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Department of History and Philosophy of Science

 

Application Guidelines

HPS has internal mechanisms for scrutinising research grant applications that enable us to work quickly and efficiently.

All applications must have a sponsor who helps the applicant to review and shape their proposal prior to submission to a Departmental Committee for approval and authorisation for submission, and if successful this person will act as Mentor/PI. This process ensures that applications fit with the strategic aims of the institution, are on a subject that the Department would like to host, and are realistically planned and properly resourced. No application for funding can be made in the Department's name without prior approval from either the Executive Committee or the HPS Board and without being costed by the Departmental Administrator using TRAC methodology.

Project grant applications require a lot of planning and it is very rare for anyone other than a UTO to submit a large project grant application through the Department. On the odd occasion that this has happened, prior to agreeing to act as host, the Department will go to considerable lengths to establish the quality of the proposed research and the resource implications.

HPS has well-established research groups, led by individual UTOs. These tend to foster and shape postgraduate and postdoctoral research activity in the Department and most applications for Postdocs/Early Career Fellowships are planned well in advance. Problems can occur when people leave it until the last minute to apply, so the Department has introduced a policy that anyone wishing to ask HPS to act as host for a funding application must meet with potential sponsors in the Department and discuss their project in detail at least two months in advance of the application deadline and the application must be complete at least 10 working days prior to the submission deadline so that approval can be obtained by the University Research Office prior to final submission. This procedure ensures adequate time for approvals, for costings, for electronic form filling (electronic submissions require expert assistance and close liaison amongst those involved) and for changes to be made. Recognising that it is unlikely to be successful in obtaining more than one or possibly two awards from any single postdoctoral fellowship competition, the Department, may operate a quota, putting forward just two or three of the very best applications for each competition.

If you are going to be asking the Department to act as host for your project, please use this form as a cover sheet for your application:

Request for sponsorship and hosting of a research grant application

To help people to identify funding opportunities in their area of research, the University provides access to the Research Professional funding opportunities database. Funding information of particular interest is also circulated on the HPS Discussion email list.

Useful information on potential funders, the timing of an application, teaching buyout, tips for writing competitive applications, peer review and ethics approval can be found on the following page:

Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Research: Research funding opportunities (Raven password required)


International working policy

Will you be working overseas for (cumulatively) over 90 days in any 12-month period?

The new international working policy is relevant for any staff members who will spend more than 90 days away from the UK per year. If this is relevant for you, it may have implications for the amount of funding you apply for. Please read the policy for more information.

Cambridge's new international working policy

Do you need to know how to include International Working related costs in your research grant application?

The Global Mobility Team and Research Office provide Pre Award Training & Support.

 


Postdoctoral Fellowships 25-26:

The Department invites expressions of interest in the following awards. Scholars wishing to apply should follow the departmental guidelines for project proposals, as outlined above.

MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships

The objective of PFs is to support researchers’ careers and foster excellence in research. The Postdoctoral Fellowships action targets researchers holding a PhD who wish to carry out their research activities abroad, acquire new skills and develop their careers. PFs help researchers gain experience in other countries, disciplines and non-academic sectors.

There are 2 types of Postdoctoral Fellowships:

European Postdoctoral Fellowships. They are open to researchers moving within Europe or coming to Europe from another part of the world to pursue their research career. These fellowships take place in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country and can last between 1 and 2 years. Researchers of any nationality can apply.
Global Postdoctoral Fellowships. They fund the mobility of researchers outside Europe. The fellowship lasts between 2 to 3 years, of which the first 1 to 2 years will be spent in a non-associated Third Country, followed by a mandatory return phase of 1 year to an organisation based in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country. Only nationals or long-term residents of the EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries can apply.

Both types of fellowships may also include short-term secondments anywhere in the world during the fellowship (except during the return phase of a Global Fellowship). The Fellowships provide support in the form of a living allowance; mobility allowance; family and long-term leave and special needs allowances; research, training and networking activities; management and indirect costs.

Funder Deadline: 10 September 2025
ROO Deadline: 8 September 2025
Department Deadline: 11 August 2025

 

British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship

Funding: Salary and £6,000 Research Expenses
Duration: Three years.
Timetable: Annual Competition with deadline for submission of outline proposals in early October. Results of outline stage expected in January (invitation to submit full application) for research beginning on or after 1 September. Please check the website for the yearly deadlines.
Eligibility: Applicants must be within three years of the award of their doctorate.
Purpose: This scheme is designed to enable outstanding early career researchers to strengthen their experience of research and teaching in a university environment, which will develop their CV and improve their prospects of obtaining permanent lecturing posts by the end of the Fellowship. Applicants are expected to be at an early stage of their academic career.
Funder Deadline: 1 October 2025
ROO Deadline: 24 September 2025
Department Deadline: 27 August 2025
 

Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellowships

Funding: Salary paid by Leverhulme and Isaac Newton Trust. Each Fellow may request up to £6,000 per annum in research expenses to further research activities.
Duration: Three years (may be held part-time),
Timetable: Annual deadline in early March of each year. Application materials can be accessed from the Trust’s website from January. The Trust will report results to applicants by the end of May.
Eligibility: Applications are invited from those with a doctorate who had their doctoral viva not more than 4 years before the application closing date. Career breaks will be taken into account. They may not currently hold, or have already held, a full-time established (i.e. permanent) academic position in a UK university or comparable institution in the UK or a fellowship for independent research of equivalent duration to the Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship. This would exclude current holders of British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowships or Junior Research Fellowships of three years duration, for example.
Purpose: Early Career Fellowships aim to provide career development opportunities for those who are at a relatively early stage of their academic careers but with a proven record of research. It is anticipated that a Fellowship will lead to a more permanent academic position. Fellowships can be held at universities or at other institutions of higher education in the UK.
 

For Cambridge-based applications, there is a pre-selection competition run by the Isaac Newton Trust, which provides the match funding for successful applicants. You must apply to the Newton Trust before submitting your application to the Leverhulme Trust, and you need to secure the support of a host department before approaching the Newton Trust. The Newton Trust deadline for applications will be in November and potential applicants are strongly advised to check details with the Newton Trust directly.

Department Deadline: TBC expected to be late October/early November