Deadline: October 27, 2026
Applications are open for the Chevening British Library Coptic Collections Fellowship 2027. The Chevening British Library Coptic Collections Fellowship is co-funded by the British Library and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. It is open to applications from mid-career professionals from Egypt, Palestine, and Sudan, who have a strong interest in Coptic manuscript heritage and cultural collections.
The British Library holds one of the world’s most significant collections of Coptic manuscripts, comprising hundreds of complete and fragmentary codices, as well as papyrus, parchment, and paper fragments documenting more than 1,500 years of Coptic history, theology, and literary culture. This internationally important collection provides unique insights into the history of Christianity, Egypt’s cultural heritage, manuscript production, and scholarly traditions.
The fellowship will take place at the British Library, where you will work closely with Dr. Michael Erdman, Head of Asian and African Studies (interim) to lead a research project. You will use your language skills, subject expertise, and professional experience to survey the British Library’s Coptic holdings, enhance catalogue records, investigate collection provenance, and develop new opportunities for public and community engagement.
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
- 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.
Application
Applications are open until 27 October 2026, at 12:00 (UTC). The duration of this fellowship is 12 months.
For more information, visit Chevening British Library Coptic Collections Fellowship.
