First Book Fellowship (FBF2)

Eligible Applicants

Scholars from within Europe† are eligible to apply. Candidates must have been awarded their PhD and should be within three years of PhD award at the time of application (career breaks, such as periods of medical leave, parental leave, or caring commitments, will be taken into account), and should not already hold a permanent salaried position within academia.‡ The awards are intended as providing a stipend to allow applicants full or partial support for the conversion of their PhD thesis into a book,* and relief from non-academic work (including domestic care), for a period of up to one year.

A final publication contract need not be in place at the time of application. However, applicants should have developed a specific publication plan, and describe any of their preliminary inquiries to publishers (see Plan of Publication below).

PLEASE NOTE: Eligibility for ISRF funding opportunities is unaffected by Brexit. We continue to encourage applications from scholars working within Europe (geographically defined – so, including those at UK institutions).

† There is no limitation on nationality – however, we are unable to consider applications from those whose nominated home institution is not within Europe. We will accept applications for books written in languages other than English.

‡ Early career scholars who hold a permanent academic position are eligible for our Early Career Fellowships – the next such competition is provisionally set to run in 2025.

* This may include the creation of new material, or a re-focusing of your expertise on a contemporary, real-world problem. However, this award is not intended to fund new research. Applicants wishing to embark upon substantially new research should apply for an Early Career or Independent Scholar Fellowship depending on eligibility.

Eligible Research

The ISRF is looking for innovative research that breaks with existing explanatory frameworks so as to address afresh empirical problems with no currently adequate theory or investigative methodology. Innovation may also come from controversial theoretical approaches motivated by critical challenge of incumbent theories. Interdisciplinarity in the generation of new investigative initiatives may be achieved by combining, cross-fertilising, and so transforming empirical methods and theoretical insights from the social sciences. Projects ranging across the breadth of the social scientific disciplines and interdisciplinary research fields are welcome, and relevant applications from scholars working within the humanities are also encouraged.

Duration & Timing

The awards are intended as providing a stipend to allow applicants full or partial relief from non-academic duties, for a period of up to one year; alternatively, the award may be sought by those who wish to be bought-out from a non-academic employment contract (in whole or partially), with the prior consent of their current employer. The award period must begin no later than the end of December 2025, and awardees would be expected – by the end of the award period – to have produced a manuscript for submission to publishers.

Value

The amount of an award will depend on individual circumstances – the ISRF expects applications for grants up to a maximum of €41,500 (or GBP equivalent), of which no more than €34,000 may be allocated to the cost-of-living stipend. Up to €7,500 may be requested to cover reasonable research expenses, which might include necessary additional fieldwork trips, transcription, copy-editing, illustration costs etc.. Reasonable childcare or other domestic costs may be considered.†

† PLEASE NOTE: Applicants seeking an affiliation in the UK must apply in GBP (£), up to the limit of £35,000, of which no more than £28,750 may be allocated to the cost-of-living stipend. Applicants seeking an affiliation elsewhere in Europe, including non-Eurozone countries, must apply in EUR (€), up to the limit of €41,500, of which no more than €34,000 may be allocated to the cost-of-living stipend. These limits will not be adjusted in the event of GBP/EUR currency fluctuations.

Terms & Conditions

The ISRF reserves the right to extend the deadline for the competition. A short final report of no more than 500 words will be required. Award holders will be expected to present their findings in person at one of the Foundation’s regular academic events. The ISRF’s support is to be acknowledged in all public presentation of research. Full Terms & Conditions governing awards will be provided to successful applicants in their formal offer, based on the draft general terms and conditions available on the ISRF website. Formal acceptance of the award must be completed by the end of December 2025.

Joint Applications

The competition is open to individuals only. Joint/group applications will not be considered.

Applications to Other Funding Bodies

Applicants may apply without prejudice to other funding bodies. If applications for identical projects were successful it would be expected that only one award (i.e. either the ISRF or another) would be accepted. If applications for either wholly or partly different projects are successful there should be no duplication in the budget headings funded by the ISRF and another body.

All awards are conditional upon acceptance of our Standard Award Terms & Conditions.

The Project Proposal

All applicants will be expected to provide the following details as part of their proposal, in English:

• Proposal Summary: the research’s aims, methods, contribution to knowledge, and value in realising the goals of ISRF (300 words)

• Thesis Abstract: An abstract of your PhD thesis (400 words)

• Theory & Methodology: What theoretical and methodological framework your doctoral research deployed (400 words)

• Key Findings : The key empirical and/or theoretical findings of your doctoral research (250 words)

• Background: The scholarly debates and/or disciplines addressed in your research, and the contribution your thesis offers (250 words)

• Work Plan: How the work of adapting your thesis for publication will be organised over the award period, with special emphasis on any further research that is needed (400 words)

• Plan for Publication: Which publishers you are planning to contact, and why (200 words)

The Submitted Application

This will be read by academic evaluators who are social scientists but not necessarily in the applicant’s own field; applicants should bear this in mind when writing their application. Assessors will be asked to pay particular attention to the feasibility of your Work Plan and Plan for Publication. Our Assessment Procedure is set out online.

In order to be considered for the award, all applications must comprise the following:

A Completed Application Form, To Include:

• A completed, anonymised Project Proposal form (2200 words total)

• A Bibliography listing all sources referenced in the proposal. This should be limited to two sides of A4 and any references to the applicant’s own previous publications should be anonymised. This should be uploaded as a separate attachment

• An anonymised Budget.

Your Final PhD Thesis

• A link to your final PhD thesis in an online repository, if available. Your thesis will be treated confidentially and will only be seen by ISRF academic staff.

Relevant Academic Activities & Publications

• A list of relevant publications and academic activities.

The Contact Details For A Referee

Please nominate a referee (ideally your external examiner). Your referee may be contacted to write a statement of support only in the event that your project is shortlisted. The statement of support, if solicited, will be asked to speak to your ability to successfully complete the proposed project.

Employer Approval

Where applicants wish to be bought out from existing employment (either wholly or in part) they must confirm that their employer is aware of their application, and should provide the contact details for the relevant contact.

It is therefore advisable that you ensure that your Employer is in agreement with the content of your application before you submit.