- Home
- Endorsing bodies
- The British Academy
The British Academy · Humanities and social sciences
Make your humanities or social science research case clear
For active researchers in economics, law, history, languages, politics and related fields.
- Sub-discipline on the British Academy listChecking
- Route chosen: fast track or peer reviewNext
- Active researcher recordNext
- Talent or Promise decidedNext
- UK-based letter authors confirmedNext
What we build with you, step by step
60-second check
Are you a fit for The British Academy?
1Is your discipline in the humanities or social sciences, on this endorsing body's published list of disciplines?
2Are you an active researcher today, in an academic, industry or government research institution?
3Do you hold a PhD, or have at least 3 years of research that you led, with strong outputs?
4Could an eminent person resident in the UK, who knows your work, write a letter for you?
Answer the 4 questions to see where you stand.
A quick self-check, not an assessment. It does not predict any outcome.
The criteria, in plain English
What The British Academy looks for
Tap each point. The official wording is one click away.
You must be an active researcher
Every applicant in this field, on every route, must be an active researcher in an academic, industry or government research institution.
Read the official wording
“An applicant for endorsement in the field of science, engineering, humanities, social science and medicine must be an active researcher in an academic, industry or government research institution.”Immigration Rules, Appendix Global Talent, GTE 8.1
What active researcher means
The test is a sustained record of research output, judged from your whole application.
Read the official wording
“Being an active researcher means a sustained track record of research production in your field of talent.”British Academy, Global Talent FAQs
PhD or equivalent research experience
Peer review applicants need a PhD or equivalent experience, which means at least three years of consolidated research that you led, with strong outputs.
Read the official wording
“This would entail at least three years' consolidated research time where you have been the intellectual drive behind a project and achieved strong demonstrable outputs from your research experience.”British Academy, Global Talent FAQs
Exceptional Promise is for early-career applicants
Being at an early stage of your career is a mandatory eligibility check for Promise only.
Read the official wording
“are at an early stage of your career (exceptional promise only); and”British Academy, Route 4: Peer review
What peer reviewers look for
Reviewers look for originality, independence and intellectual leadership, and a credible plan for your work in the UK.
Read the official wording
“The assessors are looking for compelling evidence demonstrating a high degree of originality, creativity, independence, and intellectual leadership in research and innovation.”British Academy, Route 4: Peer review
Which disciplines it covers
The British Academy covers the humanities and social sciences. Some subjects are split with other endorsing bodies, so check your exact sub-discipline.
Read the official wording
“The British Academy reviews applications from the humanities and social sciences, the Royal Academy of Engineering covers engineering, and the Royal Society covers the natural and medical sciences.”British Academy, Global Talent visas
Not sure which of these you meet? In a free 30-minute call we map your work against The British Academy's criteria.
Map my criteriaThe difference we make
The rules are public. Meeting them is the hard part.
Tap a card to see how we handle the most common reasons The British Academy cases fall short.
Worried one of these applies to you? We will tell you plainly, before you spend time and fees on an application.
Check my caseRoutes
4 ways in. Pick the one that fits.
Route 1: Academic and research appointments
A fast-track route for people who have accepted an eligible post at an approved UK higher education institution or research institute. The role must involve research or innovation leadership, or research or innovation as a primary function.
Route 2: Individual fellowships
A fast-track route for holders of a fellowship on the approved list, held currently or within the last five years. Whether you apply as Talent or Promise depends on the fellowship.
Route 3: Endorsed funders
A fast-track route, administered by UKRI, for researchers named or whose job title is specified in a successful grant from an approved endorsed funder. You must be hosted or employed by an eligible UK organisation.
Route 4: Peer review
The standard route, assessed by experts in your field. You choose Exceptional Talent or Exceptional Promise, and you can apply with or without a job offer.
Your case, led by the founder
Mihir Thaker
Every case is planned and reviewed by Mihir, against The British Academy's published criteria.
The detail
Everything else, when you need it
Who The British Academy covers
- Economics, economic history, and management and business studies
- Law, including jurisprudence and socio-legal studies
- Philosophy, theology and religious studies
- Political studies, government and international relations
- Sociology, demography, social statistics and education
- Social psychology and psychology as a social science
- History, classical antiquity, archaeology and the history of art and music, including architecture
- Languages, literatures, linguistics, and culture, media and performance studies
Not covered, or assessed elsewhere
- Natural and medical sciences, which the Royal Society covers
- Engineering, which the Royal Academy of Engineering covers
- Computer science, artificial intelligence and machine learning, which appear on the Royal Society and Royal Academy of Engineering lists
- Experimental psychology, physical geography and science-based archaeology, which the published list places with the Royal Society
- Arts and culture and digital technology, which follow separate endorsement criteria
What you submit
- A completed Stage 1 endorsement application form, which must include your personal statement
- A short CV outlining your career and publication history, no more than three sides of A4
- Full bibliographic references for your most significant publications, with the publisher and a URL where available
- For patents, the full identifying reference and the countries where they are registered and valid
- A letter of personal recommendation, with the author's CV
- For Exceptional Talent only, a second letter of objective assessment, with the author's CV
- No degree certificates, training or conference certificates are needed; a PhD certificate is advised only if awarded in the last 12 months
Letters
Both categories need a letter of personal recommendation from an eminent person resident in the UK who knows your work. Exceptional Talent also needs a second letter from a different eminent person who is a senior member of a reputable UK organisation in your field.
“The letter of personal recommendation must be from an eminent person resident in the UK with internationally recognised expertise in your field of research or innovation.”British Academy, Route 4: Peer review
Common pitfalls
- Do not submit a general reference letter. Letters must be written specifically for this application.
- Do not count the final stages of a PhD, or work done during PhD studies, as equivalent research experience.
- Clinical or professional practice without demonstrable research achievements does not count as equivalent research experience.
- Check your sub-discipline against the published list. Psychology, geography, archaeology, law and ethics are split between endorsing bodies.
- On Route 1, a job description that lists a PhD as desirable, or accepts another postgraduate degree, is not eligible.
- Do not pad the application. Assessment is made solely on the required evidence, and many supporting documents are not needed.
Official sources and guides
- The British Academy: Global Talent visas
- The British Academy: Route 4 peer review
- GOV.UK: Global Talent visa for researchers and academic leaders
- GOV.UK: Disciplines covered by the endorsing bodies
- Global Talent endorsement for researchers: Royal Society, Royal Academy of Engineering, British Academy or UKRI?
- Global Talent Visa for creative, research and digital professionals: which evidence fits your field?
- Global Talent Visa personal statement: how to connect your evidence into one strong story
Criteria quoted from the published guidance, retrieved 21 August 2026. Check the official sources before you apply.
Questions
The British Academy FAQs
What is the difference between Exceptional Talent and Exceptional Promise?
Talent is for established leaders and needs two letters. Promise is for early-career future leaders and needs one.
Is there a minimum number of years for Exceptional Promise?
No. There is no minimum, but you should be early in your career and progressing quickly.
Do I need a UK job offer?
Not for peer review or the fellowships route. The appointments and endorsed funder routes need a role or host at an approved UK organisation.
Must my letter writers live in the UK?
The main letter must come from an eminent person living in the UK. For Exceptional Talent, the second letter must come from a senior member of a reputable UK organisation in your field.
Will the British Academy check my documents before I apply?
No. The endorsing bodies do not review documents in advance or advise individual applicants. That is where our review helps.
Find out where your The British Academy case stands
A free 30-minute call on your route, your evidence and what is missing.
We are experts in the Stage 1 endorsement application for the UK Global Talent Visa. For immigration advice, please seek the services of an immigration solicitor.