British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship

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BRITISH ACADEMY POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITIES HOSTED BY THE FACULTY OF MUSIC, UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE

The British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowships scheme (3 years) will soon open, with a national deadline of 1 October 2025:

https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/funding/postdoctoral-fellowships/

If you would like to apply through the University of Cambridge, please submit a draft application to the Faculty of Music by WEDNESDAY 6 AUGUST 2025. Applications will initially be scrutinised by the Faculty, but the final decision as to whether we can host your application will be made at University level. We hope to send you news by mid-September. If you are successful in the University competitions, we shall ask you to commit to applying through Cambridge alone, and we will work with you to refine your application for the national deadline.

The documentation we require for British Academy applications falls into two parts: 

i) A short-form application for the University's evaluation process

This should be a document containing your name, the title of your proposed research project, name of proposed mentor and a research project description (maximum 750 words), addressing the following:

  • the research problem you are seeking to address, and why it is distinctive;
  • the design and methodology through which your project will address this problem;
  • how your proposed research will significantly change the established landscape;
  • how you will complete your project within the three-year period of the award;
  • why Cambridge is the right place to carry out the project.

ii) a draft application consisting of the following:

  • an academic CV;
  • a summary of your doctoral or other previous research in about 500 words;
  • a research proposal of about 1500 words, structured as shown below.

These documents should be supplied as one .pdf document, emailed to the Faculty Manager (facultymanager@mus.cam.ac.uk) by WEDNESDAY 6 AUGUST 2025. You may also use this address for any general queries. In advance of the deadline you are advised to contact a potential mentor within the Faculty to discuss your application.

Unless candidates reach the second round of the national competition, the British Academy allows applicants to make only one application during their period of eligibility. We would generally recommend applying in this round only if you will have passed your viva by September 2025; this is in part because in most cases the best informed referees will be your examiners (supervisors are not permitted to act as referees).

STRUCTURE FOR RESEARCH PROPOSALS:

  • Title of proposed research
  • Abstract for proposed research (about 200 words)
  • Name of preferred mentor: Please indicate your preferred mentor, and state whether you have contacted them and/or whether they have agreed in principle.
  • Proposed programme: Please give a detailed description of the proposed research, including methodology. Assessors look in particular for evidence of originality and preparedness, and of achievability within the timescale.
  • Planned research outputs: As appropriate, please state briefly as follows: monograph, journal article(s), book chapter(s), digital resources, conference, other (please specify).
  • Plan of action: Please indicate here the intended timetable for your research programme over the three years of the Fellowship. Research projects change over time, but your chances of award will be affected by the assessors' perception of how viable and realistic this plan is.
  • Plans for publication / dissemination: Please state in more detail here what plans you have for publication or other dissemination of your research, including specific potential publishers, journals, conferences etc. that are appropriate for your research subject.