UKBL Coptic Fellowship Scholarship 2027 supports mid-career professionals from Egypt, Palestine, and Sudan to research and document the British Library’s Coptic manuscript collections during a 12-month placement. The fellowship focuses on cataloguing, provenance research, and community engagement around Coptic heritage.
The fellowship is co-funded by the British Library and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and takes place at the British Library, where fellows work closely with staff to lead a project, improve catalogue records and engage with heritage communities.
Benefits of BL Coptic Fellowship Scholarship 2027
- 12-month period of project-based activity at the British Library
- Living expenses for the duration of the fellowship
- Return economy airfare
- Allowance package for fellowship-related activities
- Up to £1,000 for approved project-related expenses
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Eligibility Criteria for the BL Coptic Fellowship Scholarship 2027
- Be citizens of Egypt, Sudan, or Palestine. Applicants should normally be resident in one of these countries, however citizens of these countries who are resident elsewhere in the Middle East and North Africa region in Chevening eligible, ODA-eligible countries (Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, Yemen) may also apply. Applicants must demonstrate a clear intention to return to and contribute to their country of citizenship following the fellowship and must return there for at least one year after the fellowship ends
- Have a postgraduate level qualification (or equivalent professional training or experience in a relevant area) at the time of application
- Have significant professional and/or academic research experience (at least five years)
- Be currently employed or enrolled as a PhD candidate (your 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, with 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 a demonstrable interest in this area
- Have experience of working with heritage communities or delivering engagement activities related to cultural heritage collections
How to Apply for BL Coptic Fellowship Scholarship 2027?
- Click the ‘Apply Today’ button which links to https://asams.chevening.org/apply
Don’t miss this deadline
Applications close on Tuesday, 27 October 2026. We’ll email you 7, 3 and 1 days before.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are the most frequently asked questions about the BL Coptic Fellowship. These answers cover eligibility, benefits, duration, deadlines, and how to apply for the fellowship.
Who funds the BL Coptic Fellowship Scholarship 2027?
BL Coptic Fellowship Scholarship 2027 Collections Fellowship is co-funded by the British Library and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. The programme is hosted at the British Library where the fellow will work on a research project in the Coptic collections.
Who can apply for this fellowship?
BL Coptic Fellowship Scholarship 2027 is open to mid-career professionals who are citizens of Egypt, Sudan, or Palestine. Applicants should normally be resident in those countries, although citizens resident elsewhere in certain Chevening-eligible MENA countries may also apply. Applicants must intend to return to their country of citizenship for at least one year after the fellowship.
What are the language requirements?
Applicants must have excellent knowledge of Coptic (Sahidic or Bohairic). Knowledge of Arabic and/or Greek is desirable. Applicants should also have good written and spoken English to communicate research findings effectively during the fellowship.
What professional experience is required?
Applicants must have significant professional and/or academic research experience of at least five years. They should have experience cataloguing and handling manuscript collections, knowledge of manuscript description standards, and experience or demonstrable interest in provenance research and community engagement.
How long is the fellowship and when does it run?
BL Coptic Fellowship Scholarship 2027 duration of the fellowship is 12 months. According to the programme details, the fellowship starts in September 2027 and ends in September 2028, during which the fellow will undertake project-based activity at the British Library.
What funding and expenses does the fellowship cover?
BL Coptic Fellowship Scholarship 2027 includes living expenses for the duration of the 12-month placement, a return economy airfare, an allowance package for fellowship-related activities, and up to £1,000 for approved project-related expenses. Fellows undertake project-based activity at the British Library.
Are travel arrangements to the UK provided?
The FCDO is unable to assist with arranging or facilitating travel to the UK, including from Palestine. Successful fellows will need to arrange their own travel to the UK, potentially through third countries, despite the fellowship including a return economy airfare in its benefits.
What will fellows do during the placement?
BL Coptic Fellowship Scholarship 2027 will survey the British Library’s Coptic collections, create and enhance catalogue records, research and document provenance, organise and contribute to events with Coptic community members and researchers, produce blogs and reports, and contribute to public engagement activities to improve access and understanding of the collections.
How do I apply for the fellowship?
Applications are submitted via the Chevening application portal. The page provides an ‘Apply Today’ button linking to https://asams.chevening.org/apply where prospective applicants can start and submit their application during the open application period.
What is the application deadline for the 2026 round?
BL Coptic Fellowship Scholarship 2027 is open for applications until 27 October 2026 at 12:00 (UTC). Applicants should ensure they submit their complete application by this date and time via the Chevening application portal.
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