Applicants should submit a short CV together with a summary of the project and materials they
propose to work on, and the expected publications or other outcomes (the summary should be
maximum two sides of A4). Applications should demonstrate a serious research interest that
focuses on primary source material within the collections held at Durham. Applicants who plan
to collaborate with Durham academic or collections staff are especially welcome and should
mention this in their application. There is no need to identify a particular fellowship scheme
when applying; the selection committee will decide which scheme is most appropriate, though
applicants can highlight one if they wish.
Applicants must consult with the relevant collections staff to ensure that the materials they
wish to work with are available at the times of their visit. This is particularly important in the
case of the Oriental Museum, the Cathedral Library and Ushaw Library, all of which have
limited opening hours.
This is especially important for applicants:
• whose research projects may require access to a large number of objects, books or
archives
• who are interested in the materiality of collections or items
• who wish to be considered for the Lendrum Fellowships
• who wish to be considered for the Lord Crewe’s Charity Fellowships.
For these areas of research, we strongly recommend that applicants consult relevant collections
staff to discuss the practicalities of their research project and their proposed dates of research
before applying. If this has not been possible, we may need to ask applicants for further
information before assessing their application.
There will be five fellowship intakes throughout the academic year, lasting for four weeks each:
October = 13 October – 7 November 2025
November = 17 November – 12 December 2025
February = 23 February – 20 March 2026
May = 27 April – 22 May 2026
June = 1 June – 26 June 2026
Applicants should indicate their preferred dates. They should also indicate to which university
department(s) and/or research centres their research most relates. Applications should be
submitted by noon on Wednesday 21 May 2025. We shall aim to notify successful
candidates in the first two weeks of June 2025.
Fellows will be granted an honorarium of £2,000 per month towards their transport and
subsistence costs. A small number of PhD bursaries may be available to the value of £600.
Please note that fellows will be expected to arrange their own travel and accommodation.
Those who have previously held fellowships are eligible to apply again after three years have
elapsed since their previous award. Please note that the maximum times an individual can be
awarded a fellowship is on three occasions, or the equivalent of three months, over a period of
10 years.
Recipients of all fellowships are expected to be in continuous residence in Durham and to
participate in and make a contribution to the intellectual life of the University. This may
include an informal talk, other event or blog post about their research, as part of museum or
special collections engagement programmes.
