Arts and Humanities Research Council (UKRI)

International Placement Scheme 2027

AHRC funding for AHRC-funded PhD students and early career researchers in the arts and humanities to spend two to five months doing primary research at an international host: the Harry Ransom Center, Huntington Library, Library of Congress, Smithsonian Institution or Yale Center for British Art in the US, Japan's National Institutes for the Humanities, Shanghai Theatre Academy, or the Johannesburg Holocaust and Genocide Centre. It pays a one-off sum for travel and visa (about £1,000 to £1,200) and a monthly living allowance of £1,500 to £3,500 depending on the host. Applications go in through your UK research organisation, with your supervisor's or head of department's support. Closes 4pm on 9 March 2027.

Apply on the funder’s site

You could get: £2,070 – £18,500
Deadline: 127 days left; 9 March
Effort: Heavy; budgets, references, often several stages

Who can apply

Individuals, applying through an eligible UK research organisation: either a doctoral student currently funded by AHRC (the placement must fall within the funded period and the application gives the doctoral training grant reference), or an early career researcher in any arts or humanities subject who is employed by an eligible UK research organisation on a contract lasting at least the length of the placement (it need not be permanent)
ECRs self-identify, with no limit on years since the PhD, and must hold a doctorate by the start date or have equivalent research experience
PhD students need approval from their research organisation and supervisor, ECRs from their head of department
You may apply to more than one host, with separate, non-overlapping and non-interdependent applications, but total placement time cannot exceed five months, and you can hold a placement at the same host only once at each career stage
NIHU and the Smithsonian require you to contact them and secure a supervisor or adviser before applying (NIHU at least six weeks before); some NIHU collections require advanced Japanese; Shanghai placements must fall between September and December

What it funds

A placement of two to five months at an international host institution to undertake primary research in an AHRC subject area, building on your current research:

A one-off payment for visa and travel: up to £285 and £715 for the US hosts; £50 and £1,150 for NIHU (Japan); £64 and £1,136 for Shanghai Theatre Academy; £27 and £900 for the Johannesburg Holocaust and Genocide Centre
A monthly payment for local transport, subsistence and accommodation: up to £2,500 (Harry Ransom Center), £3,000 (Huntington Library), £3,500 (Library of Congress, Smithsonian Institution, Yale Center for British Art), £1,700 (NIHU), £1,600 (Shanghai Theatre Academy) or £1,500 (Johannesburg Holocaust and Genocide Centre)

Maximum lengths vary by host: two to three months at the Harry Ransom Center and the Johannesburg centre, two to four months at Shanghai Theatre Academy, two to five months elsewhere. Placements of two to four months must start by 1 February 2028, five-month placements by 1 November 2027. AHRC pays NIHU management fees and Johannesburg bench fees directly. Limited extra support may be agreed for applicants with disabilities or caring responsibilities. Funds are paid to your research organisation, which must pay you in full before the placement.

What it will not fund

More than one return flight
Placements split into more than one block of time
Extensions to a PhD award end date or submission date for time spent on placement
Deferred placements, except in exceptional circumstances
Uninvited resubmissions of projects already submitted to UKRI
A second placement at the same host at the same career stage

How to apply

Research suitable hosts using their online catalogues, develop a research proposal and contact the host early to identify resources and agree dates (compulsory for NIHU and the Smithsonian)
Get approval from your research organisation and supervisor (PhD students) or head of department (ECRs)
Optionally attend a webinar: 2 December 2026 (Johannesburg), 13 January 2027 (US hosts) or 14 January 2027 (Asian hosts)
Start an application on the UKRI Funding Service, create an account and complete the EDI survey
Answer the questions: summary, subject area, eligibility, purpose and methodology (1,000 words), applicant experience, supervisor or head of department support, and collaboration and export control
Send the completed application to your research office, which checks and submits it to UKRI by 4pm on 9 March 2027
Host experts review eligible applications and AHRC moderates the scores
If successful, confirm your dates within 10 working days and arrange travel, accommodation and visa yourself

Allow for your institution's internal deadline, which will be earlier. Visas can take one to three months.

Have ready

Statement of support from your supervisor or head of department
Your doctoral training grant reference (PhD students) or any previous AHRC or UKRI grant reference (ECRs)
Evidence that your employment contract covers the placement (ECRs)
Details of the specific host resources, dates and, if applicable, supervisor

More like this

Other grants open to organisations like yours.