Explore our range of projects by area of research priority and excellence

At Bath Spa University our research strategy is centred around the following aims:

  • Support internationally significant and world-leading research
  • Deepen international research links and externally-funded international projects
  • Continue to grow and develop strategic funding in enterprise and innovation
  • Remain a university of choice for early stage researchers
  • Conduct research in an ethical manner paying attention to environmental issues and issues of diversity.

We will do this by building a rich, impactful and responsible research environment which develops our researchers, puts in place strong UK and global research partnerships and by diversifying and increasing our research and enterprise income streams.

Areas of research excellence

Associated projects:

Read more at the Art and Design research area. 

Read more at the Business and Management research area.

Associated projects:

Love Letters

Read more at the Cultural, Communication Studies and Media Research Area.

Associated projects:

Read more at the Education Research Area.

Associated projects:

Read more at the English Language and Literature Research Area.

Associated projects:

Read more at the Geography and Environment Research Area.

Read more at the History Research Area.

Associated projects:

Read more at the Music and Performing Arts Research Area.

Opportunities for Postdoctoral Fellowships

Bath Spa University welcomes Postdoctoral Fellows to its vibrant research community.

Applications for the 2026/27 scheme will open on 1 July 2026. The stage 1 funder deadline is 30 September 2026.

Please carefully check the scheme guidance, eligibility criteria and FAQs before starting to develop an application. As the British Academy do not allow unsuccessful applicants to reapply to this scheme, you should consider whether this is the best time for you to apply.

Those interested in applying must submit an Expression of Interest (EoI) to researchsupportoffice@bathspa.ac.uk by Monday 3 August 2026. Late submissions will not be considered.

The EoI should include a one page outline of your proposed research, including fit with research activities within the School and your proposed mentor, plus CV. Your CV (one page maximum) should include your publications to date along with your academic history, including the date your PhD was awarded. If successful, the Research Support Office will work with you to develop your outline stage application to the funder.

You should make contact with your proposed mentor before you submit your outline and it would be beneficial if they commented on your EoI before submission. If you do not have a mentor in mind, please have a look at our staff research profiles on the Areas of Research Excellence and our staff webpages. You’ll then be able to find staff working in your area of research and make contact with them.

If you have any queries about the Fellowship scheme or the process of selection, please contact the Research Support Office, on researchsupportoffice@bathspa.ac.uk.

The BSU deadline for expressions of interest to the 2026 call has now passed. We expect the next call to open in early April 2027.

The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowships enhance the creative and innovative potential of researchers holding a PhD and who wish to acquire new skills through advanced training, international, interdisciplinary and inter-sectoral mobility.

There are two types of Postdoctoral Fellowships:

  1. European Postdoctoral Fellowships – open to researchers moving within Europe or coming to Europe from another part of the world to pursue their research career. These fellowships take place in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country and can last between one and two years. Researchers of any nationality can apply.
  2. Global Postdoctoral Fellowships – fund the mobility of researchers outside Europe. The fellowship lasts between two to three years, of which the first one to two years will be spent in a non-associated Third Country, followed by a mandatory return phase of one year to an organisation based in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country. Only nationals or long-term residents of the EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries can apply.

Please carefully check the scheme guidance, eligibility criteria and FAQs before starting to develop an application. As the MSCA have resubmission restrictions in place from 2022, you should consider whether this is the best time for you to apply.

Individual researchers submit proposals for funding in liaison with their planned host organisation. BSU identifies a number of predefined research areas each year. Proposals are judged on their research quality, the researcher's future career prospects and the support offered by the host organisation. Applications are submitted jointly by the researcher and the UK academic supervisor. It is essential that you make contact with your supervisor well in advance of the deadline. If you do not have a supervisor in mind, please have a look at our staff research profiles on the Areas of Research Excellence and our staff webpages. You’ll then be able to find staff working in your area of research and make contact with them.

If you are interested in applying to the 2027 call with Bath Spa University as your host institute, please contact the Research Support Office, on researchsupportoffice@bathspa.ac.uk.

The BSU deadline for expressions of interest to the 2026 call has now passed. We expect the next call to open in January 2027.

The International Fellowship Programme, delivered by the British Academy and the Royal Society, enables researchers to work for two years at a UK institution with the aim of fostering long-term international collaborations.

This scheme aims to attract the most promising early career postdoctoral researchers from overseas in the fields of natural sciences, social sciences and the humanities.

Please carefully check the scheme guidance and eligibility criteria before starting to develop an application. You should make contact with your proposed UK co-applicant before you submit your outline to the BSU Research Support Office, and it would be beneficial if they commented on your proposal before submission.

Interested applicants will be asked to submit an Expression of Interest (EoI) to the BSU Research Support Office. The EoI should include a one-page outline of your proposed research, including fit with research activities within the School and your proposed UK academic co-applicant, plus CV. Your CV (one page maximum) should include your publications to date along with your academic history, including the date your PhD was awarded.  We will then send you an additional form to complete prior to the review of your EoI.

If you do not have a co-applicant in mind, please have a look at our staff research profiles on the Areas of Research Excellence and our staff webpages. You’ll then be able to find staff working in your area of research and make contact with them prior to submitting an EoI. 

If you have any queries about the Fellowship scheme or the process of selection, please contact the Research Support Office, at researchsupportoffice@bathspa.ac.uk. 

The BSU deadline for outline applications for Round 11 has now passed. Subject to confirmation from UKRI, we anticipate the next round opening in February 2027.

If you would like to discuss future rounds of this scheme, please contact researchsupportoffice@bathspa.ac.uk.

If you are currently a staff member at Bath Spa University, please refer to the information on SharePoint.

Due to application restrictions in place, Bath Spa University can submit a limited number of applications to this call, and the Research Support Office will run a two-stage internal selection process.

Note that only applicants with the backing of a host School will be eligible for our internal selection process.