LSE-Miguel Dols Fellowship Autumn Term 2026-27 — Research Residency at the London School of Economics Now Open
- Omran Aburayya
- Apr 25
- 5 min read
If you are an academic researcher — whether an early-career scholar, a PhD candidate, or an established professor — looking for a prestigious institutional base in London to advance your work on some of the world's most pressing social, political, and economic challenges, the LSE-Miguel Dols Fellowship for Autumn Term 2026-27 is now open for applications. Hosted by the Cañada Blanch Centre at the London School of Economics and Political Science, this highly selective scheme admits just three to four fellows per term, offering them full integration into one of the world's top social science institutions from 28 September to 11 December 2026. The deadline to apply is 1 June 2026.
🎓 Fellowship Summary
Location: London, United Kingdom — Cañada Blanch Centre, London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
Host Institution: LSE Cañada Blanch Centre, supported by the Fundación Cañada Blanch
Level: Open to PhD researchers, early-career academics, and established professors
Target Group: Academics and researchers working on topics aligned with the Centre's thematic priorities, with preference for projects connecting Spain and the UK
Fields of Focus: Sustainable development; climate change; inequalities; demographic change and migration; innovation, technology and productivity; democracy, governance and government; European integration; education and employment; health; gender and ethnic equality
Value & Coverage: Access to LSE facilities and research resources — the fellowship does not provide financial funding; fellows must secure financing from their home institutions or personal resources
Duration: Autumn Term 2026 — Monday 28 September to Friday 11 December 2026 (approximately 11 weeks)
Application Deadline: 1 June 2026
Start Date: 28 September 2026
Number of Places: 3 to 4 fellows per term
Eligible To: Academics and researchers from any country whose work aligns with the Centre's research agenda
📚 Fellowship Overview
The Cañada Blanch Centre at LSE serves as the vehicle to achieve the objective of the Fundación Cañada Blanch: developing and reinforcing the links between the United Kingdom and Spain, by means of fostering cutting-edge knowledge generation and joint research projects between researchers in the United Kingdom and Spain. The programme provides selected fellows with access to world-class academic resources, intellectual networks, and a vibrant research environment in London.
🧩 Fellowship Structure & Activities
The LSE-Miguel Dols Fellowship is a research residency, not a taught programme. Fellows are embedded within the Cañada Blanch Centre for the duration of the Autumn Term and are expected to pursue their own independent research while actively participating in the Centre's academic life. Based on how previous cohorts have been structured, the fellowship involves the following:
Research Access and Workspace
Fellows receive full access to LSE's extensive library and research infrastructure — one of the most comprehensive social science research libraries in the world — along with a dedicated workspace at the Cañada Blanch Centre. This institutional affiliation provides fellows with an LSE email address and the credibility of an LSE-based research position for the duration of the term.
Fellows' Lecture
Each term, the Cañada Blanch Centre organises a Fellows' Lecture in which visiting LSE-Miguel Dols Fellows present their ongoing research. This is a formal academic event open to the wider LSE community, giving fellows a high-profile platform to showcase their work, receive expert feedback, and build connections with LSE faculty and students.
Integration into Centre Activities
Fellows participate in the Centre's seminars, workshops, and academic events throughout the term. This creates organic opportunities for collaboration, co-authorship, and engagement with LSE's broader network of researchers working on related themes.
Research Output
While there is no formal output requirement, fellows are expected to make meaningful progress on their research projects during the residency. Past fellows have used the term to complete working papers, journal articles, book chapters, and policy-relevant research outputs.
🎁 Fellowship Benefits
Although the LSE-Miguel Dols Fellowship does not provide a financial stipend or travel grant, the non-monetary benefits are considerable:
Full access to LSE library resources, online databases, and research facilities — valued by scholars worldwide as among the best in social sciences
Institutional affiliation with LSE and the Cañada Blanch Centre for the duration of the fellowship
A formal platform to present ongoing research at the term's Fellows' Lecture to an audience of LSE academics and students
Integration into a vibrant intellectual community at one of the world's top-ranked universities
Networking opportunities with leading scholars in the social sciences, economics, political science, and related disciplines
Potential for collaborative research and co-authorship with LSE faculty and fellow researchers
Strengthened academic CV with an LSE affiliation — a significant asset for career development at any stage
ℹ️ Important: Fellows are responsible for all costs including travel to and from London, accommodation, and living expenses during the term. Applicants are strongly encouraged to confirm funding from their home institution before applying.
✅ Eligibility Criteria
Open to academics at any career stage — PhD researchers, early-career academics, and established professors are all welcome to apply
Research must be aligned with one or more of the Centre's thematic priorities (see fields of focus listed in the summary above)
Strong preference is given to research projects that simultaneously relate to both Spain and the United Kingdom
Applicants must be able to commit to the full Autumn Term residency in London (28 September – 11 December 2026)
Applicants must have confirmed or reasonably secured funding from their home institution or personal resources to cover living costs in London during the term
There are no nationality restrictions — applications are welcomed from scholars worldwide
📝 Application Procedure
The application process is straightforward and entirely email-based.
How to Apply:
Send your application materials by email to the LSE Cañada Blanch Centre Manager:
Subject line: LSE-Miguel Dols Fellowship Application
📁Required Documents:
Curriculum Vitae (CV) — A full academic CV including your institutional affiliation, educational background, publications, and any relevant academic activities or honours
Research Proposal — A concise written proposal of no more than 600 words describing the research project you intend to pursue during the fellowship. Your proposal should clearly articulate the research question, its relevance to the Centre's thematic priorities, your methodological approach, and — where applicable — its connection to Spain and/or the UK
💡 No letters of recommendation, reference contacts, or additional supporting documents are specified in the application guidelines. Keep your proposal focused and well-argued within the 600-word limit — with only 3 to 4 places available, clarity and relevance to the Centre's agenda are decisive.
Application Deadline: 1 June 2026
🚀 Extra Tips for a Competitive Application
Explicitly connect your research to Spain and/or the UK. The Centre's founding mission centres on strengthening Spain-UK academic ties — proposals that articulate this connection, even where it is not the primary focus, are given clear preference over otherwise equivalent applications
Be precise about your research question within the 600-word limit. This is not a space for broad overviews — the most competitive proposals use every word to make a compelling, specific case for the project's significance and feasibility within a single term
Confirm your funding before applying. The absence of a stipend is a real practical consideration — applicants who have not secured institutional support for London living costs are unlikely to be able to take up the fellowship even if selected
Leverage your LSE affiliation strategically. Contact potential LSE collaborators in your field before or during the fellowship — the Centre's network extends across departments, and the Fellows' Lecture is a genuine opportunity to build relationships that outlast the term
