Research Fellowships 2026

Four Fellowships available

Fixed term four-year research award

Awards will be announced in January 2026

St John’s College, in the University of Cambridge, invites applications for up to four Research Fellowship awards, tenable for up to four years from 1 October 2026. These prestigious awards offer a rare opportunity to devote yourself to independent research in a stimulating and supportive academic environment. We place great importance on the intellectual contribution our Research Fellows make to St John’s, and on creating the conditions to accelerate their progress towards outstanding academic careers.

Eligibility

We accept applications from a graduate of any university within or outside the United Kingdom. 

In this year’s competition we welcome applications for research in all STEM subjects and in the following Arts/Humanities disciplines:  Anthropology; Architecture; Modern and Medieval Languages (French, German, Italian, Spanish, Russian, Portuguese); Classics; Education; History; History and Philosophy of Science; History of Art; Theology, Religion & Philosophy of Religion; Land Economy; Philosophy.   

Our Research Fellowship awards are for early-career academics. Successful candidates will normally be either postdoctoral researchers who have recently submitted their PhD, or graduate students in the latter stages of research leading to a PhD. Candidates should have either:

1. Submitted their PhD after 1 October 2024

Or

1. Be on track to have submitted their PhD by 1 October 2026

Candidates holding a fellowship or other postdoctoral stipend (for example, awarded by a Research Council or other similar body) may apply, noting that any stipend or other funding received will be deducted from the Research Fellowship award. Holders of a Fellowship at a Cambridge college may not apply. Candidates who accept a Fellowship from another Cambridge college will be deemed to have withdrawn from St John’s College Research Fellowship competition.

We typically receive around 900 eligible applications for Research Fellowship awards. More information about our College and current Research Fellows and FAQs on the competition can be found on the College website at: https://www.joh.cam.ac.uk/about-us/news-and-research/research-fellowship-competition-2026-launches-for-early-career-academics

 Terms of the award and accompanying Fellowship

The four-year award offers a research stipend starting at £33,482 with an annual uplift, and award holders are elected to a Research Fellowship for this period.  Award holders are permitted to receive additional pay for up to six hours' College or University teaching a week during term time.

Research Fellows benefit from up to £10,000 in additional grants over their four-year tenure.  These grants support the costs of academic materials, travel expenses, computer equipment, books and costs relating to organising a conference or workshop in St John’s.  

Fellowships are held on condition of residence within the University of Cambridge, i.e. within 20 miles of the centre of Cambridge.  Research Fellows can choose to live in College in single residential accommodation, with charges applying for services and supplies.  Research Fellows who live outside College, including those who live with their partner/family, are eligible for a housing allowance worth up to £35,760 over their four-year tenure. This allowance is paid monthly and is capped at 50% of rent paid.   Research Fellows living outside St John’s will have an office in College.   

Research Fellows are also entitled to take one meal each day in College, at College expense.

Subject to circumstances, we will consider:

1. a deferral for up to one year before the Research Fellowship award and associated Fellowship commences;
2. periods of working away from Cambridge for the purposes of research for up to one year;
3. a period undertaking a remunerated academic position that contributes to professional development (e.g. a temporary teaching position) of up to one year, during which the award holder will forgo the College stipend and relevant benefits.

How to apply

Your application must be via the 'Apply' button above by 14.00 BST on 18 September 2025.  Referees will have until 14:00 BST on 23 September to complete your references.

You can apply before getting all three references, but your application will be considered incomplete if the references are not added by the reference deadline.  It is your responsibility to ensure that referees submit their references in time.

No interviews are held. Rigorous assessment of submitted written work, previous research achievements and research intentions are of primary importance. 

St John’s College policies are fully inclusive, regardless of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, gender identity or reassignment, or relationship status. 

Please note the College is unable to advise or assist individual candidates on any matters concerning eligibility or the content of their applications. Please refer to the FAQs page here  

For technical enquiries or difficulties accessing the application site, contact:
sjcamrf@joh.cam.ac.uk
+44 1223 338 609

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