Council For British Research In The Levant

Charity Number: 1073015

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: Not publicly disclosed
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Varies by grant type (typically 2-3 months from deadline)
  • Grant Range: £1,200 - £10,000
  • Geographic Focus: The Levant (Cyprus, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, and Syria)

Contact Details

Website: www.cbrl.ac.uk

Email: info@cbrl.ac.uk

Phone: 020 7969 5296

Office Location: British Academy, 10-11 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5AH

Pre-application Support: Sign up to their newsletter for updates on funding opportunities and guidance notes

Overview

The Council for British Research in the Levant (CBRL) is a British Academy-sponsored charity established in 1998 through the amalgamation of the British School of Archaeology in Jerusalem (founded 1919, now the Kenyon Institute) and the British Institute at Amman for Archaeology and History (now the British Institute in Amman). CBRL is part of the network of British International Research Institutes (BIRI), receiving core funding from the UK Department of Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) through the British Academy, as well as support from member subscriptions, donations, and project revenues. The organization's mission is to advance knowledge and understanding of the peoples and cultures of the Levant through support for humanities and social science research, operating with the tagline “Learning from the Levant.” CBRL maintains two research facilities: the Kenyon Institute in Jerusalem's Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood and the British Institute in Amman's Jabal Al-Lweibdeh neighbourhood, both offering library resources, meeting spaces, and accommodation for researchers.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

CBRL offers several grant programs with annual application cycles (typically with deadlines in March):

  • Project Grants: £7,000 - £8,000 for early career and established researchers at UK Higher Education Institutions, supporting pilot work or completing established projects
  • Workshop Grants: £4,000 - £5,000 to facilitate collaborative academic activity between UK and Levant-based researchers in humanities and social sciences
  • Andrea Zerbini Awards: Up to £4,000 each (two awards available) for doctoral students from EU and UK universities for travel to the Levant on archaeology and heritage topics
  • Travel Grants: Up to £1,200 for doctoral students and post-doctoral staff at UK institutions for reconnaissance tours or smaller research projects
  • Research Support Grants: Up to £1,200 for graduate researchers based in Levant countries, covering academic enrollment, subsistence, and consumables
  • Residential Fellowships: Up to £4,000 for research periods (normally three months) at CBRL institutes in Amman or Jerusalem

Application Method: Annual fixed deadline (typically March) with online application forms available on website

Priority Areas

CBRL supports research across the following disciplines:

  • Archaeology (including heritage and conservation)
  • Anthropology and social anthropology
  • Geography and environmental studies
  • History (including Islamic history and Mandate history)
  • Language and literature (including Arabic language studies)
  • Political studies and international relations
  • Religion and theology
  • Sociology
  • Gender studies and refugee studies
  • Media studies and tourism
  • Economics and legal studies

Geographic Focus: Research must focus on the Levant region: Cyprus, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, and Syria

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated on their website, the organization's focus is clearly on:

  • Academic research only (not commercial projects)
  • Humanities and social sciences (not STEM or medical research outside the social science context)
  • Research with clear connection to the Levant region
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Governance and Leadership

President

  • Professor Dawn Chatty - President

Board of Trustees

Honorary Officers and Committee Chairs:

  • John Shakeshaft - Chair of the Board
  • Tom Thomson - Honorary Secretary
  • Ivan Kotev - Treasurer
  • Professor Graham Philip - Chair of HR sub-committee
  • Dr Kamal Badreshany - Chair of Research sub-committee

Ordinary Trustees:

  • Professor Timothy Insoll
  • Dr Sean Hird
  • Reverend Canon David Longe
  • Professor Louise Martin
  • Dr Noam Leshem
  • Professor Simon Mabon

Trustee Observers (non-voting):

  • Dr Robert Bewley
  • Dr Carmen Ting

The Board meets four times a year and operates through three sub-committees focused on finance/governance/risk, human resources, and research.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

  1. Check Grant Guidance Notes: Download and read the detailed guidance notes for your specific grant type from the CBRL website
  2. Download Application Form: Application forms are provided as Word documents on the website for each grant type
  3. Prepare Required Documents: This includes ethical declarations and risk assessment templates approved by your university or research organization
  4. Submit by Deadline: Applications typically close in early March for the following academic year (e.g., March 2025 deadline for 2025-26 grants)
  5. Sign Up for Updates: Subscribe to the CBRL newsletter to receive announcements about funding rounds

Decision Timeline

Decisions are typically announced several weeks to 2-3 months after the application deadline. Specific timelines vary by grant type and are communicated when funding rounds are announced.

Success Rates

Success rate data is not publicly disclosed by CBRL. However, their recent funded projects list suggests they typically award 5-10 Project Grants per year, plus smaller numbers of other grant types.

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication policies are not publicly disclosed on the website. Applicants should consult the Grant Guidance Notes or contact CBRL directly at info@cbrl.ac.uk for information about reapplying after an unsuccessful application.

Application Success Factors

Recent Funded Projects (2024-25 and 2025-26)

Examples of successful projects include:

  • Palestinian women's experiences in refugee camps in Jordan
  • Archaeological and environmental surveys in Jordan's eastern Badia
  • Crusader glass production and trade
  • Food activism amid economic collapse and climate change in Lebanon
  • History and memory of refugee camps
  • Sports museums in Palestinian rural areas
  • Effects and implications of ecocides in Lebanon
  • Higher education and the right to the city in Jerusalem
  • Developing academic networks for substance use disorder treatment in Jordan

Key Success Factors

  1. Clear Levant Connection: Projects must have a strong and explicit connection to one or more countries in the Levant region
  2. Interdisciplinary Approaches: Recent awards show CBRL values projects that combine traditional disciplines (e.g., archaeology with environmental science, or social research with urban planning)
  3. Collaborative Partnerships: Workshop grants and networking awards emphasize UK-Levant research partnerships
  4. Contemporary Relevance: Many funded projects address current challenges (refugees, climate change, post-conflict planning, urban development)
  5. Use of CBRL Facilities: Applications that demonstrate plans to utilize the Kenyon Institute or British Institute in Amman facilities may be viewed favorably
  6. Methodological Rigor: All applications must include ethical declarations and approved risk assessments

Compliance Requirements

All successful grant recipients must:

  • Sign CBRL's grant Terms and Conditions
  • Comply with the CBRL Research Manual before commencing research
  • Submit an ethical declaration form
  • Complete a risk assessment template approved by their university or research organization

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Annual Cycle: Plan ahead for March deadlines; CBRL typically announces funding rounds with several months' notice
  • Strong UK-Levant Links: CBRL particularly values projects that build collaborative research partnerships between UK and Levant-based researchers
  • Diverse Disciplines Welcome: While archaeology has historical prominence, CBRL actively funds across all humanities and social sciences
  • Multiple Funding Options: Consider applying for different grant types—travel grants can support reconnaissance work before submitting a larger project grant application
  • Utilize CBRL Resources: Demonstrating awareness of and plans to use CBRL's institutes, libraries, and facilities strengthens applications
  • Contemporary Issues: Recent awards show strong interest in projects addressing refugees, conflict, climate change, gender, and heritage preservation
  • Read Guidance Carefully: Download and thoroughly review the specific Grant Guidance Notes for your chosen program before applying
  • Newsletter Sign-up: Subscribe to receive early notification of funding rounds and any changes to programs

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References