Chevening British Library Coptic Collections Fellowship 2027 in the UK (Fully Funded)
A fully funded 12-month Chevening Fellowship at the British Library in London for mid-career professionals from Egypt, Sudan, and Palestine with expertise in Coptic manuscripts. Apply by October 27, 2026.
What is this fellowship?
The Chevening British Library Coptic Collections Fellowship is co-funded by the British Library and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). It's part of the Chevening programme, the UK government's prestigious international awards scheme.
The fellow will spend 12 months at the British Library in London, working closely with Dr. Michael Erdman, interim Head of Asian and African Studies, to lead a research project on the Library's Coptic collections.
About the Coptic collections
The British Library holds one of the world's most important collections of Coptic manuscripts. It includes hundreds of complete and fragmentary books, plus papyrus, parchment, and paper fragments covering more than 1,500 years of Coptic history, theology, and literature.
Many parts of this collection are still hard to find, because a full overview of the holdings has never been produced. This fellowship is a chance to change that by helping document, interpret, and share these remarkable manuscripts with the world.
The fellowship also supports the British Library's work with the London Diocese of the Coptic Orthodox Church, creating opportunities to engage directly with heritage communities.
Important dates
- Application deadline: October 27, 2026, 12:00 PM UTC
- Fellowship starts: September 2027
- Fellowship ends: September 2028
- Duration: 12 months
What will the fellow do?
- Survey the British Library's Coptic collections and identify gaps in cataloguing
- Create and improve catalogue records using manuscript evidence
- Research the provenance of manuscripts, meaning their history and how the Library acquired them
- Organize and contribute to events with Coptic community members and researchers
- Write blogs, reports, and other outputs that raise awareness of the collections
- Support public engagement activities that widen access to Coptic heritage
What will the fellow gain?
- Experience at one of the world's leading research libraries
- A stronger international academic and professional profile
- Specialist skills in manuscript cataloguing, provenance research, and collections documentation
- Hands-on experience planning community and public engagement around heritage collections
- The chance to shape how a globally significant collection is accessed and understood
Who can apply?
Along with Chevening's standard fellowship eligibility rules, you must:
- Be a citizen of Egypt, Sudan, or Palestine, normally living in one of these countries. Citizens living elsewhere in the Middle East and North Africa (Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, or Yemen) can also apply.
- Commit to return to your country of citizenship for at least one year after the fellowship
- Have a postgraduate qualification, or equivalent professional training or experience
- Have at least five years of professional or academic research experience
- Be currently employed, or enrolled as a PhD candidate at a university outside the UK, EU, or USA
- Have excellent knowledge of Coptic (Sahidic or Bohairic). Arabic and/or Greek is a plus.
- Have good written and spoken English
- Have experience cataloguing and handling manuscript collections, and know manuscript description standards
- Have experience in, or a clear interest in, provenance research
- Have experience working with heritage communities or running cultural heritage engagement activities
Funding and benefits
The fellowship includes:
- 12 months of project-based work at the British Library
- Living expenses for the full fellowship
- Return economy airfare
- An allowance package for fellowship-related activities
- Up to £1,000 for approved project expenses
Please note: the FCDO can't help arrange travel to the UK, including from Palestine. Successful fellows will need to arrange their own travel, which may mean going through a third country.
How to apply
- Check that you meet both the Chevening standard eligibility criteria and the specific requirements above.
- Prepare examples of your Coptic language skills, manuscript work, and community engagement experience.
- Complete your application on the official Chevening application portal.
- Submit before October 27, 2026, 12:00 PM UTC.
Simple tips
- Show your Coptic expertise clearly, with real examples of manuscripts or texts you've worked with.
- Highlight cataloguing and provenance experience, since these are central to the role.
- Share community engagement examples, like events, exhibitions, or outreach on cultural heritage.
- Explain how you'll use this experience at home, since Chevening values returning fellows who contribute to their countries.
- Don't leave it to the last day. The deadline is at noon UTC, not midnight.
Apply here
Ready to apply? Submit your application through the official Chevening portal: https://asams.chevening.org/apply
For full details, visit the official fellowship page: https://www.chevening.org/fellowship/chevening-british-library-coptic-collections-fellowship/
World Opportunities Hub is an independent information platform. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by Chevening, the British Library, or the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. Always verify details on the official website before applying.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Organization | Chevening (FCDO) and the British Library |
| Region / Country | London, United Kingdom |
| Deadline | Oct 27, 2026 |
| Level | Mid-career professionals (5+ years' experience) |
| Funding | Fully Funded (living expenses, airfare, allowances) |
WorldOpportunitiesHub is an independent information platform. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by Chevening (FCDO) and the British Library. Always verify details on the official website before applying.