British Academy Innovation Fellowships Scheme 2026

Applications are open for the British Academy Innovation Fellowships Scheme 2026, a policy led fellowship opportunity supporting established early career and mid career researchers in the humanities and social sciences. The programme is designed to strengthen connections between academic research and organisations working in public policy, while enabling researchers to contribute their expertise to practical policy challenges.

The fellowship is offered by the British Academy in partnership with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and Cabinet Office. The current call is being delivered through Route B, the Policy Led route of the wider Innovation Fellowships Scheme. It provides researchers with an opportunity to work closely with policymakers and contribute evidence, analysis and innovative ideas to areas identified as important policy priorities.

The fellowship is particularly relevant to researchers whose expertise can contribute to policy challenges requiring knowledge from the humanities and social sciences. Applicants should demonstrate how their research expertise, professional experience and policy engagement skills align with one of the areas identified for the 2026 call.

About the Opportunity

The British Academy Innovation Fellowships support researchers in the SHAPE community, covering the social sciences, humanities and related disciplines, to build deeper relationships beyond academia. The programme promotes knowledge mobilisation, research translation, professional development and collaboration between researchers and policy organisations.

For the 2026 policy led call, fellows will work in partnership with the FCDO and Cabinet Office. The fellowship is intended to provide close interaction with policymakers and an opportunity to understand policy research needs while contributing academic expertise to government work.

Rather than requiring applicants to submit a fully developed research project, the application focuses on the applicant’s expertise, experience and potential contribution to the selected policy area. Successful fellows will develop the detailed outline of their work programme with the relevant partner after receiving the fellowship.

The fellowship can involve research and analysis, evidence development, policy briefings, data analysis, case studies, presentations, workshops, knowledge exchange activities and other outputs agreed with the partner organisation.

Opportunity Benefits

• Fellowship award of up to £120,000 for 12 months

• Funding provided through Full Economic Costing at 80 percent

• Opportunity to work closely with UK government policymakers

• Direct engagement with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and Cabinet Office

• Opportunity to translate academic research into policy relevant work

• Development of knowledge mobilisation and research communication skills

• Professional development across academic and policy environments

• Opportunities to develop new relationships beyond academia

• Support for eligible research expenses, including travel, subsistence and other approved costs

• Opportunity to contribute to evidence informed policymaking

• Greater exposure to public policy, government and interdisciplinary working environments

Programme Areas

Applicants can apply in one of the following five areas:

• Applied History

• Critical Infrastructure and European Warfare

• South Asia Geopolitics and Regional Security

• The UK France Relationship in 2027 and Beyond

• UK National Security Strategy

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants must be ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom and have a registered UK address.

• Applicants must hold a current long term appointment at a UK based Higher Education Institution or Independent Research Organisation.

• The appointment must continue for at least the duration of the fellowship.

• Applicants must be established early career or mid career researchers.

• Career stage is generally considered within 15 years of receiving a PhD, although career breaks, caring responsibilities and non traditional career paths may be considered.

• Applicants without a doctorate may demonstrate equivalent professional or research experience.

• Applicants must have expertise relevant to the humanities and social sciences.

• Applicants must be able to demonstrate how their expertise can contribute to a selected policy area.

• Applicants must satisfy the relevant requirements for working with the FCDO, including applicable security requirements.

• Applicants must not be independent researchers without an eligible employing institution.

• Postgraduate students are not eligible.

• Applicants must not currently be working towards a PhD, awaiting a viva outcome or awaiting acceptance of corrections required by examiners.

• Applicants must not hold more than one British Academy award of a comparable nature at the same time.

• The employing institution must be eligible to provide institutional approval through the British Academy grant management system.

Required Application Materials

Applicants should prepare the information required through the British Academy Flexi Grant system, including:

• Fellowship start and end dates

• Selected policy area

• Research expertise and experience relevant to the selected area

• Potential topics and research questions

• Experience communicating research to wider audiences

• Experience engaging with policymakers and practitioners

• Experience working across disciplines or policy areas

• Expected policy benefit and impact

• Planned research outputs and dissemination activities

• Relevant humanities and social sciences subject areas

• Information about ethical considerations

• Details of other relevant funding applications or support

• Applicant contact and nationality information

• Current employing organisation and appointment details

• Qualifications and career history

• Career stage statement

• Personal statement where relevant

• ORCID identification number

• Details of relevant unpublished research

• Financial details and budget justification

• Required Head of Department supporting statement

The British Academy requires applicants to register with ORCID and provide their ORCID identification number in the application.

Selection Criteria

Applications should demonstrate:

• Strong expertise relevant to the selected policy area

• Clear alignment between the applicant’s experience and the requirements of the policy partner

• Ability to communicate research effectively to non specialist audiences

• Experience or interest in meaningful policy engagement

• Ability to work collaboratively across academic and policy environments

• Potential contribution to the partner organisation’s policymaking process

• Potential contribution to the British Academy’s policy work

• Clear plans for research outputs and knowledge dissemination

• Potential for professional development and future policy engagement.

How to Apply

1. Review the British Academy Innovation Fellowships Scheme guidance carefully.
2. Confirm that you meet the UK residency, employment, career stage and academic eligibility requirements.
3. Identify the policy area that best matches your research expertise.
4. Review the requirements associated with working with the FCDO and ensure that you can meet any applicable security requirements.
5. Prepare your research expertise, policy engagement, communication and impact statements.
6. Prepare the required career, institutional and financial information.
7. Register for an ORCID identification number if you do not already have one.
8. Contact your university research office or relevant institutional approval team well before the deadline.
9. Obtain the required Head of Department supporting statement.
10. Complete and submit the application through the British Academy Flexi Grant system.
11. Ensure that your UK institution provides its required approval before the closing deadline.