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Please find answers to most questions we receive. If the information below does not answer your question please contact rebekah.seymour@ucl.ac.uk
The fellowship I am applying for needs a PhD but my viva is after the application deadline – can I still apply for the Special Collections Visiting Fellowship?
Candidates must hold a PhD by the time the fellowship begins in September/October 2025. For those who do not hold a PhD upon application, their reference must be provided by their PhD supervisor.
I am a UCL Student/member of staff – can I apply for the Liberating the Collections Fellowship?
Yes. The Liberating Fellowship is open to internal candidates too, including current UCL students.
Are digital collections included?
Yes, digital collections are included. These are, on the whole, digitised versions of items in our physical collections, so the application would need to specify whether the applicant would use the physical items or the digital surrogate.
Am I restricted to looking at one collection?
There is no need for proposals to consider collections as a whole; proposals can focus on a number of items in one collection, or indeed items from different collections, as long as they link clearly to the project proposal. The Special Collections Visiting Fellowship is restricted to collections managed by Special Collections. The Liberating the Collections Fellowships includes UCL’s Museum collections and material managed by Special Collections.
I have applied before and was unsuccessful, can I apply again?
Yes, you are welcome to make another, updated application.
How do I know if my interest area is relevant?
To get a general idea of whether we might have anything that is relevant please consult our webpages and catalogues before getting in touch to discuss your project ideas.
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/research-institute-collections/collections
Will I need a Visa to carry out my work?
Please consult the Government website checker here: https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa
A mandatory Right to Work check will be carried out by UCL HR before you can start your fellowship.
Will my proposal need to go through an ethics review? If so how long will this take?
If your proposal includes working with living subjects, we expect that your application form will include information as to the ethical processes you have undertaken. We reserve the right to undertake further, light-touch, ethical reviews of a successful proposal.
When and how will I receive the fellowship payment?
If the payment is being made to your institution, UCL will ask for an invoice and you will be paid that way. If the money is being paid directly to you, UCL HR will be in touch regarding right to work checks and setting you up on the payments system. We aim to complete the payment process by the end of July.
Do I have to send evidence of what the payment is being spent on?
No, you do not need to tell us what the payment is being spent on so long as the agreed outputs are completed.
What facilities are available for the successful applicants?
- Mediated access to the collections.
- Space in our reading rooms or museums
- A desk on the Bloomsbury campus.
- Access to specialist staff
- Access to IT systems and libraries at UCL, including borrowing rights if needed
Will I get feedback on my application?
Feedback will be provided to shortlisted candidates. We regret that, due to volume, we cannot usually provide detailed feedback other than this.
Can I ask about my proposal before I apply?
We are happy to discuss the eligibility and feasibility of your project before you apply, in terms of the required access to collections, facilities and resources, but we are unable to provide detailed advice on the content of applications.
I want to do a performance. What spaces can I use?
There are several performance spaces at UCL, but not all are managed by Museums and Special Collections. We will do our best to link you up with space providers depending on the nature of your project but cannot guarantee specific spaces. If your project is dependent on access to a performance space, please get in touch to discuss your project before submitting your application.
How do you store my personal details? How do I know they are secure?
All applications and personal details are stored securely and managed according to the UCL records retention schedule. Details are only kept as required in order to process your application and any feedback. UCL’s Privacy Notice can be found here.
Do I have to be onsite for the duration of the fellowship? / Can I complete my fellowship remotely?
We aim to be as flexible as possible around the dates and duration of the Fellowship, however these will need to be agreed in advance with the RIC Support Officer, as will any changes during the term of the Fellowship. Flexible, part-time and remote working are all possible. You will be expected to be at UCL at regular intervals throughout the period of the Fellowship, and to participate in the events programme of workshops, talks and lectures run by the Special Collections Department.