Funding for PhD students and Early Career Researchers (ECRs) in arts, humanities, and social sciences to undertake placements at prestigious cultural institutions, fostering global collaboration and advancing interdisciplinary scholarship.
Placements are available at the following institutions:
- United States: Harry Ransom Center, Huntington Library, Library of Congress, Smithsonian Institution, Yale Centre for British Art
- Japan: National Institutes for the Humanities (NIHU)
- China: Shanghai Theatre Academy
ELIGIBILITY
This funding opportunity is open to:
- PhD students currently funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)
- ECRs in any arts or humanities subject
ESRC-funded PhD students are only eligible to apply to Library of Congress and must be applying to undertake primary research in an ESRC subject area.
Individual eligibility for ECRs
There are no eligibility rules based on years since PhD or whether the applicant currently holds a permanent or open-ended academic position or job role. However, individuals who currently hold a permanent position are encouraged, but not required, to meet at least one of the following criteria:
- not previously been a project lead or co-lead on any funded academic project or led a significant programme of work in a commercial or non-academic setting
- precariously employed, for example currently employed via a temporary contract of employment
- recent returner from a career break, for example maternity, caring responsibility, sickness, unpaid sabbatical
- changing career track or returning after substantial administrative responsibility
- recent change in career, for example industry to academia or academia to industry
Please note that these criteria are considered desirable and will strengthen an application, but they are not mandatory.
VALUE AND DURATION
You will receive £1,000 for travel and visa costs (£1,200 for travel to Japan and China) and £2,500 for each month of the placement. You can apply for two to six months of funding.
Please refer to the Available Placements document included below for information regarding the number of placements expected to be awarded at each host, as well as the eligible period for undertaking a placement.
KEY DATES
Webinar for placement opportunities in the US: 21 January 2026
Webinar for placement opportunities in Asia: 28 January 2026
Deadline: 19 March 2026
More information, including host-specific eligibility and how to apply, can be found on the opportunity webpage and in the guidance documents below.