British Academy Mid-Career Fellowship Scheme 2026

Omran Aburayya
Aug 16
2 min read

If you are a mid-career researcher based at a UK institution, the British Academy Mid-Career Fellowship Scheme 2026 offers a unique opportunity to focus on a significant research project within the humanities or social sciences. Applications are now open and will close on 20 August 2025 at 17:00 BST.

🎓 Fellowship Summary

Location: United Kingdom (UK-based institutions)
Level: Mid-career researchers
Target Group: Researchers employed at UK-based universities, higher education institutions, or independent research organisations
Fields of Research: Humanities and Social Sciences
Value & Coverage:
- Full Economic Costing (FEC) framework
- Academy's contribution calculated at 80% of FEC
- Salary contribution capped at £80,000
- Total award value not expected to exceed £152,000
Duration: 6 to 12 months
Application Deadline: 20 August 2025, 17:00 BST
Start Date: Earliest start date is 1 September 2026
Eligible To: Mid-career researchers employed at UK-based institutions

🌐 Fellowship Overview

The Mid-Career Fellowships aim to:

Support outstanding individual researchers with excellent research proposals
Promote public understanding and engagement with humanities and social sciences

Successful applicants will be freed from their normal academic and administrative commitments for a period of 6 to 12 months to devote to the completion of a major piece of research. Additionally, applicants are expected to demonstrate a clear commitment to a strategy of public engagement and communication of the research outcomes during the period of the Fellowship.

🎁 Fellowship Benefits

Financial Support:
- Salary contribution up to £80,000
- Total award value not expected to exceed £152,000
Research Support:
- Freedom from normal academic and administrative commitments for 6 to 12 months
Public Engagement:
- Opportunity to promote public understanding and engagement with research outcomes

✅ Eligibility Criteria

Employment Status: Must be employed at a UK-based university, higher education institution, or independent research organisation
Career Stage: Aimed particularly at mid-career scholars
Research Experience: Applicants should have already made an outstanding contribution to their field and achieved distinction as an excellent communicator
Time Since Doctorate: Applicants should be within no more than 15 years from the award of their doctorate. For those without a doctorate, they should be within 15 years of their first academic appointment
Career Breaks: The Academy will make due allowance for applicants who have had career breaks

📝 Application Procedure

Prepare Application:
- Review the Scheme Guidance Notes
- Review the Application Guidance Notes
Submit Application:
- Applications must be submitted via the British Academy's Flexi-Grant® system
Deadline:
- Applications must be submitted by 20 August 2025, 17:00 BST

ℹ️ Additional Information

Public Engagement: Applicants are expected to demonstrate how their research will contribute to public understanding and engagement with humanities and social sciences
Research Areas: There are no thematic priorities; applicants are encouraged to propose original, independent research in any field within the humanities or social sciences
Support: For assistance, contact the British Academy at grants@thebritishacademy.ac.uk