Postdoctoral Fellowships in the Arts and Humanities

The Faculty of Arts and Humanities is keen to recruit the highest calibre postdoctoral researchers, supporting candidates via a number of externally funded research fellowship schemes and enabling them to become the research leaders of the future.

Introduction to Postdoctoral Fellowship opportunities

The Faculty of Arts and Humanities supports applications for postdoctoral fellowships in the following departments and schools:

We welcome Fellowship candidates from the UK and overseas. The University of Sheffield provides a highly supportive environment in which to develop your career, hosting Fellows at all stages of their career.

Live Postdoctoral Fellowship Schemes

Leverhulme Early Career Fellowships

Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellowships (ECFs) aim to provide career development opportunities for those who are at a relatively early stage of their academic careers, but who have a proven record of research. These three-year Fellowships provide an exceptional opportunity to develop as an independent researcher, and will have a significant impact on future career trajectory. The expectation is that Fellows should undertake a significant piece of publishable work during their tenure, and the project put forward should therefore not be a reworking or mere extension of the candidate’s doctoral research project.

Approximately 145 Fellowships will be available through the Leverhulme Trust in 2026/27
The Leverhulme Trust will contribute 100% of the Fellow’s total salary costs (including National Insurance, superannuation and London allowance, where applicable) up to a maximum of £56,000 in year one of the award. The Trust will then contribute 50% of the Fellow’s total salary costs up to a maximum of £28,000 in years two and three, and the balance is to be paid by the host university.
The Faculty of Arts and Humanities is able to support 3 candidates to submit their applications to the Leverhulme Trust in 2027
Applications will be accepted in the following Schools (1 candidate will be selected for each School):
- English
- History, Philosophy, and Digital Humanities (HPDH) Please note that the process for HPDH is slightly different and can be found here.
- Law

Please note that the School of Languages, Arts & Societies is NOT accepting applications for this upcoming round

We are seeking outstanding applicants for the Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship scheme for 2027, who can build on School strengths and capacity in line with School research strategies. If you are interested in applying, you must first check that you meet the Leverhulme Trust's eligibility criteria. These can be found here.

PLEASE NOTE THAT, IN ORDER TO PROCEED WITH SUBMITTING AN EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FOR THE 2027 ROUND, YOU MUST HAVE CONTACTED THE RELEVANT SCHOOL TO NOTIFY THEM OF YOUR INTENT TO APPLY BY FRIDAY 30 OCTOBER 2026.

For applicants who have already notified the School of their intent to apply, you will need to provide a short CV (2 pages maximum) and an expression of interest form (template here), or any other documentation the department/school requires no later than Friday 20 November 2026.

The Faculty of Arts and Humanities

The Faculty of Arts and Humanities is among the best in the country in terms of its research and teaching. As confirmed by REF 2021, the Faculty boasts a particularly strong record of research projects and publications, supported by a flourishing research environment, including state-of-the-art-facilities and a long track record of successful knowledge exchange activities. Our scholarship and research, conducted individually and collaboratively, make a vibrant intellectual environment within our university. We work with partners and organisations across and outside the University through our impact and public engagement strategy to share our knowledge and advance our exploration of the study of humanity.

Further information about the Faculty is available from http://www.shef.ac.uk/faculty/arts-and-humanities/

Schools

3 of our Schools (as below) are currently inviting expressions of interest from potential applicants who wish to be considered for support in applying to the Leverhulme Trust ECF.

The School of English Contact to send Expression of Interest: Dr Maddy Callaghan (m.callaghan@sheffield.ac.uk)
The School of History, Philosophy & Digital Humanities Contact to send Expression of Interest: Prof. Lizzy Craig-Atkins (e.craig-atkins@sheffield.ac.uk) Please note that the process for HPDH is slightly different and can be found here.
The School of Law Contact to send Expression of Interest: law-operations@sheffield.ac.uk

Faculty Institutes and Research Centres

The Faculty is also host to Research Centres & Institutes, including the Digital Humanities Institute, the UK's leading centre for the application of technology and computation in arts and humanities research.

If you wish to affiliate with one of these Institutes or Centres, you need to apply through the School which is most relevant to your research interests.

Deadlines

By Friday 30th October 2026	Get in touch with your host school to assess alignment and hold initial discussions.
Friday 20th November 2026	Closing date for expressions of interest and CVs to schools.
20th November - 7th December 2026	Schools will undertake their review of applications during this time and inform all candidates of the outcome of the decision during this period.
8th December 2026	The selected candidates will be invited to work on their final proposals for submission to the Leverhulme Trust with support from the school and Faculty. Selected candidates will work with a mentor to finalise the proposal.
Tuesday 5th January 2027	Deadline for drafts for Faculty Peer Review panel
Mid-January 2027	Faculty Review panel meeting. The panel will assess the selected proposal from each School and make a final decision on which candidates should be selected to proceed with full submission to the Leverhulme Trust, taking into account scheme criteria and fit to School and Faculty strategy. In the event that the panel has reservations regarding the quality and/or strategic fit of a fellowship application, the draft proposal will be referred to the faculty Director of Research & Innovation (FDRI) to make a final assessment. Selected candidates will be provided with thorough feedback and recommendations on their draft proposal
Ec 25th January 2027	Feedback from Faculty Peer Review panel
Thursday 11th February 2027	University DEADLINE for submitting internal costing (meaning no changes can be made to the budget from this date)
Monday 15th February 2027 (by 9:00am)	University DEADLINE for completion of final applications through the Leverhulme Trust Grant Application System (meaning no changes can be made to the full application from this date)

Expression of interest

Please use the attached expression of interest form, and forward this and a CV to the appropriate School contact, above. Please note that the process and forms for History, Philosophy & DHI are slightly different and can be found here.

Selection criteria

The Faculty review panel will use the following criteria in line with Leverhulme's approach to grant-making (further guidance can be found at http://leverhulme.ac.uk/funding/approach.cfm):

Originality—the research achieves more than the incremental development of a single discipline
Importance—the work will enable further research or enquiry
Significance—the proposed research has relevance outside a single field, and is able to excite those working in other disciplines
Merit—the quality of the research design and methodology, and the suitability of the researchers and institution for the realisation of the proposed research objectives
Does the application reflect an individual’s personal vision, aspiration, or intellectual curiosity?
Does the applicant take appropriate risks in setting and pursuing research objectives?
Will it enable a refreshing departure from established patterns of working – either for the individual, or for the discipline?
Does the project transcend disciplinary boundaries?
Has the applicant gained experience at different institutions?

For more information about the Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship scheme see: https://www.leverhulme.ac.uk/early-career-fellowships

Wellcome Trust Early Career Awards

There are deadlines throughout the year for this scheme, usually in February, May and October.

Scheme details

The Wellcome Trust Early Career Award scheme provides funding for early-career researchers who are ready to develop their research identity. Through innovative projects, you will deliver shifts in understanding that could improve human life, health and wellbeing. By the end of the award, you will be ready to lead your own independent research programme.

Eligibility: You can apply to this scheme if you are an early-career researcher and you are ready to design, plan and deliver your own innovative research project. You will have completed a PhD (for example, in the life sciences) or an equivalent higher research degree. You may also have some postdoctoral experience in your proposed field of study, but generally no more than three years. Please visit the scheme website for further eligibility criteria.

Funding available: Your salary and up to £400,000 for research expenses for a period of up to 5 years.

What are research fellowships and why should I apply for one?

Whilst research grants tend to focus primarily on funding a research project, fellowships tend to focus more on the individual and provide a large amount of dedicated time to focus on individual research.
An early career fellowship is a great route into a research career. Winning a fellowship is a way to proactively create a job for yourself without relying on the academic job market.
Fellowships allow you to pursue your own research agenda, gain valuable experience, build your CV to put you in a strong position to apply for permanent posts.
Fellowships are usually 'responsive mode', which means that the applicant decides the research topic (as long as it is within the funder’s remit). Early career fellowships usually operate on an annual funding cycle, with call deadlines at the same time each year. You apply with the support of the 'host' institution, and will usually work closely with an academic mentor or supervisor, both on your application and throughout the lifetime of your project.

Learn more about working and living in Sheffield, as a city. There are also benefits of working at the University of Sheffield.

Hear from our Postdoctoral Fellows

Video of Dr Claire Burridge discussing her Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellowship.

Video of Dr Dominic O'Key discussing his Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellowship.

Fellowship schemes

Please get in touch with the Arts Research Hub at artsresearchhub@sheffield.ac.uk if you would like to apply to a scheme through the University of Sheffield. Ideally, you will aim to do so within 3 months of the funder deadline.

British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowships

The Faculty of Arts and Humanities welcomes applications for the current round of the British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowships scheme. The internal process for the 2026/27 round is currently closed but will reopen in the summer of 2027. Applicants with a proven track record of research and high quality research proposals will be supported on the basis of their fit with both the British Academy’s expectations and Departmental and Faculty strategic priorities.

The Faculty of Arts and Humanities supports applications for this scheme in the following areas via the following Schools.

The British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship offers outstanding early career researchers the opportunity to strengthen their experience of research and teaching in an academic environment. This scheme aims to help develop the award holder’s curriculum vitae and boost their prospects of obtaining a permanent academic post. The primary emphasis is on the completion of a significant piece of publishable research, and the integration of the award holder into the community of established scholars within their field.

For the full eligibility criteria, please see this page. It is your responsibility to confirm your eligibility.

To find a potential mentor, please consult the relevant staff pages of the University of Sheffield website and use the contact details there. The links to the school pages are at the beginning of the document.

If you have secured a mentor, please email the Arts Research Hub (artsresearchhub@sheffield.ac.uk) to confirm your intention to apply. You will then receive an information pack to help you with your application.

British Academy International Fellowships

Our internal application process for the 2026 Fellowships is currently closed but this scheme runs on an annual basis. Information to follow for the next round of 2027 Fellowships in late 2026.

The BA International Fellowship scheme enables researchers to work for two years (as opposed to the former three years) at a UK institution with the aim of:

Attracting talented international early career researchers to establish and conduct their research in the UK; Supporting early career researchers to pursue high-quality and innovative lines of research; Providing opportunities to acquire and transfer new skills and knowledge through training and career development; Fostering long-term relationships through networking opportunities and the International Fellowships alumni programme.

Up to £12,000 for research expenses.

Up to £8,000 for relocation expenses.

Note - Consumables may not be used to pay for: publication costs; salary costs or other costs of research staff/assistants; open access fees; and computer hardware including laptops .A maximum total of 1 month of research undertaken outside the UK is permitted over the course of the fellowship.

Duration: 2 years

Eligibility: Applicants must have a PhD or be in the final stages of their PhD, to be completed before the start date of the Fellowship. Applicants should have no more than 7 years of active full-time postdoctoral experience, and should be working outside the UK at the time of application. Finally, they should not hold UK citizenship. Please visit the scheme website for further eligibility criteria.

Funding available: Award-holders will be classified as salaried employees. This will be funded at 80% of the full Economic Cost, meaning a contribution towards overheads costs.

British Academy Visiting Fellowship

This call is currently closed.

The British Academy’s Visiting Fellowships programme provides outstanding academics based in any country overseas with the opportunity to be based at a UK higher education institution. The programme is open to academics at any career stage, and in any discipline within the humanities and social sciences.

Eligibility: Visiting Fellows must be of postdoctoral level or above, or have equivalent research experience at the time of application. Candidates should be based outside of the UK at the time of application. Applicants may be on permanent or fixed-term contracts. Fixed-term contracts must not end before the end date of the Visiting Fellowship. Independent scholars are also welcome to apply.

For more details about the Visiting Fellowship programme, including eligibility requirements, please see the scheme notes.

Scheme details

enhance and build new links between scholars from around the globe and in the UK;
foster opportunities and encourage the development of new and future partnerships for collaborative research into the humanities and social sciences;
enable academics from across the globe to undertake research and/or professional development with UK colleagues;
strengthen the UK’s research bases in the humanities and the social sciences.

MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships

The Faculty of Arts and Humanities welcomes applications for the current round of the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships scheme. The internal process for the 2026 round is currently closed but will reopen in spring 2027. MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships are open to all academic disciplines and areas of research, from fundamental research to market take-up and innovation services.

Postdoctoral Fellowships can either take place in Europe (i.e. in an EU Member State or a Horizon Europe Associated Country, known as European Postdoctoral Fellowship) or in a Third Country not associated to Horizon Europe (Global Postdoctoral Fellowship). Interested researchers submit an application together with a host organisation, which can be a university, research institution, business, SME or other organisation based in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country. All disciplines are eligible for Postdoctoral Fellowships, including research areas covered by the Euratom Research and Training Programme.

Types of Postdoctoral Fellowship

European Postdoctoral Fellowships. These are open to researchers moving within Europe or coming to Europe from another part of the world to pursue their research career. These fellowships take place in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country and can last between 1 and 2 years. Researchers of any nationality can apply.

Global Postdoctoral Fellowships. These fund the mobility of researchers outside Europe. The fellowship lasts between 2 to 3 years, of which the first 1 to 2 years will be spent in a non-associated Third Country, followed by a mandatory return phase of 1 year to an organisation based in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country. Only nationals or long-term residents of the EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries can apply.

Secondments
Both types of fellowships may also include short-term secondments anywhere in the world during the fellowship (except during the return phase of a Global Fellowship). This placement is for up to 6 months in a non-academic organisation based in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country and must take place at the end of their fellowship.

Eligibility

Time post PhD: Applicants should have a PhD degree at the time of the deadline for applications. Applicants who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but who have not yet formally been awarded the doctoral degree will also be considered as postdoctoral researchers and will be eligible to apply. Applicants must have a maximum of 8 years full time equivalent experience in research, measured from the date of award of the doctoral degree. Years of experience outside research and career breaks (e.g. due to parental leave), will not count towards the amount of research experience. See full eligibility criteria.

Mobility rule: Applicants must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the beneficiary (host institution) (for European Postdoctoral Fellowships), or the host organisation for the outgoing phase (for Global Postdoctoral Fellowships) for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the call deadline..

Funding available

The Fellowship provides funding for the researcher in the form of a living allowance, a mobility allowance, and, where applicable, family, long-term leave and special needs allowances. In addition, funding is provided for research, training and networking costs as well as management and indirect costs.

Faculty of Arts and Humanities