Centre for the Study of Modern and Contemporary History

Postdoctoral fellowship

The Centre hosts a three-month postdoctoral fellowship in collaboration with the Institute of Advanced Studies in the Humanities

The fellowship at the CSMCH allowed me to meet wonderful colleagues from across the world and collaborate on organising an incredibly intellectually stimulating conference – I will never forget the experience.

Ljubica SpaskovskaCSMCH-IASH Visiting Fellow, 2019

The three-month CMSCH-IASH Visiting Postdoctoral Fellowship in Modern and Contemporary History is intended to encourage outstanding early-career interdisciplinary research and scholarly collaboration in the broad field of modern and contemporary history. The fellow will be affiliated with the Centre for the Study of Modern and Contemporary History in the School of History, Classics and Archaeology and the Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities.

Each year, the CMSCH will select an interdisciplinary research theme and applicants will need to show that their research addresses this theme. Otherwise, there is no limit on geographical area or time period, as long as the bulk of the applicant's research falls within the 'modern and contemporary' period (c.1750-present).

Fellows will benefit from the combined resources of the School of History, Classics and Archaeology and IASH. The Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities is housed in an 18th century courtyard close to the University Library and about 20 scholars are in residence at any time. Fellows are allocated a private office in the Institute with all the usual research facilities.  

The fellow will be expected to:

  • Present their work to the CMSCH seminar and to IASH, as well as take part in IASH work-in-progress sessions
  • Organise one event in collaboration with the CMSCH. This could be a public engagement event (eg. lecture, film series) or an academic event (eg. colloquium). Applicants should write about their proposed event in the application form. Both CMSCH and IASH will be able to help organise the event and the CMSCH may also provide small amounts of funding where appropriate.
  • Identify and work with a mentor from the School of History, Classics and Archaeology. The mentor should be named in the application and a short supporting statement should be provided.

In order to facilitate cooperation within HCA and the CMSCH, fellowships can only be taken up during the academic year (September to June). Candidates should indicate on the application form the dates during which they intend to be in residence.

The Fellowship comes with a stipend of £1100 per month (for three months) and up to £500 to offset travel expenses. It is anticipated that Fellows will use the Fellowship to launch joint publications, joint applications for research funding and/or collaborative research projects with their HCA mentor and/or with other members of the CMSCH.

Application procedure

Please go directly to the IASH website for the application form and further details about the application process, including additional documents, supporting statements and references.