In an electrifying move for scholars, creative practitioners, and urban theorists worldwide, the University of London has officially opened applications for its prestigious Banister Fletcher Global Fellowship in Urban Studies 2025.
This groundbreaking opportunity invites one outstanding fellow to explore the urban pulse of Paris and London—two of Europe’s most dynamic, diverse, and globally influential cities—while creating a bold new blueprint for how cities evolve under pressure.
What’s This Fellowship All About?
Designed to forge deep intellectual and practical ties between Paris and London, this unique fellowship challenges researchers to unpack how cities are reacting to today’s defining global shifts—think climate change, migration, public health crises, labor mobility, and rising inequality. But this isn’t your average academic posting. This is urban studies, reimagined—hands-on, community-rooted, and globally impactful.
The selected Fellow will design an original program of lectures, workshops, roundtables, and trainings, engaging with communities, academics, policy shapers, and designers. The aim? To create an immersive, high-impact platform that investigates how cities are shaped by the people who live, work, resist, and thrive in them.
Location: You choose—Paris, London, or both.
Fellowship Duration: Up to 6 months (normally between January–June 2026)
Stipend: £50,000 + additional programming funds
Who Should Apply?
This is a call to interdisciplinary urbanists, designers, social scientists, architects, historians, artists, and those bridging practice with scholarship. You should hold a PhD or demonstrate exceptional creative/research-based impact in your field.
Applicants from underrepresented or minority backgrounds are especially encouraged to apply. The University is open to applications from both salaried and independent scholars.
The Themes & Focus Areas Include:
- City transformation amid inequality and environmental crisis
- Alternative and community-led urban knowledge production
- Cross-city comparative work (especially linking London & Paris)
- Urban design, policy, and culture
- Histories of the built environment.
Fellows are also expected to contribute to the long-term legacy of this Fellowship by helping establish an archive of events and writings through video/audio production and publications—paving the way for future reference and innovation in urban studies.
How to Apply?
Submit one consolidated document including:
- CV with two referees
- Pitch summary (300 words max)
- Project proposal (max 4 pages) detailing your planned activities, collaboration models, and relation to London/Paris urban dynamics. Programming titles, proposed speakers, and session formats are welcomed.
Deadline Warning: The last date to apply for the Banister Fletcher Global Fellowship 2025 is July 8, 2025 (Midnight BST).
