The British Institute in Eastern Africa (BIEA) invites applications for its three-month Writing Fellowship, designed to support recent postdoctoral researchers in the humanities and social sciences. This opportunity is specifically targeted at scholars whose work focuses on Eastern Africa, with the aim of producing publication-ready research articles based on recent PhD research.
About the Fellowship
The Writing Fellowship is intended for early career researchers who have completed their PhDs within the last two years. The programme supports the development of scholarly articles for submission to one of BIEA’s affiliated journals—Azania: Archaeological Research in Africa or the Journal of Eastern African Studies (JEAS).
Fellows are expected to work independently to complete and submit their article by the end of the three-month period. During the fellowship, researchers may work from home, their own institution, or access the BIEA library in Nairobi. BIEA will not provide office space or editorial assistance; all aspects of article preparation, including proofreading and formatting, remain the responsibility of the author.
Fellowship Benefits and Expectations
- Stipend: £1,200 per month for three months.
- Duration: Flexible start dates, provided the fellowship concludes by 31 January 2026.
- Deliverables:
- Month 1: A detailed outline of the article.
- Month 2: A demonstrably 50% completed manuscript.
- Month 3: A complete article submitted to either Azania or JEAS.
- Fellows are also required to contribute:
- A blog post and short report for BIEA’s Annual Review.
- Photos and social media content.
- Participation in a public presentation (online or in person) before 31 March 2026.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Hold a PhD, having passed the viva by the fellowship start date.
- Not be engaged in full-time employment. Part-time contracts up to 15 hours per week are permitted.
- The proposed article must be based on research related to or conducted in one of the 18 countries within Eastern Africa, from Sudan to Mozambique.
- Provide one academic reference by the submission deadline.
- Demonstrate the capacity to complete and submit the article by 31 January 2026.
Additional Conditions
- Recipients must become paid-up BIEA members for the year of the fellowship.
- Fellows are responsible for adhering to the submission guidelines of the chosen journal
- BIEA does not influence the editorial decisions of either journal.
- Regular updates to BIEA on progress are essential, particularly if any issues arise.
Fellows must also acknowledge BIEA support in all future outputs resulting from this award and provide copies to the institute.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should complete the application form, attach a current CV, and include the required declaration. All materials must be submitted via email to grants@biea.ac.uk using the subject line: Writing 25 [SURNAME]
Deadline: 11th April, 2025
Note that:
- It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that their reference reaches BIEA by the closing date. BIEA reserves the right to consult additional referees. You should ask your
your referee to use the subject heading: ‘Writing 25 [SURNAME OF APPLICANT] REFERENCE’. - Applicants are welcome to contact grants@biea.ac.uk for advice in advance of the proposal.
- We will endeavour to inform successful applicants by mid-May. If you have not heard from us by the end of May 2025, please consider your application unsuccessful this time.
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This Writing Fellowship for Postdoctoral Scholars from the British Institute in Eastern Africa offers a valuable opportunity for emerging scholars to advance their academic careers by transforming recent PhD research into high-quality, publication-ready articles.
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