The British Academy has opened applications for the Neil Ker Memorial Fund, an annual grant supporting research on Western mediaeval manuscripts.
The fund aims to deepen academic understanding of mediaeval manuscript culture by supporting hands-on research. It targets projects that illuminate the material, artistic and historical contexts of manuscripts—helping scholars uncover how they were produced, used and interpreted across different periods.
Funding
Awards typically provide up to $2,500 for research lasting up to twelve months.
In exceptional cases, applicants may receive up to $9,500 for projects extending to twenty-four months.
Eligible expenses include research travel, specialist services, research assistance, consumables, essential software, interpreters and costs related to illustrations when necessary for the project.
Who can apply
The scheme is open to scholars at the postdoctoral or equivalent level, based anywhere in the world, as long as the proposed research has not begun before the award is announced.
Eligible applicants include:
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Postdoctoral researchers or scholars at an equivalent career stage.
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Researchers undertaking an original, clearly defined study on Western mediaeval manuscripts.
Not eligible:
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Postgraduate students.
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Applicants with outstanding reports from previous British Academy funding.
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Anyone submitting duplicate applications across Academy schemes.
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Researchers whose project has already started.
Requirements
Applicants must demonstrate that the requested funding will support a specific, self-contained research project with a clear outcome.
Proposals should highlight the project’s originality, its relationship to existing scholarship, the planned research methods, feasibility and the applicant’s expertise—including relevant language skills where required.
All requested costs must fall within the eligible expense categories.
Deadline
Application ends on January 7, 2026. To apply, eligible candidates can visit the British Academy website.
Explore our Opportunities page for more postdoctoral study grants.
Summary not available at this time.
