Chevening British Library Southeast Asian Fellowship 2027

The Chevening British Library Southeast Asian Fellowship is co-funded by the British Library and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. It is open to applications from mid-career professionals from Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand, who have a strong interest in surveying, assessing, and researching rare, printed works.

Table of Content

• Summary
• Benefits
• Requirements
• Application Deadline
• How To Apply

Summary

• Application DeadlineOctober 27, 2026
• Study Level
• SponsorBritish Library, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
• Eligible CountryCambodia , Laos , Thailand

Benefits

• 12-month period of project-based activity 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   
• Specialist expertise in metadata creation for Southeast Asian early printed collections
• Experience working with rare books and heritage collections in a world-leading research library
• Insights into curatorial practice, conservation, digitisation, and collection management
• Experience using digital tools and AI-assisted approaches to support metadata creation
• Opportunities to build national and international professional networks
• Enhanced experience communicating research to both specialist and non-specialist audiences

Requirements

• Be a citizen of and resident in one of the following countries: Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand
• Have a postgraduate level qualification (or equivalent professional training or experience in a relevant area) at the time of application  
• Have significant professional and/or academic research experience (at least five years)  
• Be currently employed or enrolled as a PhD candidate (your PhD must not be with a UK/EU or USA university) 
• Have excellent written and spoken knowledge of Thai, Lao, and Khmer, or excellent knowledge of Thai together with either Lao or Khmer  
• Have good written and spoken English, with the ability to communicate research findings effectively 
• Have an interest in bibliographical description, cataloguing, and curatorial work  
• Have a willingness to learn and apply digital tools, including AI-assisted approaches, to support the creation of metadata  
• Have experience of communicating with non-specialist audiences, including through blogs, social media, or other public engagement activities 
• Have an interest in the history of Southeast Asian printing, book culture, and manuscript traditions 

Check also:
Free Ongoing Fully Funded Scholarships Guide 2026 (Download Now)

Application Deadline

How To Apply

For more information, visit Chevening British Library scholarship webpage.