The Chevening British Library Coptic Collections Fellowship 2027 offers a 12-month funded UK research opportunity for eligible professionals from Egypt, Palestine and Sudan.
The Chevening British Library Coptic Collections Fellowship 2027 offers mid-career professionals from Egypt, Palestine and Sudan the opportunity to undertake a 12-month research project at the British Library in London.
The fellowship focuses on Coptic manuscript heritage and cultural collections, including manuscript cataloguing, provenance research and public engagement.
Applications are open until 27 October 2026 at 12:00 UTC.
Fellowship Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Fellowship | Chevening British Library Coptic Collections Fellowship |
| Host | British Library |
| Location | London, UK |
| Duration | 12 months |
| Start | September 2027 |
| End | September 2028 |
| Eligible nationalities | Egypt, Palestine and Sudan |
| Target applicants | Mid-career professionals |
| Main focus | Coptic manuscripts and cultural heritage |
| Deadline | 27 October 2026, 12:00 UTC |
| Funding | Living expenses, airfare and fellowship-related allowances |
About the Fellowship
The fellowship is co-funded by the British Library and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
Fellows will work at the British Library with Dr. Michael Erdman, Head of Asian and African Studies (interim), to lead a research project related to the Library’s Coptic collections.
The work involves using language skills, subject expertise and professional experience to improve the documentation and accessibility of the collections.
What Fellows Will Do
Successful fellows will have opportunities to:
- Survey the British Library’s Coptic collections and identify cataloguing and documentation gaps.
- Create and enhance catalogue records using manuscript evidence and existing metadata.
- Research and document the provenance of manuscripts.
- Analyse the history and acquisition of the collections.
- Organise and contribute to events involving Coptic community members and researchers.
- Produce blogs, reports and other outputs about the Coptic collections.
- Support public engagement activities relating to Coptic heritage.
The collections cover more than 1,500 years of Coptic history, theology and literary culture, including complete and fragmentary codices and papyrus, parchment and paper fragments.
What Fellows Gain
The fellowship provides opportunities to gain:
- Experience working with a major research library and cultural heritage institution.
- International academic and professional exposure.
- Specialist experience in manuscript cataloguing.
- Experience in provenance research and collections documentation.
- Practical experience in community and public engagement around heritage collections.
- Experience contributing to the accessibility and interpretation of a significant cultural collection.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must meet Chevening’s standard eligibility criteria as well as the fellowship-specific requirements.
Applicants must:
- Be citizens of Egypt, Sudan or Palestine.
- Normally be resident in one of these countries. Eligible citizens living elsewhere in specified Chevening-eligible ODA countries in the Middle East and North Africa may also apply.
- Intend to return to and contribute to their country of citizenship after the fellowship.
- Return to their country of citizenship for at least one year after the fellowship.
- Hold a postgraduate-level qualification, or equivalent relevant professional training or experience.
- Have at least five years of significant professional and/or academic research experience.
- Be currently employed or enrolled as a PhD candidate.
- If enrolled in a PhD, the PhD must not be with a UK, EU or USA university.
Required Skills and Experience
Applicants should also have:
- Excellent knowledge of Coptic, specifically Sahidic or Bohairic.
- Knowledge of Arabic and/or Greek is desirable.
- Good written and spoken English.
- Experience communicating research findings effectively.
- Experience cataloguing and handling manuscript collections.
- Knowledge of manuscript description standards.
- Experience in provenance research and documentation, or a demonstrable interest in this area.
- Experience working with heritage communities or delivering cultural heritage engagement activities.
Funding and Benefits
Each fellowship includes:
- A 12-month project-based placement at the British Library.
- Living expenses for the fellowship period.
- Return economy airfare.
- An allowance package for fellowship-related activities.
- Up to £1,000 for approved project-related expenses.
Important Travel Information
The FCDO states that it cannot assist with arranging or facilitating travel to the UK, including travel from Palestine.
Successful fellows will therefore need to arrange their own travel to the UK, potentially through third countries.
Fellowship Duration
The fellowship runs for 12 months:
Start: September 2027
End: September 2028
Application Deadline
Applications close on:
27 October 2026 at 12:00 UTC
Applicants should ensure that their application is submitted before the stated deadline.
How to Apply
Applications should be submitted through the official Chevening fellowship application process.
Apply for the Chevening British Library Coptic Collections Fellowship
Applicants should review the standard Chevening eligibility requirements alongside the specific requirements for this fellowship before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply for the British Library Coptic Collections Fellowship?
The fellowship is open to eligible mid-career professionals who are citizens of Egypt, Palestine or Sudan.
Where is the fellowship held?
The fellowship takes place at the British Library in London, UK.
How long is the fellowship?
It lasts 12 months, from September 2027 to September 2028.
What does the fellowship cover?
It includes living expenses, return economy airfare, a fellowship-related allowance package and up to £1,000 for approved project-related expenses.
Is knowledge of Coptic required?
Yes. Applicants must have excellent knowledge of Coptic, either Sahidic or Bohairic.
Is Arabic required?
Arabic and/or Greek knowledge is listed as desirable rather than mandatory.
How much professional experience is required?
Applicants must have at least five years of significant professional and/or academic research experience.
What is the application deadline?
The deadline is 27 October 2026 at 12:00 UTC.
Can PhD candidates apply?
Yes, provided they are currently enrolled as PhD candidates and their PhD is not with a university in the UK, EU or USA.
Do applicants from Palestine receive travel assistance?
The source states that the FCDO cannot assist with arranging or facilitating travel to the UK, including from Palestine. Successful fellows must arrange their own travel.
Opportunities Feed Assessment
The Chevening British Library Coptic Collections Fellowship combines specialist manuscript research with collections documentation, provenance research and cultural heritage engagement. Its eligibility requirements are highly specific, particularly the requirement for strong Coptic language knowledge and relevant manuscript or heritage experience.
Disclaimer: Opportunities Feed is sharing this fellowship for informational and educational purposes. We are not affiliated with Chevening, the British Library or the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and we do not recruit applicants on their behalf.
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