Arts Research Fellowship 2027 at Jesus College, University of Cambridge (2 Posts, Law Eligible, £32,882 per Annum for 3 Years)
Jesus College, University of Cambridge.About the Fellowship
Jesus College, Cambridge invites applications each year for two stipendiary Research Fellowships in the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. Law is one of the six eligible disciplines, alongside Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic Studies; Education Studies; English; Modern Languages; and Theology.
The Fellowships are normally tenable for three years from 1 October 2027. Note that the College runs a separate Science Research Fellowship for which Law is not eligible; this post is the Arts Research Fellowship.
Who it is for
The College expects to select a person with an excellent record of research in their chosen subject and the potential to pursue that research at the highest level.
These Fellowships are intended for researchers early in their careers. Successful candidates are expected to be either graduate students, probably in the latter stages of research leading to a PhD, or post-doctoral researchers who have recently been awarded a PhD. Candidates who have undertaken more than five years of full-time research are unlikely to be considered, though the College is prepared to consider exceptions and candidates may present a case for this during the application process.
The Further Particulars state no nationality or institutional restriction, so applications from Indian researchers are in scope.
Stipend and benefits
- Stipend of £32,882, set at step 35 of the University of Cambridge salary scale and applied over the three years of the Fellowship, subject to any increases in that scale
- A bench fee of the order of £12,000 per annum (subject to annual review), paid by the College to allow the Fellow to access University Department facilities
- Assistance with subsidised College accommodation, subject to availability
- Free dinner or lunch for all Research Fellows, whether or not they live in College
- Eligibility to join the University's Pension Scheme
- Where appropriate, a College contribution towards university fees
A Research Fellow may be invited to undertake a small amount of undergraduate teaching during term, but may not take other paid work or hold other offices and awards except by permission of the College Council.
What to submit
A statement of research of not more than 2,000 words, outlining the work the candidate would submit in support of the application and the research they propose to pursue if elected. The College stresses that candidates should propose a new project going beyond revision of doctoral research, and that the statement will be read by people outside the candidate's own discipline and so should be intelligible to scholars in other subjects.
Two referees' reports, which must reach the College by the closing date. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
Samples of written work are not required at this stage, but candidates must have such work readily accessible.
Shortlisting and written work
Candidates shortlisted for further assessment will be invited in November 2026 to upload a copy of their chosen written work, together with a 500-word statement on the importance of their current and proposed work.
The College is concerned with the quality rather than the quantity of work submitted, but recommends that work sent to external assessors should be no more than about 40,000 words. Work that is not received by the deadline means the candidate is deemed to have withdrawn. The submitted work need not be in final form but must show outstanding originality and promise.
Work should normally be written in English; candidates intending to submit in another language should give notice on the application form. Candidates must notify the College if they accept a Research Fellowship at another college.
How to apply
Applications are made through the College's online Research Fellowship application system, which requires registration and allows the application to be saved, revisited and edited before submission, and its status checked. The system opened on Monday 3 August 2026.
Applications and referees' reports must both be received by 5pm on Wednesday 30 September 2026. Candidates should keep their contact details on the application up to date.