Economic History Society Early Career Research Visiting Fellowship
The Economic History Society, in conjunction with the Institute of Historical Research, offers up to three one-year postdoctoral Fellowships in economic and/or social history, tenable at the Institute of Historical research. Fellows will not be required to be resident in London but should participate in the activities of the Institute, by regular attendance at and presentation of papers to appropriate seminars – including the Fellows’ Seminar - and by giving information and help to fellow scholars working in the same field.
ELIGIBILITY
The Fellowships will be awarded to postdoctoral candidates who have recently completed a doctoral degree in economic and/or social history, or who will have submitted their thesis for examination by 1 October in the academic year in which the Fellowship is to be held. It is the intention of the Economic History Society to promote work of a kind that might be published in the leading refereed academic journals in economic and/or social history. Fellows will be expected to pursue research in economic and/or social history at an advanced level with a view to publication.
Fellows must be affiliated with a British university for the duration of their Fellowships. In this context, ‘affiliation’ means an informal arrangement whereby Fellows will have access to a mentor who is familiar with their area of research and with whom they can discuss their work. The mentor can be involved in any aspect of economic and social history, and based in any relevant department (History, Economics, Business etc). Affiliation does not need to be arranged during the application process, although, if called for interview, candidates should be able to suggest likely mentors and institutions.
It is the responsibility of Fellows to secure a mentor and to ensure that the university with which they are affiliated provides the support that they require.
These awards cannot be held in conjunction with any other substantial maintenance grant, nor can they be used to fund a sabbatical year for the holder of a permanent academic position. Fellows may engage in teaching or other paid work for up to six hours per week and are encouraged to do so in order to widen their experience.
It is important that applicants demonstrate that the research proposed in their applications is in the field of economic and/or social history.
FURTHER PARTICULARS
The Economic History Society’s objective in awarding the Fellowships is to further research in economic and/or social history by enabling new researchers to strengthen their research record with a view to following a career which will enable them to undertake high-quality research in the field. The Power and Postan Fellowships are also supported financially by the Power and Postan Fellowships trusts administered by the London School of Economics. Candidates may be asked at the interview what difference a fellowship would make to their prospects of sustaining research in economic / social history in future.
Holders of fellowships should acknowledge the Society’s financial support in publications which result from the Fellowship. The Society seeks to encourage research across a broad range of economic / social history.
WHAT WE OFFER
IHR Fellows are welcomed into a progressive and supportive academic environment, consisting of a cohort of approximately 20 doctoral or early career Fellows, academic staff, and IHR Fellows. Fellows will be offered mentorship by the IHR’s academics and other staff across the School of Advanced Study. This will include help in planning the future, through: career advice; assistance with applications for jobs, postdocs and fellowships; mock interviews; and guidance with publication plans and research grant applications. Augmenting our close connections across academia, the IHR’s extensive partnerships will be open to those Fellows who are interested in working in sectors outside of the academy. Fellows will have the support of our Fellowships Officer throughout the fellowship. At the IHR they will have access to our world-renowned Wohl Library, our electronic resources, and our extensive seminar and events programme.
Our Fellows’ seminar programme provides an opportunity for each Fellow to present their research in a collegial atmosphere, before their peers, senior historians, and others. Fellows have free access to the IHR’s research training courses (https://www.history.ac.uk/study-training/research-training), and are offered a number of exclusive, tailored training workshops.
STIPENDS
The Fellowships will be in line with the UKRI PhD studentships. Fellows will receive a stipend of £22,780 if affiliated with an institution based outside of London, or £24,780 if affiliated with an institution based in London.
In addition, the Economic History Society will fund travel costs for each Fellow for up to four visits to the Institute of Historical Research during the period of their Fellowship, subject to the provision of receipts and the Society’s standard procedures for funding travelling expenses within the UK. Fellows are eligible to apply to the Economic History Society’s Research Fund for Graduate Students to support minor research costs and conference attendance.
VISAS
Fellows, if they do not have the right to reside and study in the UK, will require a visa, and must ascertain what category of visa is most suitable for them.
The University of London is licensed to issue sponsorship certificates for Tier 5 visas. If Fellows need to enter the UK under a Tier 5 visa, they should apply for a sponsorship certificate through the IHR Fellowship Office, which they can then use in their visa application to the Home Office. Further details of visa categories can be found at https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa
DEADLINES
•Complete applications must be received at the Institute of Historical Research, incomplete applications or applications arriving after the deadline will not be considered.
•Before completing your application you will need to create an account in the online application system.
REFERENCES
Please do not send references to us in advance, as we will request them for those being interviewed only.
FINAL REPORT
Within three months of the end of the Fellowship period, each Fellow will send to the Institute of Historical Research (by email) a written report on the Fellowship experience, detailing the activities undertaken during the period of their Fellowship and an outline of future career plans.
SELECTION POLICIES
The EHS is committed to promoting diversity and the interview panel will be chosen accordingly. Panel members will assess the quality of applications with reference to the following criteria:
•The academic record of the candidate as exhibited by CV and references.
•The importance of the proposed research to the applicant’s field and its prospects for publication in a leading academic journal or monograph series in economic and/or social history.
•The prospects for completing research within the time projected and funds awarded.
•All other considerations being equal, the candidate’s likely contribution to the academic life of the IHR.
THE SCHOOL OF ADVANCED STUDY
Applicants are strongly advised to investigate the resources that are available to them within the University of London, and particularly at the School of Advanced Study, to which the IHR belongs. Details can be found at www.lon.ac.uk and www.sas.ac.uk
APPLICATION CONTENTS
- Complete Online Application Form
- Upload a Personal Statement (1000 Words max.)
- Upload Research Proposal (1000 words max.)
- Upload a PhD Summary (500 words max.)
- Upload your Curriculum Vitae, (no more than 2 sides of A4 (minimum 10pt font)
EQUALITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION
We welcome our duties under the Equality Act 2010, as part of our commitment to ensuring equality of opportunity for all. The University was founded upon the principles of equality and established to provide education on the basis of merit. Since then we have amended our Statutes to include the following statement from the University of London Statutes:
"The University shall not discriminate against any person on the grounds of race, nationality, ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, age, religion, social background or political belief. (21.1)"
We are committed to preserving and promoting fellowship opportunities to individuals whose lives are incompatible with the normal established patterns of work. This could be due to personal or domestic circumstances, physical or mental disabilities.
Flexible fellowship requests could include, but are not limited to, the following:
•Part-time working
•Temporary suspension of the fellowship
We will give consideration to all fellows’ requests for flexible terms, whether the request is for a permanent, short-term or trial adaptation in the terms.
Please see further details of the University of London’s Diversity and Inclusion policy and strategies here: https://london.ac.uk/about-us/equality-diversity-and-inclusion
IHR Economic History Society Fellowship 2026
Economic History Society Early Career Research Visiting Fellowship
The Economic History Society, in conjunction with the Institute of Historical Research, offers up to three one-year postdoctoral Fellowships in economic and/or social history, tenable at the Institute of Historical research. Fellows will not be required to be resident in London but should participate in the activities of the Institute, by regular attendance at and presentation of papers to appropriate seminars – including the Fellows’ Seminar - and by giving information and help to fellow scholars working in the same field.
ELIGIBILITY
The Fellowships will be awarded to postdoctoral candidates who have recently completed a doctoral degree in economic and/or social history, or who will have submitted their thesis for examination by 1 October in the academic year in which the Fellowship is to be held. It is the intention of the Economic History Society to promote work of a kind that might be published in the leading refereed academic journals in economic and/or social history. Fellows will be expected to pursue research in economic and/or social history at an advanced level with a view to publication.
Fellows must be affiliated with a British university for the duration of their Fellowships. In this context, ‘affiliation’ means an informal arrangement whereby Fellows will have access to a mentor who is familiar with their area of research and with whom they can discuss their work. The mentor can be involved in any aspect of economic and social history, and based in any relevant department (History, Economics, Business etc). Affiliation does not need to be arranged during the application process, although, if called for interview, candidates should be able to suggest likely mentors and institutions.
It is the responsibility of Fellows to secure a mentor and to ensure that the university with which they are affiliated provides the support that they require.
These awards cannot be held in conjunction with any other substantial maintenance grant, nor can they be used to fund a sabbatical year for the holder of a permanent academic position. Fellows may engage in teaching or other paid work for up to six hours per week and are encouraged to do so in order to widen their experience.
It is important that applicants demonstrate that the research proposed in their applications is in the field of economic and/or social history.
FURTHER PARTICULARS
The Economic History Society’s objective in awarding the Fellowships is to further research in economic and/or social history by enabling new researchers to strengthen their research record with a view to following a career which will enable them to undertake high-quality research in the field. The Power and Postan Fellowships are also supported financially by the Power and Postan Fellowships trusts administered by the London School of Economics. Candidates may be asked at the interview what difference a fellowship would make to their prospects of sustaining research in economic / social history in future.
Holders of fellowships should acknowledge the Society’s financial support in publications which result from the Fellowship. The Society seeks to encourage research across a broad range of economic / social history.
WHAT WE OFFER
IHR Fellows are welcomed into a progressive and supportive academic environment, consisting of a cohort of approximately 20 doctoral or early career Fellows, academic staff, and IHR Fellows. Fellows will be offered mentorship by the IHR’s academics and other staff across the School of Advanced Study. This will include help in planning the future, through: career advice; assistance with applications for jobs, postdocs and fellowships; mock interviews; and guidance with publication plans and research grant applications. Augmenting our close connections across academia, the IHR’s extensive partnerships will be open to those Fellows who are interested in working in sectors outside of the academy. Fellows will have the support of our Fellowships Officer throughout the fellowship. At the IHR they will have access to our world-renowned Wohl Library, our electronic resources, and our extensive seminar and events programme.
Our Fellows’ seminar programme provides an opportunity for each Fellow to present their research in a collegial atmosphere, before their peers, senior historians, and others. Fellows have free access to the IHR’s research training courses (https://www.history.ac.uk/study-training/research-training), and are offered a number of exclusive, tailored training workshops.
STIPENDS
The Fellowships will be in line with the UKRI PhD studentships. Fellows will receive a stipend of £22,780 if affiliated with an institution based outside of London, or £24,780 if affiliated with an institution based in London.
In addition, the Economic History Society will fund travel costs for each Fellow for up to four visits to the Institute of Historical Research during the period of their Fellowship, subject to the provision of receipts and the Society’s standard procedures for funding travelling expenses within the UK. Fellows are eligible to apply to the Economic History Society’s Research Fund for Graduate Students to support minor research costs and conference attendance.
VISAS
Fellows, if they do not have the right to reside and study in the UK, will require a visa, and must ascertain what category of visa is most suitable for them.
The University of London is licensed to issue sponsorship certificates for Tier 5 visas. If Fellows need to enter the UK under a Tier 5 visa, they should apply for a sponsorship certificate through the IHR Fellowship Office, which they can then use in their visa application to the Home Office. Further details of visa categories can be found at https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa
DEADLINES
•Complete applications must be received at the Institute of Historical Research, incomplete applications or applications arriving after the deadline will not be considered.
•Before completing your application you will need to create an account in the online application system.
REFERENCES
Please do not send references to us in advance, as we will request them for those being interviewed only.
FINAL REPORT
Within three months of the end of the Fellowship period, each Fellow will send to the Institute of Historical Research (by email) a written report on the Fellowship experience, detailing the activities undertaken during the period of their Fellowship and an outline of future career plans.
SELECTION POLICIES
The EHS is committed to promoting diversity and the interview panel will be chosen accordingly. Panel members will assess the quality of applications with reference to the following criteria:
•The academic record of the candidate as exhibited by CV and references.
•The importance of the proposed research to the applicant’s field and its prospects for publication in a leading academic journal or monograph series in economic and/or social history.
•The prospects for completing research within the time projected and funds awarded.
•All other considerations being equal, the candidate’s likely contribution to the academic life of the IHR.
THE SCHOOL OF ADVANCED STUDY
Applicants are strongly advised to investigate the resources that are available to them within the University of London, and particularly at the School of Advanced Study, to which the IHR belongs. Details can be found at www.lon.ac.uk and www.sas.ac.uk
APPLICATION CONTENTS
- Complete Online Application Form
- Upload a Personal Statement (1000 Words max.)
- Upload Research Proposal (1000 words max.)
- Upload a PhD Summary (500 words max.)
- Upload your Curriculum Vitae, (no more than 2 sides of A4 (minimum 10pt font)
EQUALITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION
We welcome our duties under the Equality Act 2010, as part of our commitment to ensuring equality of opportunity for all. The University was founded upon the principles of equality and established to provide education on the basis of merit. Since then we have amended our Statutes to include the following statement from the University of London Statutes:
"The University shall not discriminate against any person on the grounds of race, nationality, ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, age, religion, social background or political belief. (21.1)"
We are committed to preserving and promoting fellowship opportunities to individuals whose lives are incompatible with the normal established patterns of work. This could be due to personal or domestic circumstances, physical or mental disabilities.
Flexible fellowship requests could include, but are not limited to, the following:
•Part-time working
•Temporary suspension of the fellowship
We will give consideration to all fellows’ requests for flexible terms, whether the request is for a permanent, short-term or trial adaptation in the terms.
Please see further details of the University of London’s Diversity and Inclusion policy and strategies here: https://london.ac.uk/about-us/equality-diversity-and-inclusion