Chevening British Library Southeast Asian Fellowship

The Chevening British Library Coptic Collections Fellowship is a UK-based, 12-month fellowship hosted by the British Library and co-funded by the British Library and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). It supports mid-career professionals from Egypt, Palestine, and Sudan to conduct a project-based research placement at the British Library focused on Coptic manuscript heritage and collections documentation. Applications are open until 27 October 2026 at 12:00 (UTC). Opportunity at a Glance

- Opportunity name: Chevening British Library Coptic Collections Fellowship

- Hosted by: British Library

- Co-funded by: British Library and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)

- Applicant profile: Mid-career professionals with a strong interest in Coptic manuscript heritage and cultural collections

- Eligible countries (citizenship): Egypt, Palestine, Sudan

- Fellowship location: British Library (UK)

- Duration: 12 months

- Start: September 2027

- End: September 2028

- Application deadline: 27 October 2026 at 12:00 (UTC)

- Application link: Not specified in the source text provided (see “How to Apply”)

About the Opportunity

This Chevening Fellowship is designed to address a documentation and access challenge in the British Library’s Coptic collections. The programme supports a project that helps create a more discoverable overview of holdings that have not previously been comprehensively documented. During the fellowship, the fellow will work at the British Library with Dr. Michael Erdman (Head of Asian and African Studies, interim) to lead a research project. The fellowship focuses on enhancing catalogue records, investigating manuscript provenance, and contributing to public and community engagement related to Coptic heritage. Funding and Benefits

Each fellowship includes the following:

- A 12-month period of project-based activity at the British Library - Living expenses for the duration of the fellowship - Return economy airfare - An allowance package for fellowship-related activities - Up to £1,000 for approved project-related expenses The source also notes: the FCDO is unable to assist with arranging or facilitating travel to the UK, including from Palestine. Successful fellows must arrange their own travel to the UK, potentially via third countries. Who Is Eligible? To be eligible, applicants must meet Chevening’s standard eligibility criteria and the additional requirements listed below (as provided in the source).

Applicants must:

- Hold citizenship in: Egypt, Sudan, or Palestine

- Be normally resident in one of these countries - The source adds that citizens of these countries who are resident elsewhere in the Middle East and North Africa region in Chevening eligible ODA-eligible countries (listed below) may also apply. - ODA-eligible countries listed in the source: Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, Yemen - Demonstrate a clear intention to return to their country of citizenship after the fellowship and return for at least one year after the fellowship ends - Have a postgraduate-level qualification (or equivalent professional training or experience) at the time of application - Have significant professional and/or academic research experience of at least five years - Be currently employed or be a PhD candidate - The source specifies that 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, including the ability to communicate research findings effectively - Have experience of cataloguing and handling manuscript collections, with knowledge of manuscript description standards - Have experience of provenance research and documentation, or show a demonstrable interest in this area - Have experience working with heritage communities or delivering engagement activities related to cultural heritage collections Eligible Activities or Priority Areas The fellowship supports a project that contributes to documentation and improved access to the British Library’s Coptic collections. In practical terms, fellows will be expected to carry out activities including: - Surveying the British Library’s Coptic collections and identifying gaps in existing cataloguing and documentation - Creating and enhancing catalogue records using manuscript evidence and existing metadata - Researching, documenting, and analysing provenance of manuscripts to improve understanding of collection history and acquisition - Organising and contributing to events with Coptic community members and researchers - Producing blogs, reports, and other outputs to raise awareness of the Library’s Coptic collections - Contributing to public engagement activities that promote wider access to, and understanding of, Coptic heritage Why This Opportunity Matters This fellowship is relevant for mid-career professionals who combine manuscript scholarship with cataloguing and provenance expertise, and who also have experience working with heritage communities. By supporting documentation of Coptic holdings and building provenance research capacity, the fellowship aims to improve access and interpretation of a globally significant collection. It also emphasizes public and community engagement connected to Coptic heritage through events and outreach outputs. How to Apply - Review the official fellowship page for the Chevening British Library Coptic Collections Fellowship. - Prepare your application so you can address the additional eligibility criteria listed in the source (citizenship/residency, postgraduate qualification, 5+ years relevant experience, language and English requirements, manuscript cataloguing/provenance/engagement experience, and post-fellowship return commitment). - Submit your application through the official Chevening application process. - Ensure submission is completed by 27 October 2026 at 12:00 (UTC).

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