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School of Society and Environment - Department of History
  1. School of Society and Environment - Department of History
  2. Research
  3. Postdoctoral and Doctoral Opportunities

Postdoctoral and Doctoral Opportunities

We ensure to support and nurture postdoctoral and early career colleagues, and we have been highly successful in supporting postdoctoral applications.

Funding opportunities:

British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowships 2025/26

The School of History at Queen Mary University of London, invites expressions of interest from post-doctoral researchers considering making an application for the 2025/26 British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship competition.

About the fellowships

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.

Eligibility requirements

  • Applicants must be supported by the UK host institution in which they wish to hold the Fellowship.
  • Applicants must be within three years of their successful viva voce examination. For this round of competition, applicants are expected to have completed their viva voce between 1 April 2023 and 1 April 2026. Exemption from this criterion may be granted for reasons occurring after the date of the viva voce examination such as: maternity leave, illness, family commitments etc but this must be confirmed with the BA prior to application.
  • Applicants must be a British citizen or EEA national OR have completed a doctorate at a UK university. Any applicant who does not fall into one of these categories must demonstrate a strong prior association with the UK academic community, for example through a previous period of non-permanent employment (for a minimum of 12 months) at a UK university.
  • Applicants must not have held a permanent academic post in an institution of higher education at any time in their career.
  • Resubmissions of previously unsuccessful applications are not permitted unless by invitation of the British Academy

Please refer to the British Academy scheme webpage for full details: https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/funding/postdoctoral-fellowships/.

Candidates should note that unsuccessful applicants cannot reapply unless the British Academy invites them to do so. Therefore, we encourage applicants to consider the best time (within the eligibility period) to apply, thinking about the development of their research experience and achievement since their PhD award.

How to apply

This scheme is extremely competitive. As a result, QMUL will only support the strongest of applicants. Candidates interested in applying for a fellowship based within the School of History should submit an Expression of Interest to history-research@qmul.ac.uk by 12pm on Monday 4th August 2025. Expressions of interest should include the following:

  • an explanation of the reasons for your choice of the School and Queen Mary as your host institution which should include a proposed mentor (150 words maximum). We strongly encourage reaching out to your proposed mentor for agreement and support prior to submitting your EoI.
  • an outline of your proposed programme of research (1,500 words maximum)including consideration of method, sources, and significance.
  • your planned research outputs, e.g. monograph, journal article(s), book chapter(s), digital resources, events (workshops, conferences), other (please specify) (300 words maximum),
  • a list of existing publications (1 page maximum).
  • a CV (2 pages maximum).
  • a draft sample of writing, either published or accepted for publication (article or book chapter length).

Your application should demonstrate:

  • that you are eligible according to the BA’s criteria
  • the excellence of your research track record and professional track record (where relevant);
  • your fit with the School and relevant links to the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

To aid applicants in preparing a strong application, the School of History will hold an online training session on Wednesday 16th July 2025, 1-2pm (UK-time), with our research team and a current BA Fellow based in the School. Please email history-research@qmul.ac.uk to receive the workshop link. This session will be recorded.

The deadline for EOIs is noon on Monday 4th August 2025.  All applications will be considered in an internal selection process and candidates notified within two weeks of the deadline.

Successful applicants will then have approximately six weeks to finalise their outline application, ahead of the funder deadline of 1 October 2025. They will also be invited to attend an orientation session run by The Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences about the final stages of application. This will take place w/c 1 September 2025.

 

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships 2026

European Commission Horizon Europe Funding Opportunity

Marie Skłodowska-Curie (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowships (2026 Call) – Calls for Expressions of Interest

European Fellowships

Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) Department of History, School of Society and Environment welcomes Expressions of Interest from top talented, eligible postdoctoral researchers who demonstrate independence and excellent track record to apply with a QMUL host PI supervisor to the  MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships (2026) call.

What does the Fellowship entail?

European Fellowships comprise a personalised, well-structured and feasible research and integrated training project with optional secondment for a 12-24 month fellowship. It must show a ‘best fit’ between your and PI supervisor’s expertise, two-way knowledge transfer, research outcomes and wider impacts and to enhance employability.

It offers a highly competitive salary and research/training/networking budget based on EC set allowances.

Researcher eligibility

  • Any age and nationality – your main activity (work/studies) must not have been in the UK for more than 12 months in the last 36 months prior to the EC MSCA PF call deadline of 09/09/2026 (TBC)

  • Have a PhD at the date of the EC call deadline

  • Have a maximum of eight years full-time research experience from the date of PhD. Years outside research and documented leave periods will not be taken into account.

How to Apply

Your EOI must be submitted to sse-research@qmul.ac.uk by Thursday 21st May 2026.

Your EOI must include:

1)            CV, including a full list of publications and justification of contribution to research achievements (max. two pages)

2)            Two-page outline of your research proposal and career goals (how your research is original and innovative and feasible and potential outputs and impact and how it will advance your career). And how you will transfer your know-how to the research profile of the school.

3)           A statement confirming how you meet the MSCA-2026-PF eligibility criteria

EOI Results will likely be announced in mid-late June. Selected candidates will then prepare the EC proposal with matched PI supervisor using EC guidance and templates supported by QMUL IRI EU pre award who provide additional guidance materials and application technical support.

QMUL was awarded nearly 70 Horizon 2020 individual fellowships and  ranked 9th in the UK and 18th in Europe for H2020 fellowships and hosts over 40 successfully evaluated Horizon Europe post doc fellowships.

EC Funding Deadline

The EC MSCA-PF (2026) deadline date is 9 September 2026

From 1 January 2024, the UK is an Associated Country in Horizon Europe and eligible for EC funding.  See also the EC Funding portal and MSCA info pages 

Alongside their research mentors, Dr Liesbeth Corens supports our postdoctoral researchers (PDRs), and is the dedicated PDR coordinator. She organises a colloquium series, which runs throughout the year and is a great opportunity for PDRs to present their research to the rest of the Department.
The Humanities and Social Sciences Early Career Researchers (ECRs) Network supports researchers at the beginning of their academic careers. As well as regular talks and workshops, there are opportunities to meet other ECRs from across the Faculty to share experience and knowledge. In addition, the Humanities and Social Sciences Peer Review College provides individual support for early career researchers in grant and fellowship applications.
We have a diverse community of postdoctoral fellows who contribute to our dynamic research environment. We welcome enquiries and applications from potential postdoctoral fellows. More information on our current postdoctoral fellows can be found on our postdoctoral research page. All enquiries should be directed to Research Manager Josh Torabi (SSE-research@qmul.ac.uk) or Outputs and Research Funding Lead Dr Andrew Mendelsohn.
The School of Society and Environment operates an internal peer review process to support, mentor, and manage demand for highly competitive postdoctoral research fellowships. Applicants wishing to consider applying for these awards are encouraged to contact the Research Funding Lead Dr Andrew Mendelsohn, and a member of staff in the appropriate area of expertise to act as your mentor at least six weeks in advance of the relevant scheme’s deadline (and at least three weeks ahead of any stated internal deadline).
Applications must fit the funding scheme criteria and the School’s research profile. Many schemes are oversubscribed with low success rates. We are only able to support the strongest applications.
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