UAL Storytelling Research Fellowship 2026/27

Applications are open for the Storytelling Research Fellowship 26/27. UAL’s AKO Storytelling Institute runs this program with Comic Relief’s Power of Pop Fund. It supports research into how pop culture drives social change. Researchers examine film, television, games, podcasts, and digital media. This work builds evidence on how stories shift public attitudes.

The fellowship supports six researchers over nine months total. It begins in November 2026, running two days weekly.

Program Snapshot

• Host Institution: UAL AKO Storytelling Institute
• Partner: Power of Pop Fund, Comic Relief
• Duration: Nine months, starting November 2026
• Fellows Selected: Six researchers
• Location: London, UK (in-person components required)
• Application Deadline: September 11, 2026

Research Themes Available

• Public mobilization for climate justice
• Young men’s identity and wellbeing in pop culture
• Poverty and economic justice narratives
• Migration, race, and national belonging
• Populism, democracy, and people power

Financial Benefits

• Annual salary of £48,563, paid pro rata
• Total contract salary of £19,425 over nine months
• Subject to standard PAYE and National Insurance deductions
• Mentorship and structured research guidance throughout
• Participation in cohort workshops and a closing symposium

Who Can Apply

• Must hold right to work in the UK
• Must attend all in-person London sessions
• Must hold a PhD or equivalent research experience
• Research must engage storytelling, media, or narrative change
• Must propose original, previously unpublished research
• Must be fluent in English
• Must work independently while joining shared activities

Required Materials

• Current CV
• Links to previous research outputs
• A research proposal, 1,000 to 1,200 words
• A supporting statement with a past project example

Key Program Dates

• Applications open: August 1, 2026
• Application deadline: September 11, 2026
• Interviews: September 28–30, 2026
• Fellowship begins: November 2, 2026
• Mid-point workshop: April 12, 2027
• Final report due: July 16, 2027

How to Apply

Apply through UAL’s official application portal online.

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