Cambridge Visiting Fellowships for Scholars from the Global South (2027) 

Overview

The Visiting Fellowships for Scholars from the Global South is a funded residential fellowship at the Centre for Research in the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (CRASSH), University of Cambridge.

The fellowship supports scholars at higher education institutions in the Global South, offering them:

• Opportunities to collaborate with Cambridge researchers

• Access to world-class libraries, archives, and collections

• A platform for interdisciplinary research on Enslavement: histories, legacies and afterlives

• A pathway to future research partnerships and collaborations

For the 2027 cycle, the fellowship is run in partnership with the Legacies of Enslavement Initiative.

Deadline: 16 February 2026 (12:00 UTC)

Eligibility

Applicants must:

• Be employed at a higher education or research institution in the Global South (minimum 50% contract).

• Hold a PhD awarded at least 5 years before the date of application.

• Work primarily in Arts, Humanities, or Social Sciences.

• Come from a country listed in the OECD ODA (Official Development Assistance) list.

• Have strong enough spoken English to participate actively in discussions.

• Provide a letter confirming that their institution will grant leave of absence for the fellowship duration.

Benefits

Fellows will receive:

• Fully funded return economy airfare

• Visa costs covered

• Accommodation at Wolfson College, Cambridge, including:

  • Free library, gym, and social space access

  • No membership fees

• £175 per week subsistence allowance

• Desk space and full computer access at CRASSH

• Access to:

  • All University of Cambridge libraries

  • Academic events, seminars, and collections

• A 9-week residential fellowship (extendable to 12 weeks)

• Additional 9-month digital fellowship for continued online access

• Ability to participate in the Legacies of Enslavement public engagement programmes

Fellowship/Program Components

A. Thematic Focus (2027): Enslavement – Histories, Legacies, Afterlives

Research may explore:

• Slavery and resistance (social, cultural, material dimensions)

• Environmental legacies of plantation systems

• Memory, heritage, and transmission

• Knowledge, power, and systems of inequality

• Repair, restoration, and healing from historical harm

B. Eligible Academic Fields

Including but not limited to:

• Anthropology

• Archaeology

• Art history

• Digital humanities

• Ecology & environmental studies

• Geography

• History

• Medical humanities

• Museum studies

• Philosophy

• Sociology

• Science and technology studies

C. Collaborative Event

Fellows must:

• Co-design an academic event related to the fellowship theme

• Present their research during this event

• Participate in planning meetings (some held online before arrival)

D. Research Practice Seminar

All fellows are required to take part in CRASSH’s Research Practice seminar.

Application Requirements

Applicants must submit:

• Curriculum Vitae (CV) (as per guidance document)

• Letter of support from Head of Department confirming leave of absence

• Answers to three application questions

• PDF uploads only

Application Questions

1. Motivation Statement
   Why do you want this fellowship, and how will Cambridge benefit your work? (max. 500 words)

2. Research Proposal
   Outline of your current project and which part you will develop during the fellowship (max. 1000 words)

3. Event Contribution Idea
   Your ideas for the theme and structure of the collaborative event (max. 400 words)

Selection Criteria

Selection panel includes the CRASSH Director and senior Cambridge academics.

Applicants are assessed based on:

• Quality and originality of research proposal

• Relevance to the 2027 theme

• Academic excellence and publication record

• Contribution to Global South perspectives

• Clarity of motivation and potential for future collaboration

Preference may be given to scholars who studied and built their careers entirely in the Global South.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an online interview.

Application Process

1. Register on the CRASSH online application portal.

2. Fill in all required fields and upload documents as PDFs.

3. Answer the three core questions (500, 1000, 400 words).

4. Submit before the deadline.

5. You may log in later to edit your application before the deadline.

Important Dates

• Deadline: 16 February 2026 (12:00 UTC)

• Results: By end of March 2026

• Residency Term: Lent Term 2027 (mid-January to mid-March)

• Duration: 9–12 weeks residential + 9 months digital access

For more information and application: 

Visit the official website of the Fully Funded Cambridge Visiting Fellowship for Global South Scholars – Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences (2027)

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