Learned Societies Fellowships

The Bodleian Libraries are pleased to collaborate with learned societies to offer Visiting Fellowships in Special Collections for members of those societies. Please note that these applications are subject to different deadlines from the Bodleian Special Collections Fellowships. The applicant must be a member of the society in question to apply for these fellowships.

New Chaucer Society Early Career Fellowship at the Bodleian Library

In collaboration with the Bodleian Libraries, the New Chaucer Society supports one or two one-month (30-day) research visits by a member of the New Chaucer Society to the Special Collections of the Bodleian Library. Applications will be considered from candidates eligible for an Early Career Fellowship on any topic in the study of literature and culture in the age of Chaucer.

The award is £1,800 for an applicant based in the UK or the Republic of Ireland and £1,900 for other international applicants. The successful applicant will also be able to claim travel expenses (using the most economical available option). The fellowship must be taken up in the period 1 August 2025 to 1 August 2026.

Eligibility

Candidates should be about to complete (within 1 year) a doctoral thesis, or should have completed their doctoral degree between January 2020 and the present. We will be pleased to consider applications from independent scholars and from those in academic positions that do not support research.

How to apply

Applications should be made directly to the New Chaucer Society, by email to chaucer@newchaucersociety.org with a copy to the Executive Director at sifr@hi.is in the form of a single pdf file. They must include the following:

  • a cover letter to include full contact details, project title, name of referee and proposed start and end dates of the fellowship. It must also describe the applicant’s eligibility for an early career fellowship.
  • project description, not to exceed 1,500 words, and consisting of two parts:
    • description of the project and its significance (approx. 1,000 words);
    • description of the specific Bodleian Libraries special collections to be consulted and an outline of the plan of work for the fellowship period (approx. 500 words).
  • curriculum vitae of no more than three pages.
  • one letter of recommendation: this must be tailored to your individual application. The referee should send the letter to chaucer@newchaucersociety.org with a copy to the Executive Director at sifr@hi.is by 15 March 2025, with the applicant’s name in the subject line.

Application deadline: 15 March 2025

British Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies/Bodleian Libraries Fellowship

With the Bodleian Libraries, the British Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies supports a one-month residence in Oxford by a member of BSECS for research in the special collections of the Bodleian Libraries on any topic in the study of the long eighteenth century.

The award reimburses necessary expenses of up to £1,000 to support research in Oxford during the fellowship period.

Applications open: 1 September in any year
Deadline: 1 February in any year

The fellowship must be taken up within the calendar year in which the award is made.

The BSECS/Georgian Group Dunscombe Colt Research Fellowship in Architectural History and Material Culture

With The Georgian Group, the British Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies supports a one-month research visit by a member of The Georgian Group to the Special Collections of the Bodleian Library in the University of Oxford. Applications will be considered from candidates seeking to research projects relating to the architecture or material culture (for example, sculpture) of the long eighteenth century (1660-1840).

The award reimburses necessary expenses of up to £1,500 to support research in Oxford during the fellowship period.

Applications open: 1 September in any year
Deadline: 1 February in any year

The fellowship must be taken up within the calendar year in which the award is made.

How to apply

Applications should be sent by email to fellowships@bodleian.ox.ac.uk and must include:

  • the application form (DOCX)
  • statement of the proposed research (1200 words maximum). Ensure that your statement includes:
    • a description of the project and its significance;
    • outline of the plan of work for the fellowship period; and
    • a description of the specific Bodleian Libraries special collections to be consulted (not included in the word count)
  • curriculum vitae of no more than three pages.
  • two letters of recommendation: these must be tailored to your individual application. Letters may be sent directly from the referees to the Bodleian Libraries at fellowships@bodleian.ox.ac.uk, in which case the applicant’s name must be in the subject line.