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Welcome to the British Academy

We are the UK’s national academy for the humanities and social sciences

We invest in researchers and projects across the UK and overseas, engage the public with fresh thinking and debates, and bring together scholars, government, business and civil society to influence policy for the benefit of everyone.

We champion fields of study which concern the human world – from history, philosophy and languages to human behaviour, economics, business and psychology.

Anyone seeking to understand and solve our world’s most complex challenges - from inequality, AI, climate change or changing global orders - needs the insights and expertise of our disciplines.

Around the Academy

Events

Explore bold thinking and new perspectives at the British Academy Ideas Festival on 19-20 June

SHAPE Observatory

New British Academy analysis shows large areas of the UK where valuable humanities and social sciences subjects are not taught

Community

For ECRs - find out more about our inclusive, researcher-led Early Career Researcher Network

SHAPE Observatory

SHAPE in numbers: explore the health and value of social sciences, humanities and arts subjects across the UK

Policy

How can we make “Green” open access for longform publications a sustainable reality?

Policy

Global (Dis)Order policy programme provides insights on navigating an international system in flux

Research funding opportunities

Every year, we run over 30 funding schemes open to researchers across the UK and around the world.

From small-scale seed funding grants to longer-term Fellowships or challenge-led collaborative grants, we fund researchers at key stages of their careers, from postdoctoral to professorship, as they harness the humanities and social sciences to shape our world.

See our open opportunities or search for upcoming grants.

British Academy SHAPE Observatory

Bringing independence, authority and objectivity, the SHAPE Observatory monitors the health and development of the humanities and social sciences

Policy and research

Public service media: funding and governance options

Global (Dis)Order

Net Zero Governance

Journal of the British Academy

Access world-class SHAPE research from across the British Academy. Our open access journal includes disciplinary-diverse contributions from our Fellows, funded research programmes, and academic events and activities.

Support the British Academy

Support us

As a charity, we rely on donations and gifts from individuals and organisations to invest in researchers and projects across the UK and overseas, engage the public with fresh thinking and debates, and bring together scholars, government, business and civil society to influence policy for the benefit of everyone.

Sign up to our email newsletters

Join our mailing list to explore the ideas and impact of the British Academy. Get updates on research, funding, policy, international collaborations, and events that bring the humanities and social sciences to life.