My winning proposal: If the bid fits, reapply with it

Maisha Wester’s daring interdisciplinary Global Professorship bid needed three attempts to succeed

Top tips

• If you are convinced that a failed bid is good for a scheme, don’t be afraid to refine and resubmit.
• Include letters of support from other academic institutions that have shown an interest in your work.
• When working in a different field, consider formal tuition as a way to acquire skills.
• Sometimes it is best to resist the pressure to make your major output a monograph.

For the past three years, the British Academy has been running a Global Professorships scheme to attract world-class, established scholars to work in the UK. In 2020, the professorships were worth up to £750,000 each over four years, with the host institution expected to contribute up to £37,500 a year towards the costs each year. The British Academy has not yet announced the Global Professorships competition this year but says it hopes to confirm details in the next few months.