Chevening British Library Coptic Collections Fellowship 2027

Applications are now open for the Chevening British Library Coptic Collections Fellowship 2027, a fully funded professional fellowship hosted by the British Library in the United Kingdom. The fellowship is designed for mid career professionals from Egypt, Palestine and Sudan who have strong expertise or professional interests in Coptic manuscript heritage and cultural collections.

The fellowship provides a unique opportunity to spend 12 months working with the British Library's internationally significant Coptic manuscript collections. Fellows will undertake a research project that combines manuscript expertise, language skills, collection documentation and public engagement.

During the fellowship, the successful candidate will work closely with Dr. Michael Erdman, Head of Asian and African Studies on an interim basis, to survey the British Library's Coptic holdings, improve catalogue records, investigate manuscript provenance and develop new approaches to community and public engagement.

About the Fellowship

The Chevening British Library Coptic Collections Fellowship provides an opportunity for an experienced researcher or cultural heritage professional to contribute to the documentation, interpretation and promotion of one of the world's important collections of Coptic manuscripts.

The British Library holds hundreds of complete and fragmentary Coptic codices, together with papyrus, parchment and paper fragments documenting more than 1,500 years of Coptic history, theology and literary culture.

Many parts of the collection remain difficult to discover because a comprehensive overview of the holdings has not yet been produced. The selected fellow will contribute to addressing this challenge by examining the collections, identifying gaps in existing documentation and creating or improving catalogue records.

Fellowship Benefits

Successful fellows will receive:

• A 12 month project based fellowship at the British Library.

• Living expenses for the full duration of the fellowship.

• Return economy airfare.

• An allowance package for fellowship related activities.

• Up to £1,000 for approved project related expenses.

• Professional experience at one of the world's leading research libraries and cultural heritage institutions.

• Specialist experience in manuscript cataloguing and collections documentation.

• Practical experience in provenance research and analysis.

• Opportunities to develop public and community engagement activities.

• Opportunities to strengthen their international academic and professional profile.

Fellowship Areas

The fellowship focuses on Coptic manuscripts and cultural heritage collections. The selected fellow will contribute to several areas of work, including:

• Surveying the British Library's Coptic manuscript holdings.

• Identifying gaps in existing cataloguing and documentation.

• Creating and enhancing catalogue records using manuscript evidence and existing metadata.

• Researching and documenting manuscript provenance.

• Analysing the history and acquisition of collection materials.

• Organising and contributing to events involving Coptic community members and researchers.

• Producing blogs, reports and other written outputs about the collections.

• Supporting public engagement activities that promote access to and understanding of Coptic heritage.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the Chevening British Library Coptic Collections Fellowship 2027, applicants must:

• Be a citizen of Egypt, Sudan or Palestine.

• Normally be resident in one of these countries, although eligible citizens residing elsewhere in specified ODA eligible countries in the Middle East and North Africa region may also apply.

• Demonstrate a clear intention to return to their country of citizenship and contribute there after the fellowship.

• Return to their country of citizenship for at least one year after the fellowship ends.

• Hold a postgraduate level qualification or equivalent professional training or experience in a relevant area.

• Have at least five years of significant professional and or academic research experience.

• Be currently employed or enrolled as a PhD candidate.

• Not be enrolled in a PhD programme at a university in the UK, European Union or United States.

• Have excellent knowledge of Coptic, either Sahidic or Bohairic.

• Have good written and spoken English.

• Have experience cataloguing and handling manuscript collections.

• Have knowledge of manuscript description standards.

• Have experience in provenance research and documentation or a demonstrable interest in the field.

• Have experience working with heritage communities or delivering engagement activities connected to cultural heritage collections.

Knowledge of Arabic and or Greek is desirable.

Required Application Information

Applicants should prepare information demonstrating their academic and professional experience in Coptic studies, manuscript collections or related cultural heritage fields.

The application should communicate:

• Academic and professional qualifications.

• At least five years of relevant professional or academic research experience.

• Experience working with manuscript collections.

• Knowledge of Coptic, particularly Sahidic or Bohairic.

• Experience with manuscript cataloguing and description.

• Experience or interest in provenance research.

• Experience working with heritage communities.

• A clear understanding of the proposed fellowship project.

• Professional and academic goals connected to the fellowship.

Applicants should also demonstrate how their experience and specialist knowledge can contribute to the British Library's work to improve access to and understanding of its Coptic collections.

Selection Criteria

Applicants will be assessed on their ability to contribute meaningfully to the fellowship project and the wider objectives of the British Library.

Strong candidates should demonstrate:

• Significant professional or academic research experience.

• Excellent knowledge of Coptic.

• Strong written and spoken English.

• Experience handling and cataloguing manuscripts.

• Understanding of manuscript description standards.

• Experience or strong interest in provenance research.

• Experience engaging with cultural heritage communities.

• A clear professional purpose for undertaking the fellowship.

• The ability to contribute to research, documentation and public engagement activities.

The fellowship is intended for experienced professionals rather than early career applicants. Candidates should therefore demonstrate a substantial record of relevant academic, research or professional work.

How to Apply

1. Review the eligibility requirements for the Chevening British Library Coptic Collections Fellowship 2027.
2. Confirm that you are a citizen of Egypt, Sudan or Palestine and meet the residency and return requirements.
3. Review your academic and professional experience to ensure that you meet the postgraduate qualification or equivalent experience requirement and have at least five years of relevant experience.
4. Prepare information about your experience with Coptic manuscripts, cataloguing, provenance research and cultural heritage collections.
5. Prepare details demonstrating your Coptic language proficiency and your ability to communicate research findings effectively in English.
6. Prepare information about your experience working with heritage communities and delivering public engagement activities.
7. Complete the fellowship application through the official Chevening application platform.
8. Review your application carefully and ensure that all required information is complete and accurate.