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About the fellowship

The HESPAL–Cara Fellowship is an initiative that offers a unique postdoctoral research opportunity for academics in Palestine to undertake an 18-month visiting fellowship at a UK university. Delivered in partnership with the Council for At-Risk Academics (Cara), the fellowship responds to the challenges facing Palestinian higher education sector by providing academics at risk with the opportunity to conduct their research in an academic, well-resourced, and internationally connected environment.

The HESPAL–Cara Fellowship seeks to strengthen the resilience and long-term capacity of the Palestinian higher education sector. Fellows are expected to maintain strong links with their home institutions throughout the fellowship and to return equipped with enhanced research expertise, international partnerships, and new knowledge that can benefit their departments, students, and wider academic communities. 

Fellowship objectives

The HESPAL–Cara Fellowship aims to:

  • Support academics at risk to continue their research. 
  • Develop sustainable academic links between Palestinian and UK universities. 
  • Support professional networks to sustain fellows’ longer-term careers.

Key information

Fellowship duration: Up to 18 months, starting April 2027

Eligible institutions: Palestinian universities in the West Bank

Application deadline: 15 September 2026

Before you apply: Read the HESPAL-Cara guidance notes at the bottom of the page.

To be eligible for the HESPAL–Cara Fellowship, applicants must:

  • Be a Palestinian resident in the West Bank. 
  • Be employed as a lecturer and/or researcher at a Palestinian university for at least 6 months.
  • Be nominated by their employing university and demonstrate a commitment to returning to their home institution at the end of the fellowship. 
  • Be a postdoctoral researcher, holding a PhD degree. 
  • Be an academic at risk; (i.e.: Academic at risk is defined as an individual who is, or has been, at risk of discrimination, persecution or violence.)
  • Hold a valid passport and be available to start the fellowship in the UK in April 2027. 
  • Demonstrate a sufficient level of English to undertake academic research in the UK, communicate with colleagues at the host institution, and efficiently benefit from the fellowship opportunity.

The fellowship covers the main expenses for selected fellows, including:

  • Academic and research-related fees at the host university.
  • A monthly stipend for the duration of the fellowship.
  • Additional support will be provided towards travel and visa

There are two stages to the application process.

Stage 1 - Expression of Interest

Participating HESPAL partner universities in the West Bank will identify and nominate one eligible candidate.

Nominated candidates must then submit an Expression of Interest (EoI) to the British Council HESPAL Programme.

Deadline: 15 September 2026

Submit your Expression of Interest

The British Council will review eligible applications and shortlist up to eight candidates.

Shortlisted candidates will then be asked to submit a Risk Statement directly to Cara as part of Cara's internal eligibility assessment.

Stage 2 - Cara Fellowship application

Candidates confirmed as eligible by Cara will be invited to complete the Cara Fellowship application.

This stage will require additional information, including a research proposal and supporting academic and employment documentation.

At Stage 1, nominated candidates will need to submit with their EoI application:

  • A letter of interest (Maximum 2 pages, explaining the applicant's motivation, relevance of the fellowship to their academic career, and expected contribution to their home institution.)
  • A copy of a valid passport.
  • An up-to-date Curriculum Vitae (CV).
  • Official English-language copies of all higher education qualifications (Bachelor's, master’s and/or PhD).
  • Any additional supporting documents relevant to the application, such as publications or research outputs.

Further documentation will be required during Stage 2.

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