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School of Society and Environment – Department of Geography and Environmental Science

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  1. School of Society and Environment – Department of Geography and Environmental Science
  2. Research
  3. Research fellows and visitors
  4. Externally-Funded Fellowships

Externally-Funded Fellowships

British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowships 2026/27

The Department of Geography, Queen Mary University of London, invites expressions of interest from post-doctoral researchers considering making an application for the 2026/27 British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship competition.

About the fellowships

The British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship offers outstanding early career researchers the opportunity to strengthen their experience of research and teaching in an academic environment. This scheme aims to help develop the award holder’s curriculum vitae and boost their prospects of obtaining a permanent academic post. The primary emphasis is on the completion of a significant piece of publishable research, and the integration of the award holder into the community of established scholars within their field.

Eligibility requirements

  • Applicants must be supported by the UK host institution in which they wish to hold the Fellowship.
  • Applicants must be within three years of their successful viva voce examination. For this round of competition, applicants are expected to have completed their viva voce between 1 April 2024 and 1 April 2027. Exemption from this criterion may be granted for reasons occurring after the date of the viva voce examination such as: maternity leave, illness, family commitments etc but must be confirmed with the BA prior to application.
  • Applicants must be a British citizen or EEA national, or have completed a doctorate at a UK university. Any applicant who does not fall into one of these categories must demonstrate a strong prior association with the UK academic community, for example through a previous period of non-permanent employment (for a minimum of 12 months) at a UK university.
  • Not have held a permanent academic post in an institution of higher education at any time in their career (exemption usually possible for permanent positions below 0.5FTE).
  • Resubmissions of previously unsuccessful applications are not permitted unless by invitation of the British Academy

The eligibility criteria listed above are based on the 2025/26 guidance. Please check the British Academy’s guidance for 2026/27 for full details once it has been released.

Candidates should note that unsuccessful applicants cannot reapply unless the British Academy invites them to do so. Therefore, we encourage applicants to consider the best time (within the eligibility period) to apply, thinking about the development of their research experience and achievement since their PhD award.

How to apply

This scheme is extremely competitive. As a result, QMUL will only support the strongest of applicants. Candidates interested in applying for a fellowship based at the Department of Geography should submit an Expression of Interest to sse-research@qmul.ac.uk by Monday 3rd August 2026 including the following:

  • an explanation of the reasons for your choice of the School and Queen Mary as your host institution, including the name of your proposed mentor and confirmation that they have agreed to support your application (maximum 150 words).
  • an outline of your proposed programme of research (maximum 1,500 words)including consideration of method, sources, and significance
  • your planned research outputs, e.g. monograph, journal article(s), book chapter(s), digital resources, events (workshops, conferences), other (please specify) (maximum 300 words)
  • a list of existing publications (1 page maximum)
  • a CV (2 pages maximum)
  • a draft sample of writing, either published or accepted for publication (article or book chapter length).

Your application should demonstrate:

  • that you are eligible according to the BA’s criteria
  • the excellence of your research track record and professional track record (where relevant);
  • your fit with the School and relevant links to the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

All applications will be considered in an internal selection process and candidates notified shortly after the deadline.

Successful applicants will then have approximately six weeks to finalise their outline application, ahead of the funder deadline of 30 September 2026. They will also be invited to attend an orientation session run by The Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences about the final stages of application. This will take place w/c 1 September 2026.

The School will be running an information session on 20th July at 12:00 to provide an overview of the scheme and offer guidance on writing your proposal. You are advised to register via the link below.

British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowships Applicant Workshop

Support for postdoctoral researchers in the Department of Geography

The Department of Geography at Queen Mary is a notable centre for the nurture of postdoctoral and early career colleagues. Postdoctoral researchers in the Department are supported by their research mentors and are part of a vibrant research community. The Department runs an annual Staff Research Conference and a research seminar series, which runs throughout the year, providing opportunities for PDRs to present their research to the Department. Research theme groups hold many additional research events and workshops.

The Queen Mary Humanities and Social Sciences Early Career Researchers Network offers additional support. As well as regular talks and workshops, there are opportunities to meet other ECRs from across the Faculty to share experience and knowledge of the process of establishing an academic career.

ESRC London Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership Postdoctoral Fellowships

These are 12-month fellowships aimed at those in the immediately postdoctoral stage of their career, to provide the opportunity to consolidate their PhD through developing publications, networks, and their research and professional skills. Funding covers the fellow’s salary for one year, plus research expenses up to £10,000. This annual completion normally has a deadline in late March. More details are on the ESRC LISS DTP website here.

Leverhulme Early Career Fellowships

These fellowships are for outstanding early career researchers from all disciplines and provide funding for a three-year academic position to undertake a substantial piece of publishable work. It is annual competition with a deadline in late February or early March each year.

Full details on the scheme are found on the Leverhulme Trust’s website here.

NERC Independent Research Fellowship

The NERC Independent Research Fellowship (IRF) scheme is designed to develop scientific leadership among the most promising early-career environmental scientists, by giving all fellows five years' support, which will allow them sufficient time to develop their research programmes and to gain international recognition. This is an annual competition with a deadline usually in early October and full details can be found here.

The school is also interested in anybody considering applying for the following fellowship schemes: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships; UKRI Future Leaders Fellowships; Newton International Fellowships; British Academy/Royal Society Newton Advanced Fellowships. 

Please contact the Research Team at sse-research@qmul.ac.uk if you are interested in applying for any of the schemes above.

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