Past & Present Fellowships at the London Institute of Historical Research

The Past & Present Society and the Institute of Historical Research will offer up to three two-year postdoctoral Visiting Fellowships in History for 2024-26, tenable at the Institute from 1 October 2024. Preference will be given to applicants who demonstrate a broad interest in processes of social, economic, political, and cultural change, as manifested in their field of study. The Society wishes to promote work of a kind that might be published in the journal Past & Present and its book series, which is published by the Oxford University Press.

ELIGIBILITY

The Fellowships will be awarded to postdoctoral applicants who have completed a doctoral degree in history in the 18 months prior to the submission deadline for this application, or who will have submitted their thesis for examination by 1 October in the academic year in which the Fellowship is to be held. It is a strict condition of the Fellowship that the thesis should have been submitted by that date. Applicants may be of any nationality, and their PhD (or equivalent) may have been awarded in any country. Those who have previously held another stipendiary postdoctoral research fellowship of 12 months or more, with a salary or stipend attached to it, or a full-time lectureship, will not be eligible. The Fellowship cannot be held in conjunction with any other substantial maintenance grant, nor can it be used to fund a sabbatical year for the holder of a permanent academic position.

A condition of the award is that Fellows should undertake further historical research and writing. The Fellowships are envisaged as an opportunity for Fellows to develop their doctoral research for publication and/or to work on a postdoctoral project; applicants should clearly indicate their plans in both respects. Fellows will be encouraged to submit their articles or books to the editors of Past & Present for consideration. Fellows will also be asked to contribute to the journal in other ways too: either as a ‘virtual issue’, a ‘conversation’, a ‘viewpoint’ or some other format, either online or in print, or both. If an event (e.g., workshop or seminar) would help to create such contributions then some modest financial assistance will be made available. For the duration of the award, Fellows will become  Members of the Past and Present Board. They will be expected to attend up to three Board meetings per year and contribute as other Board members do: e.g., commenting on the current policies and future direction of the journal; suggesting areas of expertise and debate to encourage submissions. Fellows will also be expected to make a brief presentation on their research to the Board at some point during the award. (Travel expenses associated with attending board meetings will be paid). Additional duties, such as mentoring MA students supported by the Society, might also be expected where appropriate.

Fellows will be required to be based at the IHR in London, and participate in the activities of the Institute, by regular attendance at and presentation of papers to appropriate seminars – including the Fellows’ Seminar - and by giving information and help to fellow scholars working in the same field. Fellows are expected to develop their own ideas for collaborative activities while at the Institute and some limited funds will be available to help support these activities.

At the discretion of the Director of the Institute, Fellows may engage in teaching or other paid work for up to six hours a week (note however that some categories of non-national may need to obtain a work permit to undertake this).

Applicants should note that the fellowship does not constitute employment of the University of London. 

STIPENDS

The Fellowship stipend will be based on salary scales for the coming year (approximately £40,014 per annum). It will be payable in eight instalments over two years, through the Institute. 

The Society will, during the period of the Fellowship, be prepared to consider applications for help with the expenses of attending conferences, up to a maximum of £1,000 per annum. Fellows who would like to organise conferences may apply to the Society and be judged in competition with other applicants for such funding (the Society allocates up to £5000 in total at each Board meeting). Fellows are encouraged also to apply for other funding to cover costs of this kind, eg from the IHR or Royal Historical Society.

An additional discretionary fund will be available for Fellows to apply to for some support in the event of illness, or caring responsibilities.

MENTORING

The Society will appoint a member of the Board to serve as mentor for each fellow. The mentor should be available to offer occasional advice, insofar as their own circumstances and networks permit.
 

VISAS

Fellows, if they do not already have the right to reside in the UK, will require a visa, and must ascertain what category of visa is most suitable for them.  The University of London is licensed to issue sponsorship certificates for Tier 5 visas. If Fellows need to enter the UK under a Tier 5 visa, they should apply for a sponsorship certificate through the IHR Fellowship Office, which they can then use in their visa application to the Home Office. Further details of visa categories can be found at http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visitingtheuk/

THE SCHOOL OF ADVANCED STUDY

Applicants are strongly advised to investigate the resources that are available to them within the University of London, and particularly at the School of Advanced Study, to which the IHR belongs. Details can be found atwww.lon.ac.ukandwww.sas.ac.uk

REPORTING

Fellows will be expected to submit an annual report on their activities to the Institute. Within three months of the end of the Fellowship period (i.e., before 1 January 2026), each Fellow will send to the Institute of Historical Research (by email) a written report on the Fellowship experience, detailing the activities undertaken during the period of his/her Fellowship and an outline of future career plans.

SELECTION POLICIES

A committee of senior historians will draw up a short-list of interview candidates from eligible applicants. The committee will assess the quality of applications with reference to the following criteria:

• The academic record of the candidate as exhibited by CV and references;
• The quality of the submitted written work;
• The importance of the proposed research to the applicant’s field and its prospects for publication in a leading academic journal or monograph series;
• The prospects for completing research within the time projected and funds awarded;
• All other considerations being equal, the candidate’s likely contribution to the academic life of the IHR.

APPLICATION CONTENTS

As well as completing the ‘Personal Details,’ ‘Education’ and ‘Referees’ sections of the online form, applicants should also upload the following four documents:

• A one-page CV, listing any educational details, publications, research papers and other relevant academic information not submitted elsewhere in the application.
• A summary of the doctoral thesis (no more than 750 words).Your name and page numbers must be included on all pages.
• A postdoctoral research proposal with timetable for completion (no more than 1,000 words).Your name and page numbers must be included on all pages.
• A sample of the applicant’s written work, in English (no more than 12,000 words, including notes). This is often a thesis chapter or journal article.Your name and page numbers must be included on all pages.