Chevening British Library Coptic Collections Fellowship

About the opportunity

The Chevening British Library Coptic Collections Fellowship is co-funded by the British Library and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. Hosted at the British Library in London, the fellowship offers mid-career professionals the chance to survey significant Coptic holdings spanning over 1,500 years of history, theology, and literary culture. Fellows will work closely with the Head of Asian and African Studies to enhance cataloguring records, investigate manuscript provenance, and develop public engagement activities alongside heritage communities.

Funding and benefits

• 12-month period of project-based activity at the British Library
• Living expenses for the duration of the fellowship
• Return economy airfare
• Allowance package for fellowship-related activities
• Up to £1,000 for approved project-related expenses

Who can apply?

• Be citizens of Egypt, Sudan, or Palestine, normally resident in one of these countries (citizens resident elsewhere in the MENA region in Chevening-eligible, ODA-eligible countries such as Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, and Yemen may also apply)
• Demonstrate a clear intention to return to and contribute to their country of citizenship for at least one year after the fellowship ends
• Have a postgraduate level qualification or equivalent professional training/experience in a relevant area at the time of application
• Have significant professional and/or academic research experience (at least five years)
• Be currently employed or enrolled as a PhD candidate (the PhD must not be with a UK, EU, or USA university)
• Have excellent knowledge of Coptic (Sahidic or Bohairic), with knowledge of Arabic and/or Greek desirable
• Have good written and spoken English
• Have experience of cataloguing and handling manuscript collections, with knowledge of manuscript description standards
• Have experience of provenance research and documentation, or a demonstrable interest in this area
• Have experience of working with heritage communities or delivering engagement activities related to cultural heritage collections

When to apply

• Open for applications until 27 October 2026, at 12:00 (UTC)
• Fellowship duration takes place from September 2027 to September 2028

How to apply

• Submit an online application via the Chevening application system before the deadline.

Additional information

• The FCDO is unable to assist with arranging or facilitating travel to the UK, including from Palestine; successful fellows must arrange their own travel.