Laing Fellowship in the Humanities at the University of Northampton

Discover, Research, and Connect

The Laing Fellowship is a prestigious visiting fellowship scheme designed to bring distinguished academics from international universities to the University of Northampton for a six week stay during the summer months (end of July to beginning of September). This Fellowship offers a unique opportunity for scholars to immerse themselves in a vibrant academic environment, engage in scholarly exchange, and access world-class research resources.

Why Choose the Laing Fellowship?

• Enhance Your Research: Gain unparalleled access to key academic resources in the United Kingdom, including the Bodleian Library, the British Library, and the National Archives. Scholars will have the opportunity to delve into extensive collections and archives that are pivotal for ground breaking research.
• Collaborate and Network: Strengthen relationships with University of Northampton researchers and other international academics. The Fellowship fosters a collaborative environment where scholars can share ideas, engage in interdisciplinary discussions, and build lasting professional connections. It is hoped that through the Fellowship, collaborative research outputs and funding bids might result.
• Contribute to Academic Life: Deliver seminar presentations, engage in departmental discussions, and participate in university activities. Fellows will have the chance to contribute to the intellectual life of the university, enriching both their own research and the academic community.

Fellowship Benefits

• Affiliate Status: Enjoy full access to the University’s facilities and research infrastructure. Fellows will be granted affiliate status, allowing them to utilise the university’s extensive resources, including libraries, research centres, and academic support services.
• Accommodation and Resources: Residential facilities provided, along with full access to university libraries, archives, and research centres. Fellows will be accommodated in comfortable residential facilities, ensuring a conducive environment for research and study.
• Academic Participation: Fellows will deliver seminar presentations and engage in departmental and institutional activities. This active participation will provide valuable opportunities for professional development and academic engagement.
• Location: The University of Northampton is situated in an excellent location to provide a unique base for researchers of humanities subjects. It is one hour away from London for instance, and there are lots of libraries and archives in the nearby vicinity (supported by excellent transport links) which offer excellent resources and material to scholars. These include, but are not restricted to:
  • Northamptonshire
    • Searchlight Collection, University of Northampton: The main holding of the Searchlight Archive, on indefinite loan from Searchlight magazine – a leading British antifascist organisation, founded in 1964. This collection offers unique insights into the history of antifascist movements in the UK.
    • Northamptonshire Archives Service, Wootton Hall Park, Northampton: Extensive records and collections relating to World War One tribunals, the Northamptonshire boot and shoe industry, and Berrywood (St Crispins) and St Andrew’s Hospitals. These archives provide a wealth of information on local history and social conditions.
    • Northamptonshire Records Society, Wootton Hall Park, Northampton: Home to some 3000 volumes about the history of Northamptonshire and nearby, along with background material. This collection is invaluable for researchers interested in regional history and heritage.
    • Northampton Museums: Collections available for research including the Arts Council England Designated shoe collection, fine and decorative art, social history, costume, archaeology, coins and medals, geology, ethnography, Northamptonshire Regiment, and the Northamptonshire Yeomanry. These museums offer diverse resources for scholars in various fields.
  • London
    • The British Library, St Pancras, London: The national library of the UK and the largest library in the world, with an estimated collection of over 200 million items from multiple countries. As a legal deposit library, it receives copies of all books produced in the United Kingdom and Ireland, as well as a significant proportion of overseas titles distributed in the United Kingdom.
    • The National Archives, Kew, Richmond: Is the official national archive of the UK Government and for England and Wales and guardian of some of the nation’s most iconic documents, dating back more than 1,000 years. The National Archives was formerly four separate organisations: the Public Record Office (PRO), the Historical Manuscripts Commission, the Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI) and His Majesty’s Stationery Office (HMSO). The material held at Kew includes documents from the central courts of law from the twelfth century onward; medieval, early modern and modern records of central government; a large and disparate collection of maps, plans and architectural drawings; records for family historians including wills, naturalisation certificates and criminal records; service and operational records of the armed forces; Foreign Office and Colonial Office correspondence and files; Cabinet papers and Home Office records; Statistics of the Board of Trade; the surviving records of (mainly) the English railway companies, transferred from the British Railways Record Office.
    • The London Archives, 40 Northampton Road, London: The historical archive for the Greater London area – its collections fill over 100km of shelving, with records dating back to 1067. This archive is a treasure trove for historians and researchers.
    • Guildhall Library, Aldermanbury, London: Holds internationally renowned collections of books on family and local history, wine and food, Samuel Pepys, John Wilkes, and Thomas Moore, plus the libraries of the Clock Makers’, Gardeners’ and Fletchers’ Companies, the Antiquarian Horological Society, Gresham College, and the Charles Lamb Society. This library is a key resource for scholars in various disciplines.
    • Bishopsgate Institute, 230 Bishopsgate, London: Special Collections and Archives hold one of the most extensive collections on LGBTQIA+ history, politics, and culture in the UK, covering the late nineteenth century onward. This collection is essential for researchers in gender and sexuality studies.
  • Oxford
    • The Bodleian Library, Broad Street, Oxford: 26 libraries make up the Bodleian Libraries Group, including the principal library of the University of Oxford. Together, the Libraries hold more than 13 million printed items, over 80,000 e-journals and outstanding special collections including rare books and manuscripts, classical papyri, maps, music, art and printed ephemera. The Bodleian Libraries is now the largest academic library service in the UK and one of the largest library services in Europe.
  • Birmingham
    • Birmingham Archives and Collections, Library of Birmingham, Centenary Square, Birmingham: Collects and preserves both original and printed records of historical significance relating to the City of Birmingham, its people, businesses, institutions, and societies. This archive is crucial for understanding the social and economic history of Birmingham.
    • The Shakespeare Collection, the Library of Birmingham, Centenary Square, Birmingham: The first Shakespeare library in the world and one of the biggest resources for Shakespeare studies. This collection is indispensable for scholars of English literature and drama.
    • Black Country Living Museum Archives, Discovery Way, Dudley: Over 80,000 items in its collection, from clothing and cutlery to buildings and buses. The Museum’s entire collections were ‘Designated’ by Arts Council England in 2012, recognising their quality and national significance. This archive offers rich resources for researchers in social history and industrial heritage.

Details

There will be a bench fee of £2,440 for fellowships to cover the cost of on-campus accommodation (breakfast and lunch provided on weekdays) and administrative costs to the University associated with the visit.
The accommodation for the Fellows (between 8-10 Fellows per annum across different Humanities subjects) will be a cluster flat on the Waterside Campus where Fellows will be able to network and socialise with each other. Accommodation will be charged at £45 per room per night and with various parking options available, see Summer Package document for more information.
If no accommodation is needed, the bench fee charged is just £250.

Eligibility and Application

The Laing Fellowship is open to academics in all humanities disciplines from international institutions. Fellows will stay for six weeks (end of July to the beginning of September) and will be granted affiliate status as well as the title ‘Laing Fellow’, affording them full access to the University’s facilities and research infrastructure.
To be eligible you must be employed by another Higher Education Institution. You will also be expected to hold a PhD or equivalent.
You cannot be in receipt of a salary or fee from the University of Northampton during the period of the Fellowship.
There should be a specific link between your research interests and those of one or more individuals within Humanities disciplines at the University of Northampton.
A full application consists of the following elements which should be attached and uploaded via the application form below:

• A brief description of proposed research (up to 1000 words)
• Samples of publications, if available (a maximum of two)
• A current curriculum vitae
• Two letters of recommendation (signed and dated) from persons familiar with the applicant’s work (please note it is the responsibility of the applicant to seek and include these)

Please note that all applications must be received by the end of April 2026 to be considered.

Selection Process

All eligible applications will be considered by the University of Northampton’s Laing Fellowships Selection Committee, through screening, shortlisting and selection stages. Outcomes are generally notified by early March.
The criteria for selection of Visiting Fellows are:

• evidence of academic excellence including quality of publications
• relevance of the proposed research to the overall aims and current academic research priorities of Humanities disciplines at the University of Northampton
• potential to contribute to and benefit from interdisciplinary interaction with other academic and professional services colleagues at the University of Northampton as well as other Laing Fellows and academic visitors to the University.

At the shortlisting stage applicants may be contacted to verify that they are still interested in pursuing their application and that they have the financial means to take up their award if selected.

Join Us

Elevate your research, expand your academic network, and experience the rich academic culture at the University of Northampton. Apply now for the Laing Fellowship and be part of a transformative journey.
For more information and to apply, visit our website or contact us at laingfellow@northampton.ac.uk.