The Chevening British Library Coptic Collections Fellowship is a fully funded 12-month research fellowship hosted at the British Library in the United Kingdom. Co-funded by the British Library and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), it is open to mid-career professionals from Egypt, Sudan, and Palestine who work with Coptic manuscript heritage and cultural collections. Applications close on 27 October 2026 at 12:00 UTC for the September 2027 to September 2028 fellowship period.
Quick facts
- Programme: Chevening British Library Coptic Collections Fellowship
- Host: British Library (United Kingdom)
- Funders: British Library and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)
- Level: Fellowship (mid-career professionals)
- Duration: 12 months (September 2027 to September 2028)
- Deadline: 27 October 2026, 12:00 UTC
- Focus: Coptic manuscript heritage, cataloguing, provenance research, and public engagement
- Eligible citizenship: Egypt, Sudan, or Palestine (with limited MENA residence options; see eligibility)
About the fellowship
The British Library holds one of the world’s most significant collections of Coptic manuscripts, including complete and fragmentary codices plus papyrus, parchment, and paper fragments that document more than 1,500 years of Coptic history, theology, and literary culture. Fellows work at the British Library, collaborating closely with Dr Michael Erdman, Head of Asian and African Studies (interim), to lead a research project.
Using language skills, subject expertise, and professional experience, fellows survey Coptic holdings, enhance catalogue records, investigate collection provenance, and develop public and community engagement. The programme also supports the British Library’s work with the London Diocese of the Coptic Orthodox Church.
What fellows do
- Survey the British Library’s Coptic collections and identify gaps in cataloguing and documentation
- Create and enhance catalogue records using manuscript evidence and existing metadata
- Research, document, and analyse manuscript provenance
- Organise and contribute to events with Coptic community members and researchers
- Produce blogs, reports, and other outputs that raise awareness of the collections
- Contribute to public engagement activities that promote wider access to Coptic heritage
Funding and benefits
According to the official Chevening programme page, each fellowship includes:
- A 12-month period of project-based activity at the British Library
- Living expenses for the duration of the fellowship
- Return economy airfare
- An allowance package for fellowship-related activities
- Up to £1,000 for approved project-related expenses
Please note: the FCDO is unable to assist with arranging or facilitating travel to the UK, including from Palestine. Successful fellows need to arrange their own travel to the UK, potentially through third countries.
Eligibility
Applicants must meet Chevening’s standard fellowship eligibility criteria. In addition, the official fellowship page requires that you:
- Be a citizen of Egypt, Sudan, or Palestine. Applicants should normally be resident in one of these countries. Citizens of these countries who are resident elsewhere in the Middle East and North Africa region in Chevening-eligible, Official Development Assistance (ODA)-eligible countries (Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, Yemen) may also apply. Applicants must show a clear intention to return to and contribute to their country of citizenship after the fellowship, and must return there for at least one year after the fellowship ends.
- Have a postgraduate-level qualification (or equivalent professional training or experience in a relevant area) at the time of application
- Have significant professional and/or academic research experience (at least five years)
- Be currently employed or enrolled as a PhD candidate (your PhD must not be with a UK/EU or USA university)
- Have excellent knowledge of Coptic (Sahidic or Bohairic), with knowledge of Arabic and/or Greek desirable
- Have good written and spoken English, with the ability to communicate research findings effectively
- Have experience of cataloguing and handling manuscript collections, with knowledge of manuscript description standards
- Have experience of provenance research and documentation, or a demonstrable interest in this area
- Have experience of working with heritage communities or delivering engagement activities related to cultural heritage collections
Key dates
- Applications close: 27 October 2026, 12:00 UTC
- Fellowship start: September 2027
- Fellowship end: September 2028
How to apply
Applications are submitted online through the Chevening application system. Start from the official programme page, then use the Apply Today path to the Chevening application portal. Complete the online form and upload all required materials before the deadline. Only shortlisted candidates are contacted for the next stage, following Chevening’s usual fellowship process.
Official sources
- Chevening British Library Coptic Collections Fellowship official page
- Chevening fellowships standard eligibility
- British Library
Frequently asked questions
Who can apply for the Chevening British Library Coptic Collections Fellowship?
Mid-career professionals who are citizens of Egypt, Sudan, or Palestine (with the residence rules above), who meet both the fellowship-specific requirements and Chevening’s standard fellowship eligibility, and who have strong Coptic language skills plus relevant manuscript and heritage experience.
Is this fellowship fully funded?
Yes. Official benefits include living expenses for the 12-month fellowship, return economy airfare, an allowance package for fellowship-related activities, and up to £1,000 for approved project-related expenses, plus project-based activity at the British Library.
What is the application deadline?
Applications close on 27 October 2026 at 12:00 UTC.
Where does the fellowship take place?
At the British Library in the United Kingdom, for 12 months from September 2027 to September 2028.
Do I need Coptic language skills?
Yes. Excellent knowledge of Coptic (Sahidic or Bohairic) is required. Knowledge of Arabic and/or Greek is desirable.
