School of Social and Political Science

British Academy Postdoctoral Research Fellowships

Application Process and Deadlines

British Academy have announced their deadline of 1st October 2025 for applications to their Postdoctoral Fellowship Scheme. For candidates seeking to apply for a Postdoctoral Fellowship hosted by School of Social and Political Science (SPS) there is a review and selection process with a deadline date of 7th August 2025, and only candidates who are selected can proceed with an application to BA- see section 3 below for details. 

To be eligible: 

  • Applicants are expected to be at an early stage of their career. This is defined by British Academy as being within 3 years from the date of your successful Viva Voce examination. 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.
  • To meet SPS eligibility criteria for consideration by the selection panel, candidates must have prior association with SPS and/or University of Edinburgh, defined as:
    (i) Current or prior employment in any relevant role at the University of Edinburgh for a period of at least 3 months on an accumulative basis.
    (ii)  Study affiliation at any School within the University at either undergraduate or graduate level.
    (iii) Demonstrable ongoing research links with SPS faculty which are substantive, for example related to an output, research or KEI project or prior funding proposal.

The British Academy (BA) follows a two-stage application process for its Postdoctoral Research Fellowship scheme involving both an outline and second stage. The 2025/26 round will open on the BA's website on 2nd July 2025, with deadline dates and further information. However, applicants should be aware that this Fellowship opportunity involves a separate School review and selection process that begins before the BA deadline date (1st October 2025). The details of this process are given below.

SSPS Key Stages and estimated Dates for an Outline Application: 2025/26 round

1. Mentor Identification

Applicants should be aware that BA and SPS requires a mentor to be appointed for all postdoctoral fellowships. This needs to be a core member of SPS staff. Applicants have the responsibility of first identifying, contacting and securing an agreed mentor for a proposed project application. We strongly encourage all applicants to contact and secure the agreement of a prospective mentor in SPS as soon as possible, as applicants must work closely with them in developing their application.

2. Notification of Expression of Interest to School

Once applicants have a mentor in place, they should let the SPS Research Office know of their intention to apply by email to ssps.research@ed.ac.uk.

3. Submission to School Panel Process

The School conducts a panel review and selection process in order to ensure the proposals supported by the School are as strong as possible. The School deadline for consideration for the 2025/26 round will be Thursday 7th August 2025. All documents should be submitted to ssps.research@ed.ac.uk.

In order to be considered for the School panel process, applicants must ensure that the following are sent to the SPS Research Office by the School deadline:

  • Outline project proposal (max. 2 pages)
  • References/Bibliography (max. 1 page)
  • Candidate CV (max. 2 pages)
  • A mentor statement (max. 1 page)
  • Your mentor must ensure that in principle approval from the Head of Subject Area for your application is emailed to the SPS Research Office before you submit your documents to the School panel process.

Documents should all be in either Calibri or Arial font, size 11, with 2 cm margins. 

Further information on preparing a submission to a School panel can be found here: Preparing a submission to a School panel.

4. Development and Submission of Outline Application to BA

The SSPS review and selection panel will decide whether the School will support applications and provide feedback to successful candidates in order to strengthen their proposals. The panel will typically provide feedback to potential applicants by the end of August/early September, allowing them sufficient time to proceed to the BA application stage. Applicants will receive Research Office support to develop and submit their proposals for BA's deadline on 1st October. 

Estimated Scheme Timetable for 2025/26

Outline Stage application to BA: 2025

  • 2nd July 2025: Scheme opens on BA website.
  • 7th August 2025: SPS panel deadline: (abbreviated 2 page CV, 1-2 page project summary, bibliography, and mentor statement).
  • Late August 2025: Comments back from panel and candidates told if they have been successful and can proceed with a first (outline) stage application to BA.
  • Week commencing 15th Sept 2025: Deadline for selected candidates to have their final draft of BA Outline Stage application ready (PDF of BA FlexiGrant application).
  • 1st October 2025: BA Outline Stage application submission deadline for applicants, referees and institutional approval.

Second Stage: 2026

  • January 2026: Successful outline stage applicants invited by BA to submit Second Stage application.
  • February 2026: BA deadline (TBA) for Second Stage applications.
  • June 2026: BA contacts applicants concerning outcome of their Second Stage application.

Guidance for Applicants progressing to BA's Outline Stage

Applicants progressing to BA's Outline Stage application must register with the BA Flexi-Grant system to complete the application. The outline stage application includes information on past academic experience, publications and the research proposal, but does not include financial information. Institutional approval is needed.

  • Budget: Although BA's outline stage application does not contain financial information or a budget, it is a School requirement that candidates liaise with the SPS Research office to develop a draft budget to ensure project feasibility.
  • Peer review: Draft applications should be reviewed by two permanent members of SPS academic staff who will provide comments to the applicant to help them strengthen their application. Mentors are asked to provide support in identifying suitable peer reviewers.
  • Ethical review: Applicants must also complete a design stage ethical review. We ask that the applicant's mentor provide support in submitting the design stage ethics form in collaboration with the applicant at an early stage in the process to ensure that the feedback received can be used to help develop the project design. Please note that an initial ethics review usually takes 10 working days.
  • School approval: School approval must be confirmed before you can submit your proposal.

Second Stage applications

Candidates who successfully pass the BA's Outline Stage selection will be invited to submit a full proposal via the online submission system Flexi-Grant. This includes the financial information, as well as a sample of academic work (article, chapter of PhD thesis, etc). The School Research Office will help you with your budget. The applicant can also then update information on publications, research experience, contact details etc.

Further information on the scheme and applicant eligibility is available from the BA website Postdoctoral Fellowships | The British Academy

Please inform the School Research Office as soon as you are invited by the British Academy to the Second Stage application so that you receive all the necessary guidance and information.