Anthropology Research Bulletin

Welcome

Here you will find details of current funding opportunities and support that may be of interest to members of SAME and other Anthropologists at Oxford University.

 

Before applying to any of the research funding opportunities mentioned here please contact research@anthro.ox.ac.uk

We will advise on eligibility, school process, timeframes and more

 

Please give us as much notice as possible if you need application support — we may have limited capacity to take on new grant applications closer to scheme deadlines. 

If you have any items you would like added to this page please contact research@anthro.ox.ac.uk

Highlights

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Attention all academics, researchers, and graduate research students at Oxford who publish in journals: 

New open access requirements for the Research Excellence Framework (REF) have come into force for any articles published from 1 January 2026. The REF is a national assessment of research quality. It informs how public funding for research is allocated to universities in the UK. 

The REF requires journal articles and conference papers (with an ISSN) be made open access, either by the publisher or the author. (Books and other forms of publication do not need to meet these requirements.) 

Remember: you do not necessarily need to pay in order to make your articles open access! Authors can do so by ‘self-deposit’ as detailed below. 

The simplest way to make sure your articles meet the new REF requirements is to follow the steps below: 

 

simple step for ref open access visual page 0001

 

Funding Opportunities

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Hazem Ben-Gacem Tunisian Collaboration and Research Grants

This award, of up to £5,000 each, is open to DPhils and academics working in the fields of humanities or social sciences at the University of Oxford, with the aim of supporting field research in Tunisia and collaborative projects with Tunisian scholars. All application materials should be sent by email to tunisia-oxford@sant.ox.ac.uk. Rolling deadline. 

Funding opportunities for Policy Engagement

The University of Oxford offers dedicated funding for policy engagement, supporting policy-relevant projects, project components, partnerships, and events. Colleagues can also access information on external funding opportunities for policy-facing work.

Please contact research@anthro.ox.ac.uk if you are interested in applying to any of these calls.

To discuss any of these options further, contact the Policy Engagement Team at researchandpublicpolicy@admin.ox.ac.uk.

From Insight to Innovation: New Catalyst Fund for Social Sciences

SSD is launching a £100k Catalyst Fund through Oxford’s ESRC Impact Acceleration Account to support social scientists taking early steps towards innovation, from developing ideas to exploring feasibility, running pilots, or progressing towards further funding. The fund is open to social sciences researchers at the University of Oxford and Oxford Brookes University, offering stage-gated awards of £2,000–£15,000 tailored to project needs. Supported activities include ideation workshops, partnership development, product or software exploration, early prototyping, and market research for social ventures, spin-outs or consultancy initiatives. Applications will open on 15th June 2026 on a rolling basis, with awards announced in three batches. An online briefing session for this fund will be held on Wednesday 1st July at 11am. Please register here. If you are interested in applying, please contact research@anthro.ox.ac.uk. 

Note: UKRI is currently reviewing its funding portfolio to transition to a new investment framework. Some competitive funding calls (mostly applicant led, responsive mode) have been paused. We expect to hear more from the UKRI on progress of this review in the spring. The funding pause involves BBSRC, MRC and EPSRC.

Links for more information: ​More information about UKRI review of investment approach, pause in funding calls and an open letter from Ian Chapman (UKRI)

UKRI policy internships 2026

An opportunity for UKRI-funded doctoral students to undertake a three-month internship at one of a selected group of influential policy organisations, as part of the existing doctoral studentship.This opportunity is only open to existing doctoral students funded by the research councils of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) (AHRC, BBSRC, ESRC, EPSRC, MRC, NERC and STFC). The call closes on 8th September 2026. Please contact research@anthro.ox.ac.uk as soon as possible if you are interested in applying.  

Administrative Data Research (ADR) Doctoral Projects: Invitation for Proposals

ADR UK is inviting applications from Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Doctoral Training Partnerships (DTPs) to host a cohort of PhD studentships using ADR UK linked administrative data. This funding opportunity is for PhD Supervisors. The successful studentships will be announced in January 2027, and following recruitment, the PhD students will start in October 2027. The DTP deadline for applications is 16:00 on 15 September 2026. 

ESRC New Investigator Award - 2026

Gathered Field dates have been released for the ESRC New Investigator Award. The EOI deadline for this call for applicants wishing to apply through the School of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography will be 10:00 am on 14th August 2026. 

ESRC React Awards (pilot)

React awards enable time-critical research to support policymakers and practitioners delivering frontline public services in the UK. Researchers must work with public sector partners to respond to emerging and urgent evidence needs and deliver impactful outputs within six months. Awards between £50-100k are expected to be made, and the scheme deadline is 8 October 2026. This is a rolling call, and may close before the deadline should demand exceed availability of funds. Please contact research@anthro.ox.ac.uk as soon as possible if you are interested in applying.  

UKRI Translation: AHRC Proof of Concept

UKRI Translation: AHRC Proof of Concept supports arts and humanities activity that translate previously funded AHRC/UKRI projects into real world economic, societal, cultural or policy impact. This opportunity was previously known as AHRC responsive mode: follow-on funding for impact and engagement. Open call – no closing date.

ESRC responsive mode: research grants round two

This opportunity funds researcher-driven basic, applied, and strategic research from any disciplines and on any topics in ESRC’s remit. This includes standard research projects, methodological development, large-scale surveys or other infrastructures. The full economic cost of your project can range from £350,000 to £1 million. The duration of the award is up to five years. Open call – no closing date.

ESRC responsive mode: secondary data analysis round two

Individuals and research teams can apply for funding to support high-impact, policy-and-practitioner-relevant research through deeper exploitation of existing data resources from any disciplines and on any topics in ESRC’s remit. The full economic cost (FEC) of your project can be up to £300,000. Open call – no closing date.

ESRC responsive mode: UKRI-SBE lead agency opportunity round two

The UKRI-SBE lead agency funding opportunity allows UK and US-based researchers to submit a collaborative proposal that will go through a single review process. Grants are funded through existing funding programmes at the relevant lead agency. Open call – no closing date.

Daphne Jackson Fellowship

These fellowships are for those looking to return to a research career after a break. You must be eligible for UKRI funding. Open call - no closing date. 

AHRC responsive mode: Curiosity Award

Flexible awards to fund fundamental research that leads to new research agendas, networking activity and idea generation, which enables the development of further research opportunities and new research agendas. Please contact research@anthro.ox.ac.uk if you plan to apply. Open call - no closing date. 

AHRC responsive mode: catalyst awards

AHRC awards to support researchers without prior experience of leading a significant research project to accelerate their trajectory as independent researchers, to unlock their potential and build leadership and convenor experience. Please contact research@anthro.ox.ac.uk if you plan to apply. Open call - no closing date

Join the British Academy Early Career Researcher Network

The University of Oxford is now a consortium partner of the British Academy Early Career Researcher Network (BA ECRN) – South East branch. The BA ECRN is a network to help, support, develop and empower early career colleagues undertaking Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts (SHAPE) research in the UK. Any colleague with up to 10 years of research experience in SHAPE disciplines since obtaining their PhD (or equivalent) and who is based in the South East region can sign up to the network.

Membership provides access to:

  • Transdisciplinary and inter-institutional networking that could lead to new research collaborations
  • Seed funding for research projects (up to £5K)
  • Up to £300 for development outside of BA ECRN activity or conferences
  • Travel funds to attend BA ECRN events

Pre-announcement: British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowships 2026

The British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowships is a three year award made to an annual cohort of outstanding early-career researchers in the humanities or social sciences. The scheme is set to open in July 2026. The School will a Gathered Field as we are only able to support a limit number of participants. Details are listed here. 

SHAPE Involve and Engage

The British Academy is pleased to offer this funding scheme to support ambitious projects to engage the public with the humanities and social sciences. This programme offers the opportunity to think outside the box, test a new approach and be ambitious in your approach to engaging a public audience with your research. These awards, up to £8,000, offer an exciting opportunity for humanities and social sciences researchers to push boundaries and seek imaginative new ways to engage with the public. They are seeking researchers from across the UK to deliver innovative public engagement projects working in partnership with a gallery, archive, library or museum (GLAM organisation) or a performing arts organisation. Application deadline is 15th September 2026; please contact research@anthro.ox.ac.uk by 20th July 2026 if you are interested in applying. 

Royal Society University Research Fellowships 

Gathered Field dates have been released for the Royal Society URF scheme. The EOI deadline for this call for applicants wishing to apply through the School of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography will be 16 June 2026, 10:00 BST. 

 

None at the moment. 

None at the moment. Please note that Fellowship opportunities will be subject to Gathered Fields. Information regarding the same will be released closer to schemes opening for applications. 

 

Funding opportunities are listed on the EU Funding and Tenders portal. Please contact research@anthro.ox.ac.uk if you are interested in applying to any open calls. 

ERC Advanced Grants 2026

Please note that the School has held its internal competition and selected applicants to be supported for this round of the Grant. If you are potentially planning involvement in an application led by another institution, please contact research@anthro.ox.ac.uk immediately. 

Pre-announcement: Nuffield Foundation - Main Grants (Research, Development and Analysis Fund)

Funding for research projects that address one or more of our five interconnected priorities and aim to improve lives in the UK, with outline stage applications due in October 2026. Please note that the School will run demand management for this call, and details will be released in the upcoming weeks. 

Pre-announcement: Nuffield Foundation - Racial Diversity UK Fund

Research funding to understand the barriers and pathways to a racially just and inclusive society with outline stage applications due in October 2026. Please note that the School will run demand management for this call, and details will be released in the upcoming weeks. 

Links to rolling calls: 

 

Please contact research@anthro.ox.ac.uk if you are interested in any upcoming schemes. Please note that departmental and institutional deadlines will apply. 

Links to Social Sciences Divisional Term cards

Social Sciences Division - TT26 Term Card

Research Impact and Engagement term card: Training and Resources

View more opportunities from SSDT - Social Sciences Research, Impact and Engagement Support SharePoint

Subscribe to the SSD Digest via their SharePoint. . 

Before applying to any of the research funding opportunities mentioned here please contact research@anthro.ox.ac.uk

We will advise on eligibility, school process, timeframes and more

 

Events for researchers at SAME

Fireside Writing Chats: Crafting Worlds Through Ethnography and Nonfiction

All Souls College, Oxford. Occasional Thursdays, 5-6.30pm, facilitated by Professor Alpa Shah and Dr Maxim Bolt

These gatherings offer an intimate look at the craft behind ethnography and other nonfiction books rooted in deep, sustained research. Some of the most thoughtful voices share their work and reflect on why and how they write, exploring the blurred lines between scholarship, art, and public engagement. The conversations bring together a vibrant, supportive community of anthropologists and kindred writers dedicated to writing that engages the world — and helps imagine a more just and liveable one. 

  • 4th June 2026 (Room tbc). Bart van Es discussing his “The Cut Out Girl: A Story of War and Family, Lost and Found”

Upcoming Training Opportunities, Resources and Surveys for all Staff and Students

Workshop: Using AI Agents for Reproducible Research

11th June, 9:00 - 16:30, in person - Weston Library's Lecture Theatre

Reproducible Research Oxford (RROx) is organising a hands-on workshop to learn how AI agents can support more reproducible research workflows. This course will be delivered by Dominik Lukes, AI Consultant at the University’s AI Competency Centre, with support from RROx. The workshop is suitable for researchers, research students and research support staff working with documents, transcripts, spreadsheets, notes, or small datasets. No programming experience is required, although participants should be comfortable working with files and folders. Sign up: Using AI Agents for Reproducible Research (June 2026) – Fill out form, form closes on 4th June by 18:00.  

British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowships: Briefing Session

This is a session hosted by SSD, opened to all researchers to inform them about the British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowships. It will cover the specifics of the scheme, how to write an application and answer their questions. It is scheduled for 16th June 2026, and the registration link is available on the session page linked above. 
 

Storytelling for Social Scientists

This workshop explores how storytelling and narrative skills can play a transformative role in communicating your research, and give you the tools to craft effective research stories and pitches of your own – whether for audiences beyond academia, or for grant applications, meetings, presentations, or other areas of academic life. The session will be held in person at Social Sciences Divisional Offices, 6 Worcester Street on 26th June 2026 from 10:00 BST. Please sign up on COSY if you would like to attend. 

Social Sciences and Humanities Opportunities in Horizon Europe Pillar 2: Understanding the 2026-27 Work Programme

The British Academy will host a one-day workshop on 30th June 2026 for UK-based social sciences and humanities (SSH) researchers seeking to engage with Horizon Europe Pillar 2 opportunities in the 2026-27 Work Programme. Pillar 2 with calls across six clusters offers substantial opportunities for researchers in the social sciences and humanities, both through SSH-led calls and as an integral component of interdisciplinary projects. The event is designed to focus on orientation and insight, rather than matchmaking or proposal drafting.

Being Human Festival 2026

Applications are open for Being Human Festival 2026, which will take place from 5–14 November under the theme Crossroads. Humanities researchers and staff at universities and research organisations are invited to take part by organising a public engagement event, activity, or project as part of the national festival.

For further information, including application queries, contact beinghuman@sas.ac.uk.

Community Connections: Open Space for Social Innovation

The PCER team at the University, in partnership with Equinox, is facilitating a free in-person event for those interested in social impact. It’s designed to help people to make connections, share ideas and insight and spark new collaborations. 

  • When: 9 July, 10:00-14:00
  • Where: The King’s Centre, Osney Mead, Oxford.
  • Who: For researchers, the VCSE sector, policy makers & businesses interested in social value.
  • Sign-up: here

Grant Writing Bootcamp for Early Career Researchers

This intensive in-person session is organised by SSD, and is designed for Early Career and Mid-Career Researchers who would like to develop practical, hands-on experience in grant writing. During the Grant Writing Bootcamp, you will explore key principles of effective grant writing, review applications against funder requirements, and take part in interactive writing exercises. It will be held on 14th July 2026. Registration can be completed on the page linked above. 

Leadership in Action

SSD is funding four places on MPLS’s Leadership in Action participative leadership course, open to research staff and early career academics (excluding DPhil students). This 3-day, face-to-face programme, held in central Oxford from 22–24 September, enables researchers to identify, explore and develop their leadership style through activities, networking and leadership theory. The discipline-agnostic course offers opportunities to connect with researchers across subjects. By the end, attendees will be able to identify leadership styles, enhance research culture, and lead in different situations. It also supports use of the University’s 10 Days Professional Development Time for research staff. For queries, contact training@mpls.ox.ac.uk. Applicants must submit a 150-word leadership statement due to limited places. Application deadline: 13 July 2026.

Ongoing Professional Development and Support

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Looking for AI support for your research project? Did you know the AI and ML Competency Centre provides technical guidance, training, and hands-on demonstrations for projects from across the University? Read here how the team have been supporting innovative research across Oxford. Whether academics are exploring AI for the first time or looking to build more advanced applications, the Centre is here to provide the tools, knowledge and confidence to take ideas forward. If you have a project that could benefit from the Centre’s expertise, get in touch through the expression of interest form.

The Academic Writing Community is a drop in writing group for SSD DPhils and Early Career Researchers which meets weekly during term time, follow the link here for more details.

The Bodleian Libraries is delighted to launch SHOx (Short-form Hosting at Oxford), a new hosting service supporting Oxford’s community of scholars in publishing short-form research titles such as journals, working paper collections, and conference proceedings. Developed in partnership with the Public Knowledge Project (PKP), SHOx offers an intuitive, open-source publishing workflow through Open Journal Systems (OJS), ensuring full control over editorial processes and peer review. As a diamond open access platform, SHOx enables free publishing and reading for all, enhancing visibility, accessibility, and impact of Oxford research. Staff and student-led titles are invited to join this growing community for scholarly publishing at Oxford.

Other Opportunities and Support

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None at the moment. 

There are a range of impact resources from previous workshops available on the SSD SharePoint site. Researchers and research students should be able to access these with an SSO.

These events are either part of our bespoke researcher programme or sessions from our wider programme that will appeal to a researcher audience. If you are a member of Oxford’s Research Staff, you can sign up by completing the New user registration form - Research Staff. Once the account is confirmed, you can simply Login to CareerConnect.

The members of the Research Practice Team are pleased to announce that our Research Practice e-learning courses are now live and all research staff and students at the University are encouraged to enrol in them.
The courses are hosted in Canvas and are self-paced. They contain a wealth of general and Oxford-specific guidance and have been co-developed with Oxford researchers. There are currently five courses available, and the final two courses will become available during Michaelmas term:

  • Research Integrity, Ethics and Governance at Oxford (a separate, introductory course to the mandatory research integrity course)
  • Open Research Practices
  • Research Design (coming soon)
  • Collaboration
  • Data
  • Authorship, Publication and Peer Review
  • Engagement and Impact (coming soon)

The Research Practice training courses give a grounding in the topic and are suitable for all researchers at the collegiate University, i.e. postgraduate research students, research staff (e.g. postdocs, research fellows), and academics (e.g. professors, lecturers).
A certificate of completion will be issued for each course upon passing a short quiz and submitting a feedback survey. If you have any questions about the courses or about research practice in general, you can contact the Research Practice team: research.practice@admin.ox.ac.uk

Wadham College invites applications for a fixed-term non-stipendiary Junior Research Fellowship in the Social Sciences from 1 October 2026. The post is intended to provide a college attachment for a post-doctoral researcher with a position in Oxford University’s Social Sciences Division. It will be tenable for one year in the first instance and renewable for a further two years, or until the University research post terminates, whichever is the sooner. Please see details here. 

SAME Research Support Team

We are here to discuss potential research applications, or for discussions around next steps in your research career. We offer:

  • Research Strategy discussions
  • Planning for new or substantial research funding
  • Postdoctoral/Early-career researcher advice
  • Guidance on funding opportunities
  • Eligibility checks for internal and external schemes
  • Advice on SAME or SSD approval processes
  • Information on Oxford application processes and demand management
  • Reviews for application drafts
  • Guidance on application portals
  • Support with interview preparation
  • Support with research budget planning
  • Provision of X5 budget drafts
  • Advice on Research Services approval processes
  • Support with award acceptance