Applications are now open for the 2027 Sir William Luce Fellowship at Durham University, offering an exceptional research opportunity for a postdoctoral scholar, diplomat, politician, academic or business executive whose work focuses on the Middle East and surrounding regions associated with the professional life of Sir William Luce.
Hosted by Durham University’s Institute for Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies and Trevelyan College, the fellowship provides an opportunity for an established researcher or professional to spend approximately two months in Durham developing research, engaging with academics and making use of the university’s specialist collections.
The 2027 fellowship will run from 26 April to 25 June 2027 and is intended for applicants whose work can contribute fresh perspectives on political, social, economic or security issues affecting Sudan, South Sudan, Yemen, the Gulf monarchies and Iran.
The Sir William Luce Fellowship is awarded annually in memory of Sir William Luce, whose career was closely associated with the Middle East.
The fellowship is designed to bring an accomplished scholar or professional to Durham University to pursue research connected to the regions and themes associated with Luce’s work.
Applicants may approach their research from historical or contemporary perspectives and from a range of academic disciplines. The selection committee is particularly interested in proposals that offer new insights into major political, social, economic and security questions affecting the region.
The programme can therefore be relevant to researchers and professionals working across international relations, Middle Eastern studies, politics, history, economics, security studies, diplomacy and related fields.
Who Can Apply?
The fellowship is open to individuals at different stages and professional backgrounds, provided their work is relevant to the fellowship’s geographical and thematic focus.
Potential applicants include:
- Postdoctoral scholars
- Academics
- Diplomats
- Politicians
- Business executives
- Established researchers and professionals working on the relevant regions
The successful applicant should have a research project capable of benefiting from the academic environment and specialist resources available at Durham University.
Applicants are encouraged to demonstrate how their proposed research will contribute to existing knowledge or provide fresh perspectives on issues affecting the Gulf monarchies, Yemen, Iran, Sudan or South Sudan.
Research Areas and Regional Focus
The fellowship covers research relating to five principal areas: Sudan, South Sudan, Yemen, the Gulf monarchies and Iran.
Proposals may examine political, social, economic or security issues affecting these countries and regions.
The committee welcomes both historical and contemporary approaches. This provides flexibility for applicants whose research explores historical developments as well as those examining current regional dynamics.
Successful fellows are expected to interact with academic staff at Durham and make active use of the university’s specialist resources.
Access to Durham University Resources
One of the key benefits of the Sir William Luce Fellowship is access to Durham University’s academic facilities and specialist collections.
The fellow will be encouraged to engage with the Institute for Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies, which has developed an international reputation for research and teaching covering a wide range of Middle Eastern subjects.
The fellow will also have access to resources including The Sudan Archive and extensive documentary and library collections relating to the Middle East and Gulf region.
Limited funding may additionally be available to enable the successful fellow to visit the Luce papers held at the Gulf Studies Centre at the University of Exeter.
These resources can provide valuable primary and secondary material for researchers undertaking specialised work on the region.
What Does the Fellowship Cover?
The Sir William Luce Fellowship provides substantial support during the fellowship period.
The fellowship covers:
- Travel to and from Durham University
- Accommodation
- All meals during the fellowship
- Access to University facilities
- Access to the University Library
- Computing and Information Services
- Access to departmental resources
- Membership of Trevelyan College facilities
- Opportunities to engage with Durham academics and fellows
Fellows normally reside at Trevelyan College and are encouraged to participate in the life of the college’s Senior Common Room.
This may include contributing to academic and intellectual activities, such as delivering an informal seminar or lecture to fellows and students.
Sir William Luce Lecture
A significant component of the fellowship is the requirement for the successful fellow to deliver the 2027 Sir William Luce Lecture.
The lecture will be based on research undertaken during the fellowship. Following the fellowship, the research will subsequently be published online by Durham University’s Institute for Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies as part of the Durham Middle East Papers series.
The fellow will also receive a £1,000 honorarium upon submission and receipt of the final paper for publication.
Application Requirements
Applicants interested in the 2027 fellowship must submit a concise application package.
The application should include:
- A CV of no more than two pages
- A two- to three-page outline of the proposed research
- Contact details for two referees
Applications should preferably be submitted by email to the Sir William Luce Memorial Fund.
The application deadline is Wednesday, 7 October 2026.
Why Apply for the Sir William Luce Fellowship?
The fellowship offers researchers and experienced professionals an opportunity to develop their work within a leading academic environment while gaining access to specialist resources on the Middle East.
Beyond financial and practical support, the fellowship provides opportunities for intellectual exchange with Durham University academics, researchers and members of Trevelyan College.
For scholars researching Sudan, South Sudan, Yemen, Iran or the Gulf monarchies, the opportunity to work with specialist collections such as The Sudan Archive could be particularly valuable.
The fellowship also offers an avenue for disseminating research through the Sir William Luce Lecture and subsequent publication in the Durham Middle East Papers series.
How to Apply
Applicants should prepare the required CV, research proposal and referee information before submitting their application to the Sir William Luce Memorial Fund.
The official Durham University Sir William Luce Fellowship page contains the full call for applications and further information about the programme.
Interested applicants are encouraged to carefully review the official requirements and prepare their research proposal well before the deadline.
The 2027 Sir William Luce Fellowship at Durham University represents a distinctive opportunity for scholars and senior professionals working on the Middle East to undertake focused research, access specialised academic resources and contribute to wider discussions about the political, social, economic and security challenges facing the region.
