The foundation intends to award on a competitive basis, to candidates of sufficient merit, up to five Independent Scholar Fellowship grants to support original interdisciplinary research, across the range of the social sciences, to be held from a start date no later than the end of December 2021. 

The award is intended to enable the buy-out from current occupation of an independent scholar to pursue his/her research full- or part-time (or for cost of living support if not seeking buy-out from existing employment) for a period of up to 12 months, and will be considered to a maximum of £28,750 or €31,250* per successful applicant. The awards are not intended to support newly qualified scholars entering the post-doctoral stage. Reasonable childcare or other domestic costs may be considered.

An ‘Independent Scholar’ is understood as someone, whether or not currently in employment, who is engaged on intellectual work of a nature and standard comparable to that of a professional academic.

Normally applicants will hold a PhD. Other academic or professional qualifications may be considered, along with publications usually in peer-reviewed academic journals. Monographs, professional journals and the popular media may also be considered.

Applicants should consult the Criteria as set out in the Further Particulars, and show that they meet them. Applicants should follow the Application procedure and should present their Proposal in the format specified there.

Closing date for applications is4pm on 14th August 2020.

*Applicants seeking an affiliation in the UK must apply in GBP (£), up to the limit of £28,750. Applicants seeking an affiliation elsewhere in Europe, including non-Eurozone countries, must apply in EUR (€), up to the limit of €31,250. These amounts are fixed, and will not be adjusted in the event of GBP/EUR currency fluctuations.