Research Fellowship Opportunity in the UK with Funding of up to GBP 120,000

The British Academy offers the Innovation Fellowships 2026–27 – Route B: Policy-led to support researchers in the humanities and social sciences in working with public policy institutions in the United Kingdom on social and policy challenges that require innovative solutions.

The fellowship enables researchers to build partnerships beyond academia and apply research knowledge to issues related to public policy, digital society, and resilient communities.

Available Fields and Themes

The fellowship focuses on two main tracks:

First: Resilient Communities

1. Assessing and mapping cultural infrastructure.
2. Understanding access to justice for individuals and families.
3. Applying frameworks to evaluate community infrastructure.
4. Studying the role of social and cultural infrastructure in strengthening community resilience and emergency preparedness.

Second: Digital Society

1. Consumer protection, innovation, and regulation in a data- and AI-driven economy.
2. Developing AI skills with a focus on place and people to achieve growth and opportunities.

1. Funding of up to GBP 120,000.
2. Fellowship duration of 12 months.
3. An opportunity to work with a public policy partner organization in the United Kingdom.
4. Suitable for early-career and mid-career researchers.
5. Focuses on the humanities and social sciences and the application of research to practical issues.
6. Helps researchers develop their skills in policy impact, knowledge exchange, and building partnerships beyond the university.
7. The fellowship must start between March 1 and March 31, 2027.

Partner Organizations in This Round

Applicants must choose to work with one of the partner organizations under the available tracks, including:

1. Department for Culture, Media and Sport – DCMS.
2. Ministry of Justice – MoJ.
3. Local Policy Innovation Partnerships Hub – City-REDI, University of Birmingham.
4. Government Office for Science – GO Science.
5. Digital Regulatory Cooperation Forum – DRCF.
6. Department for Work and Pensions – DWP.

• The applicant must be an early-career or mid-career researcher.
• The applicant must normally be resident in the United Kingdom.
• The applicant must hold a long-term appointment at a higher education institution or independent research organization in the United Kingdom.
• The applicant’s employment appointment must continue for at least the full duration of the fellowship.
• The applicant must be a researcher in the humanities and social sciences.
• The applicant must commit between 0.4 and 0.8 full-time equivalent (FTE) to work on the fellowship.
• Applicants should note that independent researchers who are not employed by an eligible university or research institution are not eligible to apply.