Explore our range of projects by area of research priority and excellence

At Bath Spa University our research strategy is centred around the following aims:

  • Support internationally significant and world-leading research
  • Deepen international research links and externally-funded international projects
  • Continue to grow and develop strategic funding in enterprise and innovation
  • Remain a university of choice for early stage researchers
  • Conduct research in an ethical manner paying attention to environmental issues and issues of diversity.

We will do this by building a rich, impactful and responsible research environment which develops our researchers, puts in place strong UK and global research partnerships and by diversifying and increasing our research and enterprise income streams.

Areas of research excellence

Education

Associated projects:

Read more at the Education Research Area.

Opportunities for Postdoctoral Fellowships

Bath Spa University welcomes Postdoctoral Fellows to its vibrant research community.

British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship Scheme

Applications are now closed for the 2024/25 scheme. We anticipate inviting expressions of interest next year, subject to confirmation from the British Academy. The BSU process for this year’s round is below for information. 

Please carefully check the scheme guidance, eligibility criteria and FAQs before starting to develop an application. As the British Academy do not allow unsuccessful applicants to reapply to this scheme, you should consider whether this is the best time for you to apply.

Those interested in applying must submit an Expression of Interest comprising a short outline proposal and summary CV to researchsupportoffice@bathspa.ac.uk (anticipated deadline August 2025; to be confirmed). 

Your proposal should include a one page outline of your proposed research, including fit with research activities within the School and your proposed mentor. Your CV (one page maximum) should include your publications to date along with your academic history, including the date your PhD was awarded. If successful, the Research Support Office will work with you to develop your outline stage application
to the funder.

You should make contact with your proposed mentor before you submit your outline and it would be beneficial if they commented on your proposal before submission. If you do not have a mentor in mind, please have a look at our staff research profiles on the Areas of Research Excellence and our staff webpages. You’ll then be able to find staff working in your area of research and make contact with them.

If you have any queries about the Fellowship scheme or the process of selection, please contact the Research Support Office, on researchsupportoffice@bathspa.ac.uk.

 

MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships – for overseas researchers

The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowships enhance the creative and innovative potential of researchers holding a PhD and who wish to acquire new skills through advanced training, international, interdisciplinary and inter-sectoral mobility.

There are two types of Postdoctoral Fellowships:

  1. European Postdoctoral Fellowships – open to researchers moving within Europe or coming to Europe from another part of the world to pursue their research career. These fellowships take place in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country and can last between one and two years. Researchers of any nationality can apply.
  2. Global Postdoctoral Fellowships – fund the mobility of researchers outside Europe. The fellowship lasts between two to three years, of which the first one to two years will be spent in a non-associated Third Country, followed by a mandatory return phase of one year to an organisation based in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country. Only nationals or long-term residents of the EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries can apply.

The next call will open for applications on 9 April 2025. 

Please carefully check the scheme guidance, eligibility criteria and FAQs before starting to develop an application. As the MSCA have resubmission restrictions in place from 2022, you should consider whether this is the best time for you to apply.

Individual researchers submit proposals for funding in liaison with their planned host organisation. Proposals are judged on their research quality, the researcher's future career prospects and the support offered by the host organisation. Applications are submitted jointly by the researcher and the UK academic supervisor. It is essential that you make contact with your supervisor well in advance of the deadline. If you do not have a supervisor in mind, please have a look at our staff research profiles on the Areas of Research Excellence and our staff webpages. You’ll then be able to find staff working in your area of research and make contact with them.

If you are interested in applying for the MSCA PF with Bath Spa University as your host institute, please contact the Research Support Office, on researchsupportoffice@bathspa.ac.uk, at least six weeks before the call deadline.

International Fellowship – for overseas researchers

The International Fellowship Programme, delivered by the British Academy and the Royal Society, enables researchers to work for two years at a UK institution with the aim of fostering long-term international collaborations.

This scheme aims to attract the most promising early career postdoctoral researchers from overseas in the fields of natural sciences, social sciences and the humanities.

The 2024 call is now closed for applications.

We anticipate inviting applications for the 2025 call, subject to confirmation from the British Academy. The information below is based on previous rounds. We anticipate that the scheme will open for applications on the British Academy website in January 2025 and the funder application deadline will be mid-March. 

Interested applicants will be asked to submit an outline proposal and short summary CV to the Research Support Office. Your proposal should include a one-page outline of your proposed research, including fit with research activities within the School and your proposed UK academic co-applicant. Your CV (one page maximum) should include your publications to date along with your academic history, including the date your PhD was awarded.

Please carefully check the scheme guidance, eligibility criteria and FAQs before starting to develop an application. You should make contact with your proposed UK co-applicant before you submit your outline and it would be beneficial if they commented on your proposal before submission. If you do not have a co-applicant in mind, please have a look at our staff research profiles on the Areas of Research Excellence and our staff webpages. You’ll then be able to find staff working in your area of research and make contact with them prior to submitting an outline proposal.

If you have any queries about the Fellowship scheme or the process of selection, please contact the Research Support Office, on researchsupportoffice@bathspa.ac.uk.