PRHS Opens Call for 2026 British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowships
Prospective candidates must submit their initial proposals by 12 noon (UK time) on Tuesday 4 August 2026 to be considered for department sponsorship
The School of Philosophy, Religion and History of Science (PRHS) at the University of Leeds is officially inviting expressions of interest (EoIs) from early career researchers wishing to undertake a British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship at the School.
Prospective candidates must submit their initial proposals by 12 noon (UK time) on Tuesday 4 August 2026 to be considered for department sponsorship.
To be eligible for the scheme, applicants must be British citizens or EEA nationals (regardless of where they obtained their PhD), or researchers of any nationality who hold a doctorate from a UK university. Candidates must have completed their PhD viva voce between 1 April 2024 and 1 April 2027. Proposed research projects must fall directly within the fields of philosophy, history and philosophy of science, or theology and religious studies.
"We are fully committed to helping outstanding early career scholars shape their applications," says Professor Robert Williams, Director of Research and Innovation at PRHS. "Those with accepted expressions of interest will receive dedicated mentoring and structured support throughout August and September to refine their proposals using our unique and proven application model."
The School also advises that candidates planning to apply for a Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship in February are normally expected to also apply for the British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship with PRHS during this autumn cycle.
How to Apply
To submit an expression of interest, please email PRHSMass@leeds.ac.uk no later than 12 noon on Tuesday 4 August 2026. Your email must include:
- A statement of eligibility
- A detailed CV
- A research proposal (maximum of 2 pages) outlining the planned research programme, its scholarly importance, and its originality
- A named mentor from the PRHS academic staff
Successful applicants must be prepared to submit a full draft of their application for internal School review by Friday 18 September 2026, ahead of the final scheme deadline on Wednesday 30 September 2026.
For further details on the structure and content of the application, please visit the British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowships scheme page. For any specific inquiries, contact Robert Williams at j.r.g.williams@leeds.ac.uk
