Mohamed Ali Foundation Fellowship Programme 2026

The Mohamed Ali Foundation is inviting applications for its 2027 Fellowship. This program studies the Abbas Hilmi II Papers at Durham University. Fellows illuminate a pivotal period in modern Egyptian history. Their work also explores a transformative era in East-West relations. Notably, this marks the final year of the fellowship series. One or two fellows will be selected for this closing cohort.

Program Snapshot

• Host Institution: Durham University, IMEIS and Grey College
• Fellowship Type: Post-doctoral or established scholars
• Residency: Primarily during Easter term, April to June 2027
• Fellows Selected: One or two scholars
• Application Deadline: October 20, 2026

Priority Research Topics

• Infrastructure within its social and political context
• New technologies used to promote the Khedive
• Gender dynamics within the Khedival family and society
• Estate management through mechanisms like waqf

About the Fellowship

The Mohamed Ali Foundation is a UK charity focused on Islamic history. It particularly studies Egypt and the Mohamed Ali family’s legacy. This fellowship centers on Khedive Abbas Hilmi II’s extensive personal archive. Durham University has housed this rich collection since 1980. An international Advisory Panel oversees the program’s academic direction. Professor Anoush Ehteshami chairs this panel at Durham’s Institute for Middle Eastern Studies.

What Fellows Will Do

Fellows research an agreed topic drawn from the Abbas Hilmi II Papers. Each fellow ultimately delivers a public lecture at Durham. This lecture becomes a chapter within an edited scholarly volume. In the meantime, lectures publish through Durham’s Middle East Papers series. Fellows also gain full access to university library and computing resources. Interdisciplinary approaches to the archive are strongly encouraged throughout.

Who Can Apply

Applicants may be early-career postdoctoral or established scholars broadly. Strong reading knowledge of Arabic and Ottoman Turkish helps significantly. French and English proficiency also supports thorough archive research. The collection’s breadth rewards genuinely interdisciplinary scholarly approaches.

Financial and Practical Support

Fellows receive an honorarium upon successfully completing their fellowship. Accommodation and meals are provided throughout the residency period. A dedicated research travel grant is also available to fellows. Those preferring flexibility may reside in Cairo or Istanbul instead. This works well given the collection’s freely accessible digital format.

Required Materials

Applicants must complete the official online application form first. They must also send a two-to-three-page project proposal separately. A current CV should accompany this proposal to #339966;">#339966;" href="mailto:maf.fellow@durham.ac.uk">maf.fellow@durham.ac.uk.

How to Apply

Complete both application stages before the October deadline.

#339966;">#339966;" href="https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=i9hQcmhLKUW-RNWaLYpvlCNp00G7-ltGsjZ9CquEBmxUMkxNSjBEVVM3VEtHOU1NSFkyOU43TVZGMS4u" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Click Here to Apply

Conclusion

As the final cohort of this distinguished fellowship series, the 2027 program offers a rare, closing opportunity to shape scholarship on the Abbas Hilmi II archive. Its flexible residency options and strong institutional support make it especially appealing to specialists in Middle Eastern history. Given the program’s conclusion after this cycle, eligible scholars should submit a well-developed proposal before the October 20 deadline.

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