‘The IHR Trust supports the discipline of history through its national home at the IHR. The Trust recognises the problems faced by historians today. It is therefore pleased to support this new career support scheme in collaboration with the IHR to help individuals deliver projects that might otherwise not reach completion. It is hoped this modest funding will assist those who seek to bridge these difficult times.’ Professor Matthew Hilton, IHR Trust Chair 

The scheme directly addresses the UK-wide context of cuts, closures and redundancies currently faced by historians. Over 30,000 jobs have been lost within Universities in the past three years, with academic job losses disproportionately affecting Humanities researchers. Redundancies and programme closures have been felt across the four nations and their regions, leading to losses at every level in the academic pipeline. 

This context leaves many researchers unable to complete projects in which they have invested considerable time and resource, and which will have real value to the history community and wider public.   

In this first year of the scheme, we will accept applications from those who have lost academic posts within the last three years (dated from the scheme closure date of 31st January 2027) or who have been awarded their PhD within the last three years (dated from the scheme closure date of 31st January 2027). We hope to extend the scheme in later years if funding can be raised to do so.  

The Project Completion Grants can be used to support a wide range of research costs. The recipients of a Bridging Fellowship may, in exceptional circumstances, also be awarded a Project Completion Grant but the primary the aim is to support the largest number of historians possible. The Scheme builds on recent changes to the IHR Non-stipendiary Fellowship scheme which explicitly encourages applications from those who are in-between posts or who have not been able to secure a post-PhD position. It adds weight to that scheme through the provision of bursaries to which the non-stipendiary Fellows, amongst others, might apply.  

Application Process 

Applications will consist of a two-page CV; a research project statement (500 words); and a statement of eligibility (300 words). Applications to the Bursary Scheme will additionally include a statement of costs. 

Applications will be assessed by a panel led by the Chair of the IHR Trust according to the following criteria: 

• demonstrable need including the absence of alternative sources of support; 

• originality and significance of the research to be completed; 

• likelihood of sufficient progress within six months to allow completion without further funding; 

• quality of proposed outcomes (publications, resources, impact or engagement); 

• proposed contribution to the IHR community. 

Fellowships and Bursaries will be available to historians who: 

• have recently been made redundant or taken voluntary severance from a post within a UK university; 

• or whose fixed term contract has not been renewed; 

• or have been unable to secure permanent work in history since being awarded their PhD (the PhD must have been awarded between 31st January 2024 and 31st January 2027); 

• have a right to work in the UK that extends for the duration of the fellowship; 

Costs that Bursaries might support include: 

• travel to archives or related research activities;  

• travel to conferences or other public events;  

• costs associated with acquiring and reproducing illustrations;  

• costs of publication, including Open Access Fees and indexing fees;  

• caregiving costs if the carer is conducting research away from home; 

• resources that support people with disabilities undertaking research.