The Academy supports postdoctoral research in the humanities and social sciences, and manages active publication programmes, as well as offers advice on major issues in the higher educational sector. It receives grant-in-aid from the Office of Science and Innovation (OSI) to fund research at postdoctoral level in all branches within the humanities and social sciences. The research funding strategy of the Academy is concentrated on providing small-scale support. The BA aims to encourage high-quality research and develop research capacity through a framework of responsive-mode programmes. The Academy also features a range of schemes to support the intellectual activity of British scholars, including research appointments and conferences, research grants for individual and joint projects, as well as bilateral agreements to promote international collaboration. It sponsors approximately 40 major research projects, each organised and run by its own committee to make available fundamental research tools to scholars.

The British Academy features schemes with other institutions for support to bilateral projects with regions, or even countries. Other schemes include the Joint Activities and Networks, and the South East Europe Joint Project. BA’s contributions to the humanities and social sciences often influence key policy debates on issues related to those sectors, and has sought to advance activities from such organisations as the AHRC Review of Postgraduate Funding, Dearing Review of Language Policy and Department for Education and Skills (DfES). The Academy publishes (through the Proceedings of the British Academy) editions, catalogues, monographs, lectures and biographies, which reflect its scholarly activities.

The British Academy is located at 10 Carlton House Terrace, London. The nearest tube stations to the Academy are Charing Cross, at the Cockspur Street exit, and Piccadilly Circus, at the Lower Regent Street exit. Buses stop at Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, Lower Regent Street and Haymarket.