Applications are now open for the 2026–27 Chevening Southeast Europe British Library Fellowship, delivered by the British Library and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
Applications close on 15 May 2026 at 1200 (UTC).
About the Fellowship
The Chevening Southeast Europe British Library Fellowship offers a midcareer professional from the Balkans and Türkiye the opportunity to undertake a 12-month research fellowship at the British Library.
The Fellow will work with the Lead Curator for Southeast European Collections, contributing to cataloguing, digital research, metadata enhancement, and collection interpretation. The aim is to make Southeast Europe’s intellectual and cultural heritage more visible and accessible to global audiences.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must meet Chevening’s standard eligibility criteria and must also
- Be a citizen and resident of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, or Türkiye at the time of application
- Have advanced proficiency in at least two Southeast European languages, such as Albanian, Bosnian, Bulgarian, Croatian, Macedonian, Romanian, Serbian, or Slovenian
- Hold a postgraduate qualification (or equivalent professional experience/training)
- Have at least five years of significant professional and/or academic research experience
- Be currently employed or a currently enrolled PhD candidate
- (PhD enrolment must NOT be at a UK, EU, or USA institution)
- Have experience working with large datasets and/or computational methods in a library or information-science context
- Have experience working with 18th–20th century printed books
- Demonstrate a strong interest in the history and culture of the Balkan region
- Possess excellent humanities research skills in a collections/records environment
- (Desirable) Be familiar with library metadata standards, including MARC21, RDA, and LCSH within an integrated library system
About the Programme
The Fellow will carry out a research project using rare and historic primary sources. Outputs will include data analysis, enhanced catalogue records, blog posts, and a collection guide.
The Fellow will
- Improve and enrich catalogue records for Southeast European materials
- Analyse large bibliographic datasets to identify trends and gaps
- Produce research outputs, including blog posts and a collection guide
- Support efforts to make historic collections more accessible to researchers worldwide
Funding and Benefits
The Fellowship provides
- A 12month project-based placement at the British Library
- Living expenses for the duration of the programme
- Return economy airfare
- An allowance package for fellowship-related activities
- Up to £1,000 for approved project-related costs
Duration
- Start January 2027
- End December 2027 / January 2028
How to Apply
Applications are accepted until 1200 (UTC) on 15 May 2026.
For more detailed information about the eligibility criteria for the Chevening Southeast Europe British Library Fellowship, you can visit the guidance page or contact [email protected].
Apply today at this link to help uncover and promote Southeast Europe’s cultural and intellectual heritage.
