Deadline: 23 January 2026
The British Institute of Persian Studies is inviting applications for its BIPS Research Fellowship Grant, offering researchers the opportunity to undertake a larger project than those supported by the Research or Research Assistant Grants.
The BIPS Research Fellowship aims to provide an opportunity to pursue a substantial research project within a year, with a grant value of £20,000.
The grant may be used for various activities including research assistant(s), field work (in compliance with FCDO travel guidelines), visiting scholar fees, visa and travel costs, conference and workshop fees to disseminate research, subsistence during field work, and publication costs such as colour images or index creation.
While BIPS strongly encourages Early Career Researchers (ECRs, within 10 years of completing their PhD) to apply, the Fellowship is open to all applicants. More established scholars are encouraged to incorporate PhD students and/or ECRs into their application as a Research Assistant.
Applicants must be associated with a UK Higher Education institution (HEI) or Museum. Applicants must provide a letter from their UK host institution confirming that they are willing to receive funds on behalf of the applicant. They are committed to fostering an inclusive research environment and encourage applications from scholars of all backgrounds.
Each application must include details of the research project, clear research outputs such as peer-reviewed articles, monograph and/or edited volume, dissemination plans including on BIPS platforms such as the grant holders’ workshop and webinar series, a detailed account of expected costs associated with research assistants, dissemination, workshops, field work, and subsistence while on field work.
Applicants must also include CVs of Research Assistants and anyone funded by the grant. Workshop plans should contain an indicative participant list, and if awarded, precise dates must be agreed in conjunction with BIPS. Two academic references from referees on official institutional letterhead or via email indicating the referee’s position and institution are required, and it is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure these are submitted directly.
If the applicant plans to join an institution as a Visiting Scholar, a letter from the proposed mentor at that institution must accompany the application. All travel associated with field work must include a risk assessment completed in collaboration with the host institution, along with reporting requirements.
BIPS invites applications for this scheme once a year, and the current application round is now open. The deadline to submit applications is 23 January 2026, 5 PM.
For more information, visit BIPS.