Postdoctoral Research Opportunities

There are several opportunities for postdoctoral researchers to join the Department. Below is information about some of the main routes for postdoc fellowships, although there are many alternative sources of funding so get in touch if you are considering making an application. 

British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship

The British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship is a three-year award made to an annual cohort of outstanding early career researchers in the humanities or social sciences. 

The Academy’s webpage British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowships provides full details of the scheme and eligibility requirements. During their tenure, British Academy Postdoctoral Fellows are expected to complete a significant piece of publishable research. 

Internal deadline: Friday 31 July 2026

We invite outline applications by the end of July using this form:

Prospective applicants should engage with their proposed mentor and the Research Director, Professor Bob Mills, about their proposal at the earliest possible opportunity. They should submit a copy of the outline proposal to the Departmental Manager, Eleanor Day, using the form above, by the internal deadline, Friday 31 July. 

Outline applications will be reviewed by a Departmental panel and those selected to proceed will be given support to refine their proposal and prepare a full application ahead of the Funder’s formal submission deadline in September.

Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellowships

The Leverhulme Early Career Fellowships are offered to early career researchers, with a research record but who have not yet held a full-time permanent academic post, to undertake a significant piece of publishable work.

Internal deadline: Friday 2 October 2026

We invite outline applications by early October using this form:

Prospective applicants should engage with their proposed mentor and the Research Director, Professor Bob Mills, about their proposal no later than the summer before the application deadline. Applications are triaged within UCL and there are several stages of selection before an application may be submitted to the Funder. Applicants should send a completed application form using the Word document above to the Departmental Manager, Eleanor Day,  by the internal deadline, Friday 2 October.

Applications will be reviewed by a Departmental panel and those selected to proceed to the next stage of the process will be given support to refine their application ahead of the UCL submission deadline in November.