Applications for 2025 are now closed. We hope to launch the Call for applications for 2026 in Autumn 2025.
Caird Research Fellowships
Royal Museums Greenwich has a highly regarded research fellowship programme, which for many years has facilitated high-quality research providing new perspectives on our sites and collections and supports our public programmes and displays.
We welcome applications from anyone with relevant lived or academic experience who can demonstrate a commitment and ability to undertake independent research. We welcome research that engages with the Museum’s social purpose and guiding concepts, which include identity, diversity, community, creativity and human impacts on the planet and our natural world. Prospective applicants should refer to Royal Museums Greenwich's Strategic Vision for background information.
Engagement with our collections is strongly encouraged, and applicants should consult the Museum’s Library and Archive online catalogue and Collections Online before submitting an application.
Research disciplines
The Museum supports innovative and cross-disciplinary research, and is also keen to encourage creative, practice-based and community-based projects in areas such as the visual arts, heritage, performance and literature.
We welcome applications within (but not restricted to) a range of areas including art history and creative arts, maritime, social and cultural history, histories of science and technology, conservation studies, museum and heritage studies, material culture studies, historical geography and literary studies.
For 2025-26 Fellowships, we welcome research in these broad thematic areas:
- Caribbean, African and Atlantic histories and material cultures
- Global histories and material cultures
- The migration of people, objects, goods, and ideas
- British identities in imperial, post-colonial and global contexts
- Under-represented histories including gender, sexuality, disability
- Histories of The Queen's House: art, architecture, identity, and untold stories
- New approaches to histories of shipping and shipping companies
- The Royal Observatory Greenwich as a historic landmark and cultural icon
In addition, we have identified a number of potential specific research areas in which we would be pleased to receive applications – please refer to this attached document.
Application Guidelines
Before applying
We recommend that you make contact with the Museum before submitting your proposal so that we can both support your application and ensure its eligibility within the Fellowship programme. Please address your enquiry to our Research team at research@rmg.co.uk and, if necessary, you will be put in touch with the relevant staff member within our Curatorial or wider teams to advise you.
An information webinar on the Fellowship scheme took place on 9 January – you can view a recording of it here: https://rmg.wistia.com/medias/amsjuemgkk
It is 38 minutes long. There is also a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) document which we compiled from questions asked at the webinar.
Who can apply
We welcome applications from anyone with relevant lived or academic experience, who can demonstrate a commitment and ability to undertake independent research. Royal Museums Greenwich actively encourages candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply.
Unfortunately, we do not accept applications from current PhD students in receipt of UKRI funding, unless the Fellowship proposal is for research to be undertaken after the submission of the PhD thesis. If you are a self-funded PhD student, you are eligible to apply for a fellowship which will take place during your doctorate.
Fellowship award
- Candidates can request the number of months of funding required to undertake their research. We typically offer funding for 3-6 months, with funding beyond 6 months only offered on a very exceptional basis. However, this funding can be spread over a longer duration (up to 12 months) if you wish to undertake the Fellowship on a 'part-time basis'.
- The Fellowship award is £2,100 per calendar month. The award can be paid direct to the Fellow’s Institution or to the Fellow. Fellowships may commence in the September following appointment or earlier by arrangement.
- Fellowship awards are intended to cover the costs involved in research (accommodation, travel, subsistence).
Conditions of the Fellowship
- Fellows are expected to work with Museum staff to identify opportunities for engaging diverse publics with their research project and findings, for example through Museum programmes and events including seminars, also blog posts, vox pops and talks.
- The Fellow will be responsible for any tax liability arising from the award, for any expenses incurred in obtaining a visa, and for any required health or travel insurance.
- If you live outside the UK, you are responsible for ensuring you have the correct permissions to visit and undertake research in the UK.
- The Museum will receive printed acknowledgement in any and all publications resulting in whole or in part from research carried out during the period of the Fellowship.
- The Fellow will provide the Museum (through the Research Department) with copies of all publications supported in whole or in part by the Fellowship.
- The Fellow will provide the Museum with a written report on the completion of their Fellowship.
How to apply
The deadline for applications is 23.59 on Wednesday 29 January 2025.
To apply please complete the Fellowship application form: https://forms.gle/ModqibK7DqQJ51F88
You will need to provide details of your relevant experience to undertake the research, an outline of your research proposal, and the name of a referee, (academic, professional or personal) who can comment on your suitability to undertake independent research. You can complete the form in one go even if you do not have a Google account but please note that if you do not have an account, you will not be able to save your progress on the form and return to it later. It is recommended that you draft your answers in a separate document to avoid losing your progress. The questions on the form can be previewed here:
This is a preview for information only – we will only accept applications sent via the online Google Form link.
Applications are assessed by a panel of senior museum staff and trustees in a two-stage process.
Outcome of applications
Applicants will be informed by early March 2025 if they have been successful at the first selection stage, and by end of March at the second and final stage. Offer letters will be issued in early April.
For any further information please email research@rmg.co.uk
Next round of applications
We anticipate that the application window for 2026-27 Fellowships (commencing April 2026 onwards) will open circa 1 November 2025.
Research at Royal Museums Greenwich
Find out about our current research projects, opportunities and conferences