The Faculty is happy to host post-doctoral fellows who are applying for funding from a range of post doctoral fellowship schemes. Individuals should make contact with the Faculty at an early stage in their application process as there may be limits on applications for some schemes. A number of the more common schemes are listed below. Potential applicants should check the opportunities below, our vacancies page at the appropriate point or e-mail research.support@mod-langs.ox.ac.uk
Unfortunately, due to the high number of Expression of Interest applications, we cannot provide detailed individual feedback.
Opportunities:
British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowships: https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/funding/postdoctoral-fellowships/
The deadline for Expression of Interest applications for the 2026 application round has now closed. Expressions of interest for the 2027 round are likely to be sought in June 2027.]
British Academy International Fellowships: https://humanities.web.ox.ac.uk/british-academy-international-fellowships
The deadline for Expression of Interest applications for the 2027 round is 12 noon (UK time) 25 November 2026. Details on how to apply (and the Expression of interest form) can be found here: https://humanities.web.ox.ac.uk/british-academy-international-fellowships
Leverhulme Early Career Fellowships: https://www.leverhulme.ac.uk/early-career-fellowships
Leverhulme Early Career Fellowships are designed to support scholars at a relatively early stage of their academic careers (defined as having submitted their thesis for viva voce examination no more than 4 years prior to the closing date), but with a proven record of research. Fellowships are tenable for three years on a full-time basis. Further details about the scheme are available on the Leverhulme Trust website and about the process of applying through Oxford here.
The deadline for the Leverhulme scheme is 18 February 2027, but to enable the Faculty to select the candidates that it wishes to support, applicants must submit expressions of interest by emailing the below documents to the Faculty (research.support@mod-langs.ox.ac.uk ) by 12 noon (UK time) 25 November 2026.
Please ensure you meet the eligibility criteria for the Leverhulme scheme before applying.
Required documents (preferably attached to the same email as one pdf):
- a completed Expression of Interest form (.docx)
- a maximum 2-page Statement of Proposed Research (min Ariel 11pt, single spaced and 2cm margins): this should include aims, objectives, methodology and outcome (e.g. publication plans). The methodology should be clear and explicit, comprehensible to a non-expert. Include bibliographic references in full, including page numbers where relevant. (Candidates should not expect any input from their proposed mentors into their Statement of Proposed Research at this stage.)
- a maximum 2-page CV, including education, thesis title and examiners, any awards, and publications
- a Mentor Support Form (.docx), completed by your proposed mentor
Candidates may also choose to include a statement of any circumstances which have impacted on their research progress (for example, periods of illness, or maternity / paternity leave, etc).
Potential applicants must not open an application with the Leverhulme Trust until Faculty support for their candidacy is confirmed in writing.
Please note: The Leverhulme Trust panel that makes these awards encourages a change of institution for its award holders. Potential applicants with Oxford DPhils must therefore ensure that their draft statement of research makes a compelling case as to why they need to remain at Oxford to undertake postdoctoral work.
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Postdoctoral Fellows: https://marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu/actions/postdoctoral-fellowships
[The deadline for expressions of interest for the 2026/27 application round has now passed. Expression of interest for the 2027/28 application round are likely to be sought in April 2027.]
European Research Council Starting Grant: https://erc.europa.eu/apply-grant/starting-grant
[The deadline for expressions of interest for the 2026/27 application round has now passed. Expression of interest for the 2027/28 application round are likely to be sought in April 2027.]
Further information on early-career opportunities can also be found here: Early Career Opportunities | Humanities Division