Postdoctoral Research Funding

Post-Doctoral Fellowships and Research: Application Guidelines

The Classics Faculty welcomes enquiries from potential applicants for a range of post-doctoral programmes including: British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowships; ERC Starter Grants; Leverhulme Early Career Fellowships; Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships; and Wellcome Trust Research Fellowships. We are keen to support high quality applications that intersect with research already being undertaken or developed in the Faculty. A guide summarising the various schemes is available here. 

Links to the relevant website, current, and past deadlines are listed below. Past deadlines show roughly when the next deadline for the programme is likely to be, but do check the website for details.

British Academy International Fellowships 2026 - now closed for applications

The BAIF are 2-year awards intended for non-UK researchers with no more than five years active full-time postdoctoral experience at the time of application who wish to conduct research in the UK. For those applying without a PhD, all requirements for the PhD must have been completed (including viva) before the fellowship starts. The aim of programme is to attract and retain emerging international early career talent in the UK and build a globally connected, mobile research and innovation workforce.  

More information and eligibility requirements can be found on the scheme website; the 2026 scheme will open in January.

Internal deadline for applications: 26 January 2026

The applications to the Faculty should include:

  • CV (2 pages maximum) and list of publications 
  • A draft application including the following sections:
    •  Reasons for Selecting Cambridge University and the Faculty of Classics (including the name of Host/Sponsor and confirmation that they have agreed to this role)
    • Research Project Title & Proposal (Maximum 1500 words)
    • Training Programme (Maximum 500 words) - outline how the host organisation will support the career development of the applicant through training and mentoring activities.
    • Benefits to Individuals/Institution (Maximum 200 words) - describe the planned outcomes and any potential benefits that will result from the proposed collaboration for you, the UK Sponsor, and the respective organisations.

Applications submitted to the Faculty by 26 January 2026 will undergo internal scrutiny and selected applications will be supported to full submission.The outcome of the internal scrutiny will be communicated to all applicants by mid-February and thefinal deadline for applications submitted to the Funder is 11 March 2026.  

British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowships 2027 (BA portal opens 1 July 2026)

The Faculty of Classics invites applications for the British Academy’s Postdoctoral Fellowship scheme. The scheme funds three years of research on a topic of the applicant’s choice, hosted by a UK higher education institution. To determine if you are eligible to apply, please refer to the guidance notes on the British Academy website. Applications should be submitted by email to the Classics Research Officer by 17 July2026. The School of Arts and Humanities is holding an online information session for applicants on Wednesday 15 July at 10 - 11.30 am ; you can register to attend here

You should contact an appropriate member of the Faculty to act as mentor and to help you develop your application (for a staff list see here).

The applications to the Faculty should include:

  • selection form
  • CV (2 pages maximum) and list of publications NB: DORA principles should be considered when presenting research outputs.
  • one reference from a self-nominated referee, according to the BA guidance

 Please contact the Classics Research Officer if you have any questions on this scheme.

Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Fellowships 2026

The Faculty invites expressions of interest for postdoctoral MSCA Fellowships. Potential applicants are invited to submit the following documents for initial consideration by 31st July 2026:

  • a CV
  • an outline proposal (max 2 pages) 
  • confirmation of your potential supervisor (describing your contact with them) and a brief (max 300 words) description of potential training activities and two-way transfer of knowledge between the researcher and host organisation (Part B-1, section 1.3 of the application)

A list of potential supervisors in the Faculty may be found here. For more information about registering an expression of interest and submitting a proposal please be in touch with the Classics Research Officer.

Further information on the scheme is available here.

Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship Scheme 2025 (now closed)

The Faculty invites applications from researchers to the above fellowship scheme by 31 October 2025

Matched funding for the scheme at Cambridge is provided by the Isaac Newton Trust. There is a pre-selection competition for candidates intending to apply for the Leverhulme Trust awards, which takes place in advance of the Newton Trust's deadline (normally mid-November). The Faculty of Classics may submit up to 2 applications to the Isaac Newton Trust matching funding competition.

Applicants should identify 2 referees (at least one of which must be external to Cambridge) who would be prepared to provide a reference.

Applicants are advised to refer to the Leverhulme Trust website details about the Scheme, and to check that they meet the eligibility conditions before submitting expressions of interest to the Faculty of Classics. See https://www.leverhulme.ac.uk/early-career-fellowships

An application for the internal competition consists of:

-  a completed INT Internal Competition cover sheet (this can be found on the following webpage: https://www.newtontrust.cam.ac.uk/ECFs


- a brief c.v. (not exceeding two sides), and
- a draft of the three items required for the Leverhulme application:

  1. a list of your major publications (maximum one side)
  2. a statement of your current research (maximum 250 words) and
  3. a detailed statement of your proposed research (maximum two sides).

- two letters of reference (one should come from outside Cambridge). Note that the national stage of the Leverhulme competition requires a third reference as well, but this is not necessary for the internal INT competition.

Applicants should submit their documentation to the Research Officer by 31 October 2025.

Contacts

Faculty Research Officer:research.officer@classics.cam.ac.uk

School Research Office:http://www.ahssresearch.group.cam.ac.uk/