IASH-SSPS Research Fellowships

The IASH-SSPS Research Fellowships are intended to encourage outstanding interdisciplinary research, international scholarly collaboration, and networking activities of visiting Research Fellows together with academics in the School of Social and Political Science (SSPS). Fellows will be expected to work in collaboration with one or more members of SSPS academic staff, and to take an active part in IASH interdisciplinary events. For 2025-26, we especially welcome applications that contribute to our research theme, Making A Nation.

The Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities is housed in a nineteenth-century courtyard close to the University Library and about 30 scholars are in residence at any time. Fellows are allocated a private office in the Institute with all the usual research facilities. During the course of their stay in Edinburgh, IASH-SSPS Research Fellows will be expected to make two seminar presentations on their research – one at IASH and one in SSPS – and to take part in IASH work-in-progress sessions and relevant workshops and seminars in SSPS.

Expected outcomes from Research Fellowships will be joint publications, and/or joint applications for research funding, and/or a collaborative research seminar series or workshop event involving their SSPS academic partner. Funds are available in support of travel and accommodation costs at between £1,300 and £3,900.

Application procedure

Closing date

Applications for the 2025-26 round will open on 8 January 2025, and close at 17:00 UK time on 28 February 2025.

Applications received after that date will not be considered. Successful candidates will be notified by email with a formal letter of confirmation to follow; please ensure that you supply a valid email address so that you can be contacted quickly after decisions are made in April.

The application form

The application portal will open in January 2025.

Supporting statements

• A minimum of two and a maximum of three supporting statements are required.
• One of the supporting statements must be from the member of SSPS staff with whom the applicant wishes to collaborate.
• Applicants should ask their referees to write in confidence directly to the Institute Director at iash@ed.ac.uk by the closing date.
• Referees should comment on the nature and quality of the research proposal, as well as on the qualifications of the applicant.

Notes for guidance

• Candidates for Fellowships will hold a doctorate or equivalent professional qualification. Consideration will be given to the academic record and the publications of all applicants and their capacity to disseminate their views among a community of like-minded people.
• Candidates will be expected to have been in communication with the member of SSPS staff with whom they intend to collaborate before applying, and to name the SSPS collaborator/mentor in their application. The collaborator should also provide one of the necessary supporting statements for the Fellowship.
• Fellows are expected to be resident in Edinburgh throughout the tenure of their Fellowship and to play a full part in the activities of IASH and SSPS. The Institute may be able to help with finding suitable accommodation in Edinburgh. These fellowships are usually for a duration of one semester (3-4 months), and not less than 2 months, and are usually funded at approximately £1,300-£3,900 as a contribution towards additional living costs, and/or travel grants of up to £500. Applications for less than two months will not be considered.
• No regular teaching is required, but Fellows are expected to become involved in the School and contribute through the provision of a workshop, seminar or online learning resources such as a series of blog posts. Fellows will give at least one seminar at IASH and one seminar / workshop in SSPS on their current research work.
• The Institute is close to the University Library and within easy reach of the National Library of Scotland, the Central City Library, the National Galleries and Museums, the Library of the Society of Antiquaries in Scotland, the library of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, and the National Archives of Scotland. Access to both the extensive archival and online resources of all of these collections can be arranged for Fellows as appropriate.
• Only fully completed applications will be considered. It is the responsibility of each applicant to ensure that all documentation is complete, and that referees submit their reports to the Institute by the closing date.
• The selection of Fellows will be made once a year by an SSPS-IASH Visiting Fellows Committee, comprising a representative from the SSPS School Office or the SSPS Research Directorate, and the Director of IASH or delegate.