Chevening British Library Southeast Asian Fellowship

Overview

The Chevening British Library Southeast Asian Fellowship is co-funded by the British Library and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

It is open to applications from mid-career professionals from Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand, who have a strong interest in surveying, assessing, and researching rare, printed works.

If selected, you will undertake a research project on the British Library’s collection of early printed works in Cambodian, Lao, and Thai languages, covering the period from c.1840 to 1950 (c.600-800 items). You will provide metadata-style information in original scripts and Romanisation as the basis for the creation of catalogue records by the supervising curator.

The fellowship will take place at the British Library, where you will work closely with the Henry Ginsburg Curator, Ms Jana Igunma, who is responsible for this collection of early printed materials, as well as other colleagues in the Southeast Asia section and the British Library’ Conservation Centre.

The British Library’s Asian and African Collections hold the UK’s largest and most significant collection of Thai, Lao, and Khmer language printed materials, comprising more than 10,000 books and ephemera and over 50 periodicals. The collection includes exceptional examples of early printing from Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia, many of which are unique or extremely rare.

Duration

The duration of this fellowship is 12 months.

• Start: September 2027
• End: September 2028

More about the programme

Despite the international significance of these collections, much of the material remains under-researched, particularly in relation to its content, design, printing technologies, and historical importance. Many items remain accessible only through historic card catalogues, while approximately 200 early Thai publications have yet to be catalogued.
This fellowship offers a unique opportunity to survey, assess, and research rare, printed works in Thai, Lao, and Khmer languages. The project will improve discoverability by creating metadata that supports comprehensive catalogue records, identifying conservation priorities, and informing future digitisation initiatives.

Working with a collection that documents the transition from manuscript to print culture across Southeast Asia, you will contribute directly to making these remarkable resources more accessible to researchers, students, heritage organisations, and communities around the world.

Fellows will have the opportunity to:

• Review, identify, and research early printed works in Cambodian, Lao, and Thai languages and scripts
• Create metadata in original scripts and Romanisation to support catalogue creation
• Work with curators, conservation specialists, and digital specialists at the British Library
• Contribute to the understanding of Southeast Asian printing history, book culture, and manuscript traditions
• Write and publish a blog post and/or journal article highlighting project findings
• Organise a show-and-tell session or staff presentation showcasing the collections
• Participate in public engagement activities with heritage communities and wider audiences
• Present findings at a national or international symposium or conference

Fellows will gain:

• Specialist expertise in metadata creation for Southeast Asian early printed collections
• Experience working with rare books and heritage collections in a world-leading research library
• Insights into curatorial practice, conservation, digitisation, and collection management
• Experience using digital tools and AI-assisted approaches to support metadata creation
• Opportunities to build national and international professional networks
• Enhanced experience communicating research to both specialist and non-specialist audiences

Eligibility criteria:

In addition to meeting our standard eligibility criteria, you must:  

• Be a citizen of and resident in one of the following countries: Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand
• Have a postgraduate level qualification (or equivalent professional training or experience in a relevant area) at the time of application  
• Have significant professional and/or academic research experience (at least five years)  
• Be currently employed or enrolled as a PhD candidate (your PhD must not be with a UK/EU or USA university) 
• Have excellent written and spoken knowledge of Thai, Lao, and Khmer, or excellent knowledge of Thai together with either Lao or Khmer  
• Have good written and spoken English, with the ability to communicate research findings effectively 
• Have an interest in bibliographical description, cataloguing, and curatorial work  
• Have a willingness to learn and apply digital tools, including AI-assisted approaches, to support the creation of metadata  
• Have experience of communicating with non-specialist audiences, including through blogs, social media, or other public engagement activities 
• Have an interest in the history of Southeast Asian printing, book culture, and manuscript traditions 

Funding and benefits   

Each fellowship includes: 

• 12-month period of project-based activity at the British Library   
• Living expenses for the duration of the fellowship   
• Return economy airfare    
• Allowance package for fellowship-related activities  
• Up to £1,000 for approved project-related expenses