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Deadline: July 28, 2025
To mark 90 years of cultural and educational collaboration, the University of Edinburgh, in partnership with the British Council, is launching the 90th Anniversary Research Fellowships for early-career researchers from eligible countries. These prestigious fellowships are designed to support innovative and impactful research that aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The initiative aims to promote cross-cultural academic exchange and build long-term research partnerships between the UK and countries across Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. The fellowships offer a fully funded opportunity for early-career scholars to conduct research at one of the UK’s most prestigious universities—the University of Edinburgh.
Benefits
IASH hosts a lively scholarly community of visiting fellows. It is a supportive environment for postdoctoral researchers, while also offering networking opportunities with successful mid-career and eminent senior scholars. The Institute occupies a historic building with private courtyard and leafy views – perfect for uninterrupted thinking, reading and writing. Yet there is also plenty of opportunity to socialise and share ideas.
In short, a 2026 British Council 90th Anniversary Research Fellowship provides:
- Research visit at the University of Edinburgh for ten months, followed by up to two months based in their home countries focused on knowledge exchange and dissemination
- Bursary of £2,500 per month for 12 months
- Dedicated office space, University e-mail and library access
- A University mentor from an area relevant to the Fellows’ research interests
- Weekly Fellows’ Lunch to build community
- Collegial work-in-progress seminar series for testing new ideas
- Calendar of engaging events at the Institute and College
- Opportunities to participate in and design funded workshops, colloquia, etc at the Institute
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Eligibility Criteria
These Fellowships are intended to support research that is aligned with the overarching vision of the British Council (“a more peaceful and prosperous world built on trust”) and the purpose outlined in their strategy:
We support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide.
Applicants must be based in an ODA-recipient country where the British Council operates and be qualified to undertake postdoctoral level research for this early career Fellowship, meaning they must have a PhD, completed within the last seven years (factoring in career breaks, e.g. periods of parental leave or time away from academia).
See the full list of eligible countries below.
| Albania | Algeria | Argentina |
| Armenia | Azerbaijan | Bangladesh |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | Botswana | Brazil |
| Cambodia | Cameroon | China |
| 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 | 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 | Occupied Palestinian Territories |
| Yemen | Zambia | Zimbabwe |
Research topics should be relevant to the areas of priority across Arts, Education and the English language that are outlined in our strategy, and to areas of cross-cutting strategic British Council interest such as international relations and soft power, international development and peace building, and cultural relations and cultural diplomacy.
Application Process and Documents Required
29 April 2025 Application portal opens
23 May 2025 at 13:00 UK time Applicant webinar (register here: https://bc90webinar.eventbrite.co.uk)
28 July 2025 at 23:59 UK time Application deadline
By end of August 2025 Selection of candidates
January 2026 Fellowship start date
January – October 2026 Fellowships are undertaken at IASH, University of Edinburgh
November – December 2026 Knowledge exchange and dissemination with British Council
