It is now a fellowship of more than 1,000 leading scholars spanning all disciplines across the humanities and social sciences and a funding body for research projects across the United Kingdom.

The organisation, which has since become simply "the British Academy", was initiated as an unincorporated society on 17 December 1901, and received its Royal Charter from King Edward VII on 8 August 1902.

[5] Since then, many of Britain's most distinguished scholars in the humanities and social sciences have been involved in the life of the academy, including John Maynard Keynes, Isaiah Berlin, C. S. Lewis and Henry Moore.

[10] Election as a Fellow of the British Academy recognises high scholarly distinction in the humanities or social sciences, evidenced by published work.

Fellows are elected into one of the following disciplinary sections:[11] The British Academy channels substantial public funding into support for individuals and organisations pursuing humanities and social sciences research and scholarship in the UK and overseas.

It draws on expertise from a wide range of sources from within the fellowship and on specialist advice from its seven Area Panels for Africa, China, the Middle East, Europe, South Asia, and Latin America/Caribbean.

[12] The Academy also funds and coordinates a network of overseas institutes which provide local expertise, logistical support and often a working base for UK scholars.

[13] As the UK's national voice for the humanities and social sciences, the British Academy seeks to promote and protect the interests and health of these disciplines and their research base.

[citation needed] The British Academy organises a wide-ranging annual programme of more than 50 public lectures,[14] panel discussions, conferences and seminars showcasing new research and debating topical issues.