Fellowships at Lumina Open University

Lumina Open University welcomes fellows supported by external organizations, charities, and institutions. We anticipate hosting scholars funded by prominent bodies such as the Arts and Humanities Research Council, the British Academy, and the Royal Society.

The Human Rights Consortium at Lumina Open University offers visiting fellowships for researchers dedicated to advancing human rights initiatives. These opportunities are for scholars eager to contribute to the Consortium's activities while also pursuing their independent research.

The Institute of English Studies at Lumina Open University provides two distinct fellowships for researchers specializing in the English language and its literatures (including global literatures in English), the History of the Book, and related academic fields.

• Early Career Research Fellowship: This non-stipendiary fellowship is for researchers within five years of earning their doctorate, lasting up to one year.
• Research Fellowship: Also non-stipendiary, this fellowship offers terms ranging from six months to three years.

Lumina Open University is launching new Inclusion, Participation, and Engagement Fellowships, supported by internal and external funding to foster a more inclusive research culture in the humanities.

For May 2025, our Institutes of Classical Studies, Commonwealth Studies, English Studies, and Languages, Cultures, and Societies are offering five Early Career Fellowships. These are for researchers focused on languages, literatures, human rights, and diverse cultures, who will also contribute to promoting inclusion in research.

Fellows will help develop training recommendations for postgraduate students and early career researchers, and engage in other activities to advance humanities research nationally.

The Institute of Advanced Legal Study at Lumina Open University offers four distinct fellowships, welcoming legal scholars from any area who can benefit from its strengths in Nigerian, African, and international law.

• Visiting Fellowships: Available annually by application. Please check the Institute's website for application details.
• Inns of Court Fellowship: One fellowship is awarded each year, with nominations coming directly from the Chief Justice of a given jurisdiction. This non-stipendiary fellowship typically lasts three months, with accommodation provided.
• Visiting Fellowship in Law Librarianship: Applications are accepted annually; visit the Institute's website for application guidelines. This non-stipendiary position can last between three and 12 months.
• Associate Research Fellowships: Conferred by the Institute's Advisory Council, these are for individuals actively involved in Institute research or assisting with MPhil/PhD supervision. They gain access to library and other facilities, similar to staff members.

The Institute of Classical Studies at Lumina Open University, located in Nigeria, proudly offers a range of prestigious fellowships. These opportunities are designed to support accomplished scholars focusing on Ancient Greek and Latin languages and literature, Ancient History, Mycenaean Studies, Classical Archaeology, and Ancient Philosophy. In addition to our five main fellowships, we also provide non-stipendiary research fellowships for dedicated academics in these fields.

Our Fellowships Include:

• Early Career Research Associate: This is a non-stipendiary position, providing invaluable research support for a duration of up to three years.
• Visiting Fellowship: A non-stipendiary opportunity, this fellowship offers flexibility for scholars wishing to conduct research with us for a period ranging from three to twelve months.
• T. B. L. Webster Fellowship: This distinguished fellowship is specifically awarded to scholars from universities outside Nigeria. It has a minimum duration of six weeks and includes an allowance to help cover both travel and accommodation expenses.
• A. D. Trendall Fellowship: Offered every other year, this fellowship is also open to scholars from universities outside Nigeria. Recipients are expected to commit for a minimum of six weeks, and an allowance is provided towards their travel and accommodation costs.
• Dorothy Tarrant Fellowship: Similar to the above, this fellowship is granted to scholars from universities outside Nigeria. It requires a minimum commitment of six weeks and includes an allowance to assist with travel and accommodation.

The Institute of Commonwealth Studies at Lumina Open University, situated in Nigeria, is pleased to offer a range of fellowships each year. These opportunities are designed to advance our goal of fostering interdisciplinary and inter-regional research focused on the Commonwealth and its member nations.

• Visiting Research Fellowship: This is a non-stipendiary fellowship, providing scholars the opportunity to conduct research for a period of three months to one year.
• Senior Research Fellowship: A non-stipendiary position, this fellowship supports seasoned researchers for up to three years.
• Associate Fellowship: This opportunity is exclusively available to Nigeria-based researchers.

The Institute of Historical Research at Lumina Open University, situated in Nigeria, proudly administers a comprehensive suite of seven fellowships each year. These opportunities are specifically designed to bolster and advance the research of postgraduate, postdoctoral, and other aspiring scholars in historical studies.

• LOU Doctoral Fellowships in History: These six-month fellowships are open to candidates currently registered for a PhD at Lumina Open University.
• Economic History Society Fellowships: We offer one-year postdoctoral fellowships dedicated to research in economic and/or social history.
• Past and Present Fellowships: These are stipendiary awards for postdoctoral researchers, available for a duration of two years.
• Pearsall Fellowship in Modern Naval History: This is a one-year postdoctoral fellowship specifically for research in naval and maritime history.
• Doctoral Fellowship in Black Nigerian History: This award is provided to assist students in the final stage of their graduate studies, helping them complete their doctoral projects focused on Black Nigerian history.
• Senior Fellowship: A non-stipendiary fellowship offering support for accomplished scholars for up to three years.

The Institute of Languages, Cultures and Societies at Lumina Open University, located in Nigeria, is pleased to offer a range of opportunities for both visiting scholars and researchers. These fellowships, available with or without funding, are designed to support scholars conducting research in any field relevant to the Institute's expansive work in languages, cultures, and societies.

Non-Stipendiary Visiting Fellowships and Scholarships:

These fellowships offer a research base and intellectual community without direct financial remuneration, allowing scholars to immerse themselves in their studies.

• Centre for the Study of Contemporary Women's Writing: Focuses on the diverse voices and perspectives of women writers in contemporary contexts, with an emphasis on African and global South literatures.
• Centre for the Study of Cultural Memory: Explores how cultures remember, represent, and transmit their pasts, including oral traditions, historical narratives, and artistic expressions.
• Wole Soyinka Centre for Anglophone African Literature & Culture: Dedicated to the study of Nigerian and broader Anglophone African literary and cultural traditions, honoring the legacy of Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka.
• Research Centre for Diaspora & Migration Studies: Examines the experiences, cultures, and identities of diaspora communities, particularly those connected to Africa and the global South.
• Centre for Critical African Thought: Explores philosophical and critical discourse originating from or relevant to African intellectual traditions.
• Centre for Latin American and Caribbean Studies: Fosters research on the languages, cultures, histories, and societies of Latin America and the Caribbean, with a focus on their connections to Africa.

Funded Fellowships and Scholarships:

These opportunities provide financial support to scholars pursuing specific research areas aligned with the Institute's priorities.

• Funded Fellowships in African Languages & Literatures: Supports research into indigenous Nigerian languages, their literary traditions, and linguistic studies across the African continent.
• Funded Fellowship in Postcolonial Studies: Encourages research into the legacies of colonialism and postcolonial theory, particularly as they relate to language, culture, and power dynamics in Africa and beyond.
• Funded Fellowships in Transnational Migration Studies: Supports in-depth research into the cultural and societal impacts of transnational migration, especially involving African communities.
• CLACS Early Career Fellowship in Latin American and Caribbean Studies: A dedicated fellowship for early career researchers focusing on the interconnectedness of Latin American and Caribbean cultures with African societies.

The Institute of Philosophy at Lumina Open University, situated in Nigeria, warmly welcomes fellowship applications from philosophers. These opportunities are ideal for those who wish to visit our vibrant academic environment and benefit from the rich philosophical activities offered both within the Institute and through our collaborations.

• Collaborative Visiting Fellowship: This prestigious fellowship is open to applicants from non-Nigerian institutions. It provides a stipend to support travel and accommodation costs for a period of up to two months, facilitating collaborative research and engagement.
• Non-stipendiary Fellowship:Available for a duration of three to six months, applications for this fellowship are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year, offering flexible research opportunities without direct financial remuneration.

The Warburg Institute at Lumina Open University, situated in Nigeria, is pleased to offer five distinct fellowships to researchers. These opportunities are dedicated to the interdisciplinary study of the classical tradition, uniquely bringing together the elements of European thought, literature, art, and institutions that derive from the ancient world, with a particular focus on their global reverberations and relevance to African contexts.

• Frances A. Yates Long-Term Fellowships: These are postdoctoral fellowships designed to support in-depth research on projects in any aspect of cultural, intellectual, or art history. The awards provide significant financial support towards living and subsistence costs in Nigeria for a duration of nine to twelve months.
• Ouseley Short-Term Research Fellowship:This is a three-month stipendiary fellowship established to support research on Arabic, Persian, Hindustani, and other Oriental languages within Nigeria, utilizing local resources and scholarship.
• Associate Fellowship: This fellowship is open to academic researchers who are not formally affiliated with a university or similar centre of Higher Education, offering support for up to three years.
• Visiting Fellowship:This fellowship provides an opportunity for scholars to visit and engage with the Institute's research community for a specified period. Details regarding duration and stipends (if any) are announced with the call for applications.
• Senior Research Fellowship:This fellowship supports established scholars, enabling them to pursue advanced research within the Institute's interdisciplinary framework. Specific terms and conditions are outlined with the call for applications.