Routes 1, 2, and 3 bypass full peer review entirely. Route 1 is for Fellows of the British Academy (FBA). Route 2 requires a named fellowship from the approved list. Route 3 requires an eligible UK academic appointment where a PhD is essential. All three are documentary — straightforward evidence, but strict eligibility criteria. Verify the official list before assuming you qualify.
Route 1 — Fellow of the British Academy (FBA)
If you have been elected as a Fellow of the British Academy, you qualify for the Route 1 fast-track without any further assessment. FBA election is one of the highest honours in UK humanities and social sciences — it is itself the strongest evidence of exceptional talent. The process is documentary: you submit your FBA election certificate as the primary piece of evidence.
Route 1 evidence
- British Academy Fellow election certificate
- Evidence of FBA suffix in current institutional profile or publications
Route 2 — Named fellowships
Route 2 applies if you hold — or have held within the last 5 years — a fellowship on the approved list maintained jointly by the British Academy, Royal Society, and Royal Academy of Engineering. This list is the same cross-body list used by all three academies, so a qualifying fellowship is fast-track eligible under all three.
Fellowships that commonly qualify (British Academy route)
- UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship
- ERC Starting Grant, Consolidator Grant, or Advanced Grant
- Leverhulme Research Fellowship
- AHRC Leadership Fellowship or AHRC Early Career Research Fellowship
- ESRC Future Research Leaders
- British Academy Mid-Career Fellowship
- British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship
- British Academy / Leverhulme Small Research Grants (check current list)
- Wellcome Trust Senior Research Fellowship (social science track)
Always verify on thebritishacademy.ac.uk before applying — the list is updated and fellowships are added or removed periodically.
Route 2 evidence
- Award letter from the funding body confirming the fellowship and period
- Start and end dates of the fellowship (must be within the last 5 years if completed)
- Brief description of the research the fellowship supported
Route 3 — Eligible UK academic appointment
Route 3 applies if you currently hold (or have been offered and accepted) a position at an eligible UK higher education institution or research institute, where the role requires a PhD as an essential entry condition. The position must have been obtained through open competitive recruitment — not created specifically for you.
What counts as an eligible institution?
- UK universities with active humanities or social science departments
- Recognised UK research institutes with a humanities or social science remit
- Government-funded research bodies where research is the primary function
What does not qualify for Route 3?
- Postdoctoral positions where a PhD is preferred but not listed as essential
- Teaching-only posts with no research component
- Positions created specifically for the individual, not filled through open competition
- Visiting, honorary, or emeritus positions without an active employment contract
- Industry or consultancy roles, even if research-heavy
Route 3 evidence
- Signed offer letter or employment contract naming the institution and role
- Job description confirming PhD is an essential requirement
- Evidence of open recruitment — job advert or link where available
- Confirmation of start date (imminent or already started)