🌍 About the Fellowship

The Chevening British Library Southeast Asian Fellowship is co-funded by the British Library and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

The fellowship gives an eligible mid-career professional the opportunity to undertake a research project involving early printed works in Cambodian, Lao and Thai languages held in the British Library.

📌 Fellowship at a Glance

💰 Funding & Benefits

Each fellowship includes support designed to enable the selected fellow to undertake the 12-month project at the British Library.

• Living expenses for the duration of the fellowship
• Return economy airfare
• Allowance package for fellowship-related activities
• Up to £1,000 for approved project-related expenses

👤 Who Can Apply?

In addition to the standard Chevening Fellowship eligibility requirements, applicants for this specific fellowship must meet the programme’s additional requirements.

• Be a citizen of and resident in Cambodia, Laos or Thailand.
• Have a postgraduate-level qualification or equivalent relevant professional training or experience.
• Have at least five years of significant professional and/or academic research experience.
• Be currently employed or enrolled as a PhD candidate, with the PhD not being at a UK, EU or USA university.
• Have excellent written and spoken knowledge of Thai, Lao and Khmer, or excellent Thai together with either Lao or Khmer.
• Have good written and spoken English.
• Have an interest in bibliographical description, cataloguing and curatorial work.
• Be willing to use digital tools, including AI-assisted approaches, for metadata creation.
• Have experience communicating research with non-specialist audiences.
• Have an interest in Southeast Asian printing, book culture and manuscript traditions.

📚 What Will the Fellow Work On?

• Review and research early Cambodian, Lao and Thai printed works.
• Create metadata in original scripts and Romanisation.
• Work with British Library curators and conservation specialists.
• Contribute to research on Southeast Asian printing and book culture.
• Support collection discovery, conservation and future digitisation work.
• Share research findings through publications, presentations and public engagement activities.

📝 Before You Apply

• Review all eligibility requirements carefully.
• Prepare your academic and professional information.
• Check the language requirements.
• Review the application instructions.
• Make sure your application is submitted before the deadline.
• Use accurate information throughout your application.