Rothschild Foundation Mid-Career Research Fellowship 2026

Omran Aburayya
1 day ago
4 min read

If you’re a mid-career scholar in Jewish Studies, here’s an in-depth look at the Rothschild Foundation Mid-Career Research Fellowship 2026, why it’s a game-changer, and how to apply.

🎓 Fellowship Summary

Location: European universities or heritage institutions (archives, libraries, museums)
Host Institution: Your current employing institution (university or heritage)
Fellowship Level: Mid-career research fellowship
Target Group: Mid-career scholars in Jewish Studies, typically within ~15 years after PhD
Fields of Focus: Broad Jewish Studies; especially encouraged: contemporary Jewish life in Europe (social sciences), digital humanities
Value & Coverage: Up to £45,000, awarded to your institution; covers teaching buyout or replacement salary + up to £5,000 for research expenses
Duration: 6 to 12 months
Application Deadline: 13 January 2026
Reference Deadline: 20 January 2026
Notification / Start Date: Decisions expected mid-May 2026.

📚 Fellowship Overview

The Rothschild Foundation Hanadiv Europe (RFHE) offers this fellowship to mid-career Jewish Studies scholars who want to devote 6–12 uninterrupted months to research and writing. The idea is to relieve successful applicants from teaching and admin duties by funding a replacement (e.g., fixed-term lecturer).

Your institution receives the grant — not you directly — in order to:

Hire a replacement lecturer or cover teaching buy-out, depending on your institutional context
Disburse up to £5,000 for research-related costs (travel, materials, archival work, etc.)

RFHE also strongly encourages making your research outputs open access. If you're publishing in a peer-reviewed journal, you can apply to cover article processing charges.

🧩 Fellowship Structure

Duration: 6–12 months fully dedicated to research.
Time freed: Teaching and admin duties should be reduced or covered via replacement.
Research costs: Up to £5,000 may be claimed for project-specific expenses (archives, travel, software, etc.)
Public dissemination: You're encouraged to publish in open access journals; the foundation may fund APCs.

🎁 Benefits

Protected Research Time: The fellowship buys you out of teaching/administrative work so you can focus on research.
Institutional Support: Your institution is funded to hire a temporary replacement.
Research Budget: You get funds for direct research-related costs (up to £5,000).
Open Access Publishing: Support for making your work widely accessible.
Recognition: A prestigious fellowship from a well-known foundation, enhancing your academic profile.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

To apply, you must:

Be currently employed by a European university or heritage institution (archives, libraries, museums).
Have made a significant contribution to Jewish Studies (usually within ~15 years of completing the PhD).
Propose a project with a clear and deep connection to Jewish Studies. RFHE is less likely to fund projects that are only tangentially related.
Avoid proposing: secondary-school education initiatives, informal education, or documentary film projects.

💲 Eligible Costs

Teaching buyout / Replacement Salary: The bulk of the funds will likely go here.
Research Expenses: Up to £5,000 for costs such as travel, archival access, software, etc.
Open Access Publishing: You may apply for extra to cover article processing / publication costs.

📝 Application Procedure

To apply, you need to:

Submit Application: Through RFHE’s online portal by 13 January 2026.
Provide References: Two external referees (not from your institution) must submit their letters by 20 January 2026.
Documents:
- Completed budget table + justification (use their budget form)
- CV (maximum 5 pages)
- Project proposal / description
- If previously funded by RFHE: a project update or final report.
- Proof of your institution’s not-for-profit / charitable status (varies by country)
- Translations: Any non-English documents must be accompanied by clear English translations.
- All forms can be downloaded from this webpage
Referee Form: Provide your referees with the correct referee form (available via the portal) so they can submit on time.
After Acceptance: If awarded, you’ll receive a formal grant letter by mid-May, then e-sign the agreement and provide additional documentation.

👌🏻 Eligibility Tips & Advice

Make sure your project aligns closely with Jewish Studies; emphasize scholarly importance and how it contributes to the field.
In your budget justification, clearly itemize how you’ll use the funds, especially for replacement teaching costs and the research expenses.
Choose referees who know your work well but are not from your own institution.
Highlight any innovative methodologies (digital humanities, social science methods) — RFHE particularly welcomes these.
Think about how you plan to publish or disseminate your research, and mention open access in your proposal.

🚀 Why This Fellowship Matters

Advancing Jewish Studies: By freeing mid-career scholars from their day-to-day duties, this fellowship helps create deeper, more reflective scholarship in Jewish Studies.
Supporting Innovation: The emphasis on digital humanities and contemporary life encourages methodological innovation.
Strengthening Institutions: The funding supports institutions too — not just individuals — through replacement teaching funds.
Open Knowledge: By encouraging open-access outputs, the fellowship supports broader public and academic access to research.

✨ How to Strengthen Your Application

Start early: Getting your referees lined up, drafting your proposal, and filling out the budget takes time.
Consult your institution’s admin: Make sure your university or heritage institution is on board and understands the mechanism (they will receive and disburse funds).
Draft a clear work plan: Show how you will use the fellowship time for research, writing, and outputs.
Be realistic in budget: Base replacement costs on real data from your institution.
Plan for publications: Identify target journals or venues, and show how you might leverage open access.