Purpose of the Scheme
The BA / Wolfson Fellowships are three-year awards aiming to support the next generation of research and public engagement leaders in the humanities and social sciences. The scheme is highly competitive: only six awards are available nationally, and candidates will be expected to have exceptional track-records in both their academic field and in public engagement.
The 2026-27 call for applications closes on 14 December 2026.
Eligibility
The eligibility criteria are complex, and you should read the scheme guidance carefully. The key criteria include:
- Being within seven years of the date of your viva at the scheme closing date.
- Having a permanent or fixed-term post that covers the length of the award.
The earliest start-date is 1 Sept 2027, which means that you must be permanent or have a contract that runs until at least 31 August 2030. Applicants should have day-to-day duties from which they would need to be released in order to strengthen their ability to conduct the research and engagement proposed for the Fellowship.
Value and Duration
The maximum value of the award is £140,000, and applicants should note that this amount will cover two-years of full-time teaching buy-out, leaving around £30,000 for research and public engagement costs.
How to apply
Any application will need the support of the Faculty in which your Fellowship will be based. Please contact the Research Facilitator for your Faculty as soon as possible to let them know of your intention to apply.
You should complete the Expression of Interest form
The Faculty deadline for receiving your Expression of Interest is Monday 16 November 2026
The scheme deadline is 14 December 2026, but you will need to submit your application in the BA Flexigrant system by Monday 7 December as the application first goes to Research Services for approval. You will also need to obtain a reference from a nominated referee - who will need to upload a letter of support before you are able to submit the application.
