Bodleian Visiting Fellowships in Special Collections are awarded to promote research based on archival, manuscript and printed books collections of the Bodleian Libraries. Researchers external to the University of Oxford are invited to pursue their own research projects requiring use of these collections. Visiting Fellows may be invited during their visits to present their work in progress formally or informally within the University or in the Bodleian Libraries and should consider publication of their findings in the Bodleian Library Record.
Visits of one month or more will be supported.
Eligibility
Applications are welcome from both academically affiliated and independent scholars pursuing academic research at any postdoctoral level. This includes anyone pursuing research while employed in a library, museum, archive, or other collection-holding institution.
Applicants who are current doctoral students should note that:
- you must have submitted your thesis before the deadline for Visiting Fellowships applications
- you must have been awarded the doctorate before taking up the fellowship
In most cases, priority will be given to candidates residing outside of Oxford and to applicants who have not recently completed an Oxford degree.
Available Bodleian Visiting Fellowships for 2025–26
African Studies Fellowship
Open to a scholar currently affiliated with a university in Sub-Saharan Africa to study the history of this region, making use of the Bodleian’s major holdings of African and Commonwealth archives, including papers from many who served in the Colonial Service.
Ann Ball Bodley Fellowship in Women’s History
This fellowship encourages researchers to come to Oxford and use Bodleian Libraries collections to advance their scholarship in women’s history, of any geographical area and historical period.
Albi Rosenthal Fellowship in Music
This fellowship provides support for research in the music special collections of the Bodleian Libraries. The Bodleian Libraries’ music collections are among the largest in the country and contain printed music from the 16th century onwards and large numbers of music manuscripts from medieval times to the present day.
Bahari Visiting Fellowship in the Persian Arts of the Book
This fellowship supports research using the Bodleian's Persian and Islamic Collections.
Byrne-Bussey Marconi Fellowship in the History of Science, Technology and Communication
For research into any aspect of the history of science, technology and business innovation using the archive, manuscript, object and rare book collections of the Bodleian Libraries and the History of Science of Museum.
Carr-Thomas-Ovenden Fellowship in English Literature
This fellowship supports a research visit by a scholar of English literature.
David Walker Memorial Fellowship in Early Modern History
This fellowship supports a period of research into any aspect of Early Modern history, of broad geographical scope, using the archive, manuscript and rare book collections of the Bodleian Libraries.
Humfrey Wanley Fellowship
Supporting a period of research in the rare books and manuscripts collections of the Bodleian Library.
Peter Selley Fellowship for Members of the Book Trades
The Peter Selley Fellowship provides support for a member of the rare book trades to carry out research in the special collections of the Bodleian Libraries.
Queen Jadwiga Fellowship in Polish Studies
The Queen Jadwiga Fellowship in Polish Studies supports a research visit of one University of Oxford term, for research in Polish studies.
Richard Sharpe Memorial Fellowship
This fellowship supports a research visit of one or two months to explore any aspect of the manuscripts of the Canonici Collection at the Bodleian Library.
Sassoon Fellowship
Supporting scholarship in any field appropriate to the Bodleian Libraries' special collections.
Sassoon Fellowship in South Asian and Black History
This fellowship encourages researchers to come to Oxford and use resources collected by the Bodleian Libraries from any place or period to research the histories of the South Asian, African and Caribbean diasporas.