UAL AKO Storytelling Research Fellowship Fellowship

UAL AKO Storytelling Research Fellowship 2026/27: £19,425 Paid Fellowship

• Opportunity Type: Paid Research Fellowship / Part-Time Academic Position
• Organizer: UAL AKO Storytelling Institute, in partnership with Comic Relief’s Power of Pop Fund
• Study Level: Postdoctoral / Experienced Researcher
• Eligible Nationalities: International applicants may apply subject to UK employment eligibility
• Age Limit: No specific age limit stated
• Education Requirement:
  PhD or equivalent research expertise gained through academic, independent, or professional practice
• Work Experience: Experience conducting research relevant to storytelling, popular culture, and social or environmental change
• Research Focus: How popular culture influences public attitudes and contributes to social or environmental change
• Nomination
  
  Required:
  
  No
• University Admission: Not required; this is a paid fellowship/employment opportunity
  , not a degree programme
• Funding: £19,425 total salary for the 9-month, 0.4 FTE fellowship, subject to standard UK deductions
• Location: Hybrid — UAL High Holborn, London and home working
• Duration: 9 months
• at 11:55 PM UK time

The fellowship is aimed at experienced researchers interested in examining the relationship between popular culture, storytelling, and social or environmental change
.

Potential applicants may have research or professional backgrounds involving:

• Film and television
• Music
• Podcasts
• Games
• Digital media
• Popular culture
• Social impact
• Audience research

Applicants should demonstrate research expertise through a PhD or equivalent experience gained through academic, independent, or professional practice.

The opportunity does not specify a nationality restriction

However, because the fellowship is a UK employment contract
, international applicants should ensure that they have the appropriate right to work in the UK or otherwise meet the applicable UK employment/immigration requirements.

Work authorisation: UK employment eligibility required

The fellowship explores how popular culture and storytelling can influence public attitudes and contribute to social or environmental change
.

Relevant forms of popular culture include:

• Film
• Television
• Music
• Podcasts
• Games
• Digital media

The research is intended to generate insights that can be relevant to creative practitioners, broadcasters, funders, civil society organizations, and other social-impact stakeholders
.

The successful fellow receives a total salary of approximately £19,425 for the nine-month appointment
.

This is based on:

• 0.4 FTE
• Approximately two working days per week
• Pro-rata full-time salary of £48,563 per year

The salary is subject to normal UK tax and other applicable deductions
.

Selected fellows receive:

• Paid research employment
• Mentorship from the UAL AKO Storytelling Institute
• Skills and research-development workshops
• Collaboration with other fellows
• Exposure to creative practitioners
• Opportunities to connect research with social-impact organisations
• Engagement with broadcasters, funders and civil society
• Opportunity to present research findings at a final public symposium

The fellowship follows a hybrid working model
.

The fellow will work between:

UAL High Holborn, London + home

Therefore, applicants should consider the practical implications of participating in a London-based role, particularly if applying from outside the UK.