ELIGIBILITY:

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

In this year’s competition they 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, and Portuguese), Classics, Education, History, History and Philosophy of Science, History of Art, Theology, Religion and Philosophy of Religion, Land Economy, and Philosophy.

Their 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

2. 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 Candidates who accept a Fellowship from another Cambridge college will be deemed to have withdrawn from the St. John’s College Research Fellowship competition.

The 2026 St. John’s College Research Fellowships competition runs from 30 July to 18 September 2025.

Your application must be submitted online by 2pm BST on 18 September 2025. Referees will have until 2pm 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.

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.

BENEFIT:

The four-year award offers a research stipend starting at £33,482 pa 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 percent of rent paid. Research Fellows living outside St. John’s will have an office in College.