Tweedie Research Fellowship

Tweedie Research Fellowships may be awarded for archaeological, ethnological, ethnographic, sociological or linguistic research. For 2025/26, a total of £8,000 will be available with individual awards of up to £1,000. 

Eligibility

Applications are invited for archaeological, ethnological, ethnographic, sociological or linguistic research in Asia, Africa, Latin America and Oceania. The following regions are not normally considered: USA, Canada, EU and UK.

Applicants must be current MSc by Research or PhD students and be fully matriculated at the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences in 2025/26. Applicants are not permitted to be in salaried ‘career level’ employment.

Archival or library-based research will not be considered. Retrospective project dates cannot be considered.

Awards will be made conditional on proof of ethics approval and University travel insurance and these conditions must be met before 31st August 2026.

The Fellowship will not normally be awarded for a second time to the same candidate; applications should be planned as single-season projects.

The Fellowship can be held alongside other grants and awards.

Funds can only be released if the University has confirmed that the travel is approved with a completed University risk assessment form and when University travel insurance is secured.

Assessment

This is a competitive fund that receives a large number of applications. Applicants are asked to consider eligibility requirements carefully before submission.

Applicants must complete all sections of the application form and include a supervisory statement to be considered for an award.

Applications will be assessed on the basis of suitability given the eligibility requirements set out below, feasibility of the proposed fieldwork, and the scholarly standard of the fieldwork rationale.

Priority will be given to applicants undertaking an initial and essential period of fieldwork.  Supplementary fieldwork trips may be considered for support, but applicants must provide evidence that the activities are essential for completion of the stipulated research project. Retrospective claims for support will not be considered.

Successful applicants will be asked to provide a report to the panel, following the completion of the project.

Application

Applicants must complete the application form (posted at the end of the web page), which is to include a Lead Supervisor statement of support. Please also include a CV of no more than two pages.

The Lead Supervisor statement of support should be included in the application form. It should comment on the application and the suitability of the project for this funding call.

Applicants must clearly address the following points in their application to demonstrate the feasibility of the fieldwork:

1. Research aims    
2. Methodologies being used    
3. Potential outcomes of the fieldwork  
4. Justification as to why in person fieldwork is required  
5. A detailed budget of the entire project  
6. Detail of which items within the budget would need covered by the fund
7. Supporting statement from the lead supervisor
8. School guidance and procedures for ethical review, risk assessment and University of Edinburgh insurance for travel has been followed. If awarded funding, proof that these permissions have been secured will be required for the payment to be made.    

Application Deadline

  27th October 2025 (5pm)

  Applications to be returned to pgawards@ed.ac.uk

Notification

The Postgraduate Research Student Office will email all applicants with decisions by January 2026.

Previous Award Holders