UK St John’s College, Cambridge Research Fellowship

St John’s College Research Fellowships provide early-career academics with an opportunity to pursue post-doctoral research in an interdisciplinary community. St John’s describes the fellowship as offering independent research time with practical support and full participation in academic life at St John’s. Up to four Research Fellowships are awarded in this competition.

St John’s College accepts applications from graduates of any university within or outside the United Kingdom. The fellowship supports research in STEM subjects and in specified arts and 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 and Philosophy of Religion; Land Economy; and Philosophy. Successful candidates are typically either postdoctoral researchers who have recently submitted their PhD or graduate students in the latter stages of research leading to a PhD.

Selection is based on a rigorous assessment of submitted written work, previous research achievements, and research intentions. St John’s College states that no interviews are held. The College also notes that applicants may apply before receiving all three references, but the application is considered incomplete if references are not added by the reference deadline.

The award is for four years and includes a research stipend starting at £33,482 per annum with an annual uplift, with Research Fellows elected for this period. Award-holders may receive additional pay for up to six hours of College or University teaching per week during term time, and Research Fellows can access up to £10,000 in additional grants over the four-year tenure. Fellowships are held on condition of residence within the University of Cambridge (within 20 miles of the centre of Cambridge). Research Fellows are also entitled to take one meal each day in College at College expense, and may receive a housing allowance (up to £35,760 over the four-year tenure, paid monthly and capped at 50 per cent of rent paid) if living outside College. St John’s also lists options for deferral, periods working away for research, or a period of remunerated academic work that forgoes the College stipend and relevant benefits.

• Applicant must be a graduate of any university within or outside the United Kingdom.
• Must be an early-career academic.
• Successful candidates are normally either: (1) postdoctoral researchers who have recently submitted their PhD, or (2) graduate students in the latter stages of research leading to a PhD.
• Must meet one of the PhD timing conditions: (1) have submitted the PhD after 1 October, or (2) be on track to have submitted the PhD by 1 October.
• Applicants holding a fellowship or other postdoctoral stipend may apply; 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.
• Research must be in STEM subjects or in the listed 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 and Philosophy of Religion; Land Economy; and Philosophy.
• Fellowships are held on condition of residence within the University of Cambridge, ie within 20 miles of the centre of Cambridge.
• 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.

• Research stipend starting at £33,482 per annum with an annual uplift, for four years.
• Up to £10,000 in additional grants over the four-year tenure for costs including academic materials, travel expenses, computer equipment, books, and costs relating to organising a conference or workshop in St John’s.
• Permission to receive additional pay for up to six hours’ College or University teaching per week during term time.
• Housing: eligible to live in College in single residential accommodation with charges applying for services and supplies (services and supplies charges are not quantified).
• Housing allowance: up to £35,760 over the four-year tenure for Research Fellows living outside College, paid monthly and capped at 50 per cent of rent paid.
• Office in College for Research Fellows living outside St John’s.
• One meal each day in College at College expense.

1. Apply online for the competition.
2. Submit your application online by 2pm BST on 18 September 2025.
3. Ensure three references are added: referees have until 2pm BST on 23 September to complete references.
4. You may apply before all three references are received, but the application will be considered incomplete if references are not added by the reference deadline.

• Three references (completion by referees by the reference deadline is required for a complete application).
• Submitted written work.
• Details of previous research achievements.
• Research intentions.