A Two-Month Research Trip to Durham Could Change Your Career: Inside the 2027 Sir William Luce Fellowship. If you study the Middle East, you have probably heard of small grants and short conferences. But once in a while, a bigger opportunity shows up.
One that gives you time, money, and access to rare archives. Durham University’s Sir William Luce Fellowship is one of those. Applications for the 2027 round are now open. And if your work touches Sudan, South Sudan, Yemen, the Gulf states, or Iran, this is worth your attention.
At a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Fellowship | Sir William Luce Fellowship 2027 |
| Host | Durham University UK |
| Departments | Institute for Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies and Trevelyan College |
| Fellowship period | 26 April to 25 June 2027 |
| Duration | Approximately 2 months |
| Who can apply | International Applicants |
| Regional focus | Sudan, South Sudan, Yemen, Gulf monarchies, Iran |
| Honorarium | £1000 upon paper submission |
| Application deadline | 7 October 2026 |
| How to apply | Email to the Sir William Luce Memorial Fund |
What the Fellowship Is
The fellowship is awarded each year in memory of Sir William Luce a British diplomat whose career was closely tied to the Middle East and Gulf region.
Durham University brings one accomplished scholar or senior professional to campus for about two months. The fellow develops research, engages with Durham academics and draws on specialist collections that are hard to access elsewhere.
The 2027 fellowship runs from 26 April to 25 June 2027. It is hosted jointly by the Institute for Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies and Trevelyan College.
One fellow is selected per cycle. The selection committee looks for proposals that offer fresh perspectives on political, social, economic or security questions affecting the covered regions.
The Five Regions Covered
Research proposals must connect to at least one of these areas:
- Sudan
- South Sudan
- Yemen
- The Gulf monarchies
- Iran
Both historical and contemporary approaches are welcome. A historian examining British administrative legacy in Sudan is as relevant as a security analyst studying current issues in Yemen. Depth and originality matter more than any single disciplinary approach.
Who Should Apply
Eligibility is broader than most fellowships of this type.
The program is designed for established professionals and researchers. It welcomes applications from:
- Postdoctoral scholars and academics
- Diplomats and former government officials
- Politicians with relevant regional experience
- Business executives whose work engages with the covered regions
- Independent researchers and senior policy professionals
The common thread is substantive engagement with the geographic and thematic focus. A diplomat who worked across Gulf states or a business executive with deep experience in the region fits the program as well as any academic.
The proposed project must genuinely benefit from two months in Durham through access to specific archives, specialist library collections and sustained conversation with regional experts.
What Durham Offers Fellows
Fellows are based at Trevelyan College and have full access to:
- The Institute for Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies
- The Sudan Archive a significant primary source collection
- Extensive documentary and library collections on the Middle East and Gulf
- University Library and Computing and Information Services
- Departmental resources across relevant disciplines
Limited funding may be available to support a visit to the Luce papers at the Gulf Studies Centre, University of Exeter. For researchers working on British diplomatic history in the Gulf those papers can be especially valuable.
Fellows are expected to engage actively with Durham academics rather than work in isolation. The program functions as an intellectual residency.
What the Fellowship Covers
All core costs during the fellowship period are met. Fellows receive:
- Return travel to and from Durham
- Accommodation at Trevelyan College for the full period
- All meals during the fellowship
- Access to university facilities, library and computing services
- Membership of Trevelyan College Senior Common Room
Fellows are also expected to take part in college life including delivering an informal seminar or lecture to fellows and students.
The Lecture and the £1000 Honorarium
Every fellow must deliver the Sir William Luce Lecture, a formal public lecture based on the research developed during the fellowship.
After the fellowship the research is published online by Durham’s Institute for Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies as part of the Durham Middle East Papers series. This gives fellows a concrete, citable output.
Upon submission and receipt of the final paper, the fellow receives a £1000 honorarium.
For senior professionals, the publication pathway may carry as much value as the financial support.
The Application
The application package is short. The committee asks for:
- A CV of no more than two pages
- A two to three page research outline
- Contact details for two referees
Applications should be submitted by email to the Sir William Luce Memorial Fund.
The two page CV limit shows the program’s approach. The committee assesses whether the proposed project is credible, original and achievable within a two month residency.
The research outline carries the most weight. It should clearly explain:
- What question the research addresses
- Why this region and this moment
- What specific Durham resources make this fellowship the right environment
- What the fellowship will produce
The lecture and publication requirement means the committee wants proposals with a clear deliverable output.
Deadline is 7 October 2026. Submit by email well before the closing date.
Apply Now For Sir William Luce Fellowship 2027
A Note for Non Academic Applicants
Diplomats, executives and policy professionals sometimes hesitate to apply for university fellowships. They assume the process is calibrated only for academic CVs and publication records.
The Sir William Luce Fellowship is explicitly designed to include them. Some of the most valuable perspectives on the Middle East come from people who have worked in the region.
If your professional background gives you direct experience with Sudan, Yemen the Gulf states or Iran and you have a research question that two months at Durham could help develop this fellowship was built with you in mind.
The research outline still needs to be rigorous and well argued. A CV built on diplomatic postings, ministerial roles or regional business leadership is not a disadvantage.