The British Institute at Ankara

The British Institute at Ankara is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 313940).

The British Institute at Ankara is a registered charity whose objects are to promote the study of the arts, humanities, social and political sciences, climatology and environmental science of Turkey and neighbouring countries. It supports, facilitates, promotes and publishes British research focused on Turkey and the Black Sea littoral, and maintains a centre of excellence in Ankara. It offers a range of grants and fellowships for research from postgraduate level onwards, with grants of up to £2,000, £5,000 and £10,000 to support UK-based academics. In the latest annual report it awarded £39,304, of which £34,331 went to individuals.

Priority Areas

The BIAA supports research focused on Türkiye and the Black Sea region across the arts, humanities and social sciences, including archaeology and related subjects. It provides project grants for UK-based academics and a range of grants and fellowships for researchers from postgraduate level onwards. Its awards support fieldwork, study and research activity, including travel by scholars from countries bordering the Black Sea. It encourages original research and collaboration between UK institutions and scholars and institutions in Türkiye and the Black Sea region. Its research focus encompasses Turkish history, society and culture from prehistory to the present, with particular attention to Türkiye’s interactions with the Black Sea and neighbouring regions. The Institute also provides practical and administrative research support and maintains a research centre in Ankara.

Themes

• Archaeology
• Arts and humanities
• Social sciences

Geographic Focus

Türkiye; the Black Sea region.

For research grants, applicants read the notes and conditions of award, then submit an application form, budget and references; applications must include two referees using the BIAA Reference Form.

Deadlines:

• Research Project Funding calls are usually announced in September.
• Calls for the Turkish and Black Sea Scholars’ Fund are usually announced in March.

Application windows:

• The Turkish and Black Sea Scholars’ Fund: Call for applications usually announced in March.

Who can apply:

• Large Grants: Applicants should be leaders of large-scale research projects in any field of the arts, humanities and the social sciences taking place in Türkiye and/or the Black Sea region. Applicants must be affiliated to a UK Higher Education Institution. In accordance with British Academy regulations, applicants may not apply for funding to both the British Academy and the British Institute at Ankara.
• Study Grants: Applicants must be linked to a UK Higher Education Institution. In accordance with British Academy regulations, applicants may not make applications for funding to both the British Academy and the British Institute at Ankara.
• Doughty-Wylie Scholarships: Applicants should be British citizens enrolled on a Master’s or PhD programme at a recognised UK Higher Education Institution.
• The Turkish and Black Sea Scholars’ Fund: Support is available to support scholars of postgraduate status and above from countries bordering the Black Sea.
• David Edwin Jameson Fellowship: Applicants should be enrolled in a PhD programme at a recognised UK Higher Education Institution.
• Society for the Promotion of Hellenic Studies Fieldwork Award: Applicants must be undergraduate or postgraduate students based in a UK Higher Education Institution.
• David French Scholarships: Applicants should be enrolled on a Bachelor’s, Master’s or PhD programme at a recognised UK Higher Education Institution.
• BIAA Research Grants: Researchers across the entire career spectrum (from postdoctoral fellows to senior academics), of any nationality working in the UK or abroad for a UK Higher Education Institution or UK based research organisation, are eligible to apply for a BIAA Research Grant.

What to send:

• BIAA Research Grants
  • Applications must include two referees, using the BIAA Reference Form.
  • The application form, budget, and references.
• Masters Dissertation Prize: A short cover letter, a letter of endorsement from the MA supervisor, proof that the Masters Degree has been awarded, and an electronic copy of the examined dissertation.

What the charity says:

• It supports projects addressing one or more of its Strategic Research Initiatives.
• It is especially interested in comparative, cross-disciplinary projects and collaborations with other institutions that can help generate larger overall project funding.
• It asks organisers of diverse, collaborative projects to identify the main strand of their investigation and the main research questions for which funding is sought.
• It judges applications on academic merit through peer review by appropriate experts.