years.
• Candidates who have not completed an undergraduate or postgraduate education in the UK or an ODA non-ODA-approved country are encouraged to apply.
• Candidates’ research topics must align with the British Council’s areas of priority: arts, education, language, international relations, international peacebuilding, and cultural diplomacy.
• Be available to commence the fellowship program by January 2026.
• Must not have held a permanent university position or a previous IASH Fellowship. Temporary or short-term roles are still eligible.
  
  Note:
  This fellowship is not for science research.
• Fields like chemistry, medicine, or engineering aren’t eligible. Interdisciplinary areas like medical humanities or history of science are welcome.

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British Council 2026 Research Fellowships Benefits

This fellowship program offers the following:

• A monthly stipend of £2,500.
• Covers travel expenses from your home country to the UK.
• A conducive office space and library access.
• Academic mentorship from professors at the University of Edinburgh.
• Access to a vibrant scholarly community of fellows at the Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities.

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Required Documents for the British Council 2026 Research Fellowships

To apply for this fellowship, candidates must submit the following documents:

• An updated Curriculum Vitae (CV).
• A cover letter.
• Completed application form.
• A research proposal relevant to the British program objectives.
• A transcript, testamur, or a letter of completion.
• A minimum of two reference letters from two referees.

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How to Apply for the British Council 2026 Research Fellowships (Step by Step)

To apply for this scholarship, follow the steps below:

• The application for the British Council 2026 is open. Click here to apply.
• Fill out the application form by submitting the required documents.
• Double-check all details to ensure accuracy.
• Submit your application.
• Shortlisted candidates will be contacted via email by September 2025.
  
  Note:
• The only Fellowship programme open for applications is the British Council 90th Anniversary Research Fellowships.
• Your referees must email their letters to [email protected] before the deadline, or your application won’t be reviewed.
• You must contact a University of Edinburgh staff member first: Your main mentor must be from Edinburgh. Listing someone from another university will disqualify you.

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Deadline

The deadline to apply for the  British Council 2026 Research Fellowships is 28th July 2025.

We recommend you submit your application before the deadline; any application submitted after the deadline will not be considered.

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