Applications Now Open
The Centre for Design History (CDH) at the University of Brighton is inviting applications for its International Visiting Research Fellowship (VRF) 2025–26. This prestigious program supports international scholars undertaking innovative and interdisciplinary research in design history and material culture.
📌 Application Deadline: 10 October 2025
📢 Results Announcement: 24 October 2025
📅 Fellowship Start: Any date after November 2025 (to be proposed by applicant)
The International Visiting Research Fellowship is a competitive award designed to bring one outstanding scholar each year to CDH. It provides a platform for researchers to:
Advance cutting-edge, interdisciplinary research
Contribute to transnational design history, sustainability, and design activism
Publish and present their findings to a global audience
Strengthen academic networks in material and visual culture
The fellowship welcomes proposals across all areas of design history, especially within CDH’s thematic focuses:
Architectural and Spatial Histories
Fashion, Dress, and Textile Histories
Design Activism
Museums, Archives, and Exhibitions
Sustainability in Design
Transnationalism
Successful fellows will receive:
Funding Support: Up to £1,000 for travel, accommodation, and research costs
Flexible Duration: From 1 week to 2 months, depending on research plan
Academic Mentorship: Sponsorship by a CDH faculty member
Institutional Access: University library, archives, IT facilities, and campus services
Research Dissemination:
Deliver a seminar on your work
Publish insights on the CDH blog
⚠️ Note: The fellowship does not include a salary or living stipend. Fellows must secure their own funding for personal expenses.
Applicants must:
Hold a PhD or demonstrate equivalent professional research experience
Have research interests aligned with CDH’s themes
Secure a CDH academic sponsor before applying
Be an international scholar (any country outside the UK)
Be able to complete the fellowship by 30 June 2026
👉 CDH strongly encourages applications from scholars in underrepresented regions and backgrounds.
📧 Submit all application documents in one email to:
Deadline: 10 October 2025
Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Proposal (max 500 words) covering:
Contribution to CDH’s research environment
Alignment with CDH themes
Goals for collaboration and expected outcomes
Research Outline (approx. 500 words) including:
Planned research activities
Fellowship structure and format
Preliminary budget (within the £1,000 cap)
Preferred start date and duration
Visa details (if applicable)
Support Statement – A 200-word endorsement from a CDH academic sponsor
📩 Deadline: 10 October 2025
📝 Review & Selection: Mid-October 2025
📢 Final Results: 24 October 2025
📅 Fellowship Start: Any time after November 2025
Collaborate with over 50 researchers in a world-class academic hub
Access renowned design archives and scholarly resources
Contribute to debates on sustainability, decolonisation, and visual culture
Strengthen your global academic profile and networks
Share your work through University of Brighton platforms
1. Who can apply?
International scholars with a PhD or equivalent professional experience in design history or related fields.
2. Is this fellowship only for design historians?
No. Proposals from interdisciplinary researchers aligned with CDH themes are welcome.
3. What does the £1,000 funding cover?
Travel, accommodation, and research-related expenses. It does not cover living costs.
4. Is a stipend provided?
No, the fellowship does not include a salary or stipend.
5. Do I need a CDH sponsor before applying?
Yes. An endorsement from a CDH faculty member is required.
6. How long can the fellowship last?
Between 1 week and 2 months, depending on your proposal.
7. When will I know the results?
Final decisions will be announced by 24 October 2025.
⚡ Shape the future of design history and material culture. Apply now for the University of Brighton International Visiting Research Fellowship 2025–26.