Funder: Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities
Due Dates (Anticipated): April 2027 (Application deadline)
Funding Amounts: £2,000 per month for three to six months, plus up to £500 for international travel if required
Summary: Supports postdoctoral research using the University of Edinburgh’s Heritage Collections across the arts, humanities and social sciences.
Key Information: Applicants must already hold a doctorate, normally awarded within five years, and must not have held an IASH Fellowship previously.
Description
The Heritage Collections Research Fellowships, administered by the Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities (IASH), support collections-based research at the University of Edinburgh. Fellows receive privileged access to archives, art, manuscripts, musical instruments and rare books, alongside curatorial and technical expertise. The programme enables work that is difficult to accomplish through ordinary reading room services and encourages innovative, interdisciplinary enquiry across the arts, humanities and social sciences.
The 2026–27 suggested research areas include institutional histories, decoloniality and the University’s colonial impact; sustainability, environmental emergencies and regeneration; and underexplored material originating in Africa or documenting Scotland’s relationships with Africa. Fellows engage with the Centre for Research Collections (CRC), contributing to projects, events or resources such as exhibitions, workshops, seminars and online learning materials.
