Deadline: October 27, 2026
Applications are open for the Chevening British Library Southeast Asian Fellowship 2027. The fellowship is open to mid-career professionals from Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand, who have a strong interest in surveying, assessing, and researching rare, printed works.
If selected, you will undertake a research project on the British Library’s collection of early printed works in Cambodian, Lao, and Thai languages, covering the period from c.1840 to 1950 (c.600-800 items). You will provide metadata-style information in original scripts and Romanisation as the basis for the creation of catalogue records by the supervising curator.
The fellowship will take place at the British Library, where you will work closely with the Henry Ginsburg Curator, Ms Jana Igunma, who is responsible for this collection of early printed materials, as well as other colleagues in the Southeast Asia section and the British Library’ Conservation Centre.
Benefits
Each fellowship includes:
- 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
Eligibility
In addition to meeting the standard eligibility criteria, you must:
- Be a citizen of and resident in one of the following countries: Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand
- 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 written and spoken knowledge of Thai, Lao, and Khmer, or excellent knowledge of Thai together with either Lao or Khmer
- Have good written and spoken English, with the ability to communicate research findings effectively
- Have an interest in bibliographical description, cataloguing, and curatorial work
- Have a willingness to learn and apply digital tools, including AI-assisted approaches, to support the creation of metadata
- Have experience of communicating with non-specialist audiences, including through blogs, social media, or other public engagement activities
- Have an interest in the history of Southeast Asian printing, book culture, and manuscript traditions
Application
For more information, visit Chevening British Library Southeast Asian Fellowship.
