Smuts Visiting Research Fellowship (Fixed Term)

The Smuts Management Committee invites applications for a non-renewable Smuts Visiting Research Fellowship in Commonwealth Studies, tenable for 9 months commencing from 1st October 2026.

The Smuts Memorial Fund usually elects one Smuts Visiting Research Fellow a year to come to Cambridge to carry out research for up to 9 months. These Fellowships are intended for mid- to senior career academics, of international calibre in an institutional position and who received their PhD at least five years prior to the application closing date.

Fellows may come from any nationality, but should be normally resident outside the United Kingdom, and a wide variety of disciplines in the social sciences, arts and humanities. They are expected to advance Commonwealth Studies in Cambridge mainly by pursuing research, but also by taking part in seminars and similar activities within the University. During the tenure of their Fellowship, Fellows are required to deliver at least one public lecture in Cambridge arranged in consultation with the Managers of the Smuts Memorial Fund.

Commonwealth Studies is defined here as research that is focused on past or present countries and/or issues pertaining to one or more parts of the Commonwealth. Fellows will have access, by agreement, to the holdings of Faculty and Departmental libraries, to the libraries of the Centres of African Studies and South Asian Studies and to the University Library, which houses the extensive collection of materials relating to the history of the British Empire and Commonwealth, formerly housed in the Royal Commonwealth Society Library in London.

The Managers expect that the person appointed would be intending to come to Cambridge to work on a project that builds on existing research for which a period of residence in Cambridge is demonstrably appropriate, although they would not rule out a new piece of work that is expected to be completed by the end of the 9-month tenure of the Fellowship.

The closing date for applications is the 10th February 2026.  Applicants will be informed of the outcome of their application in March 2026.

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for maximum of 9 months.

To apply online for this vacancy and to view further information about the role, please click on the ‘Apply’ button above.

Informal enquiries about the role are welcomed and should be directed to Lucy Gager; Email: smutsmemorialfund@admin.cam.ac.uk

If you have any queries regarding the application process, please contact Karin Kuchta, HR Coordinator; Email: acdhr@admin.cam.ac.uk

Please quote reference AK47762 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

Advert information