ISRF Independent Scholar Fellowship

The Independent Social Research Foundation wishes to support Independent Scholars to explore and present original research ideas which take new approaches, and suggest new solutions, to real world social problems.

Eligible Applicants

Independent Scholars from within Europe[1] are eligible to apply, and they will not hold an appointment – full-time or part-time, temporary or permanent – at an institution of higher education and research.

This category of Fellowship is intended for scholars who have not pursued - or have been obstructed from pursuing - a traditional academic career path.

An ‘Independent Scholar’ is understood as someone, whether or not currently in employment, who is engaged in intellectual work outside of academic employment of a nature and standard comparable to that of a professional academic scholar.

For the avoidance of doubt: newly qualified post-doctoral scholars, as-yet unemployed in academia, are not considered Independent Scholars for the purpose of this competition; nor are scholars who are actively seeking further academic employment; nor retired scholars whose careers were spent working within academia.[2]

Applicants will usually hold a PhD but other equivalent academic or professional qualifications may be considered. Evidence of scholarly achievement at a sufficiently high level can include publications in academic journals, edited collections and monographs, as well as pieces for professional journals and the popular media.

Applicants may be in professional (non-academic) employment, including in the arts, full- or part-time, or in an unpaid occupation.

[1] There is no limitation on nationality – however, the proposed institutional affiliation must be with a European institution.

[2] Other categories of ISRF award, namely First Book Fellowships, Early Career Fellowships and Mid-Career Fellowships are available for applicants who are - or have been until recently - working within an academic setting.

Eligible Research

Innovative research which breaks with existing explanatory frameworks so as to address afresh empirical problems with no currently adequate theory or investigative methodology. Innovation may also come from controversial theoretical approaches motivated by critical challenge of incumbent theories. Interdisciplinarity in the generation of new investigative initiatives may be achieved by combining, cross-fertilising, and so transforming empirical methods and theoretical insights from the social sciences. Projects ranging across the breadth of the social scientific disciplines and interdisciplinary research fields are welcome, and relevant applications from scholars working within the humanities are also encouraged.

The research proposed may include, but is not confined to: initiation of a project or of research level work intended to draw on or contribute to one of the professions, completion of a project, or preparation of an article or monograph for publication, based on existing work.

Duration & Timing

The awards are intended as providing a stipend to allow applicants full or partial relief from non-academic duties, for a period of up to one year; alternatively, the award may be sought by those who wish to be bought-out directly from their current (non-academic) employment contract (in whole or partially), with the prior consent of their current employer. The award period should begin no later than the end of December 2026.

Value

The amount of an award will depend on individual circumstances – the ISRF expects applications for grants up to a maximum of €40,500 (or GBP equivalent - see below), of which no more than €33,250 may be allocated to the cost-of-living stipend. Up to €7,250 may be requested to cover reasonable research expenses. Reasonable childcare or other domestic costs may be considered.[3]

[3] PLEASE NOTE: Applicants seeking an affiliation in the UK must apply in GBP (£), up to the limit of £35,000, of which no more than £28,750 may be allocated to the cost-of-living stipend. Applicants seeking an affiliation elsewhere in Europe, including non-Eurozone countries, must apply in EUR (€), up to the limit of €40,500, of which no more than €33,250 may be allocated to the cost-of-living stipend. These limits will not be adjusted in the event of GBP/EUR currency fluctuations.

For further information, Terms & Conditions of award, and to apply, please click on the 'Apply' button above.

The closing date for applications is 5pm GMT on 31st October 2025.