Deadline for Expressions of Interest: 16 July 2026
Funder's Deadline: 30 September 2026
The Department of Sociology invites Expressions of Interest from early career researchers wishing to apply for the British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowships 2026–27 with Oxford Sociology as their host department.
The British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship is a highly competitive scheme for early career researchers in the humanities and social sciences. It provides three years of funding to enable researchers within three years of completing their PhD to undertake an independent research project, with a primary focus on producing a significant piece of publishable research.
Applicants wishing to apply through Oxford Sociology must first secure the support of a member of the Faculty, who will act as their mentor/supervisor. The mentor should be closely involved in developing the application and, if the Fellowship is awarded, will support the Fellow in planning and monitoring the project, career development, and building capacity as an independent scholar.
Eligibility Criteria
- Be working within the humanities or social sciences.
- Be within the eligible postdoctoral window for the scheme.
- Not hold, or have previously held, a permanent university post.
- Meet the British Academy’s nationality and association requirements. British citizens and nationals from the EEA are eligible regardless of where their doctorate was obtained. Applicants of any nationality who hold a doctorate from a UK university are also eligible. Other applicants may be eligible if they can demonstrate a strong prior association with the UK academic community.
- Be of postdoctoral status by the time the British Academy Research Awards Committee meets. Applicants expecting to have their viva between 1 April 2024 and 1 April 2027 are eligible for consideration but must withdraw if the examination is not completed in time.
Further details on the scheme and full eligibility criteria are available on the British Academy website.
Application Process
The Department will first assess Expressions of Interest. Selected applicants will then work with Oxford Sociology to develop an outline-stage application for submission to the British Academy.
The British Academy application process has two stages:
- Outline stage – deadline 30 September 2026
- Second stage – by invitation only, in early 2027
Successful applicants are expected to begin their fellowship in Autumn 2027.
How to Apply
Applicants wishing to be considered by Oxford Sociology should submit the following to research@sociology.ox.ac.uk:
- Completed application form
- Project outline, maximum 2 pages
- Academic CV, maximum 2 pages
- Statement of support from the proposed mentor, maximum 1 page
The mentor statement should include:
- A statement of support for the proposal, including its quality, feasibility, and expected research outcomes.
- A brief comment on the fit between the applicant’s proposed research and the research interests of the Faculty.
- Details of the proposed mentoring arrangements.
The call for EOI applications with the Department of Sociology closes at 5pm on 16 July 2026.
Applicants selected through the departmental EOI process will be contacted in late July. For questions, please contact research@sociology.ox.ac.uk.
