Jesus College, Cambridge — Arts Research Fellowship 2026

If you’re an early-career researcher in the arts with a passion for advancing your field through rigorous scholarship, Jesus College, Cambridge invites applications for its prestigious Arts Research Fellowship 2026. Offering a three-year stipendiary position, this fellowship provides both financial support and an inspiring academic environment to help you establish your research career. Read on for details.

🎓 Fellowship Summary

• Location: Jesus College, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB5 8BL, United Kingdom

• Level: Research Fellowship (early-career)

• Target Group: Final-stage PhD candidates or recently awarded PhD holders (within ~5 years of full-time research) in the Arts

• Focus Areas:

  • Archaeology

  • Classics

  • History of Art

  • Linguistics

  • Music

  • Philosophy

  • Politics

• Value & Coverage:

  • Annual stipend at Step 35 of the University of Cambridge salary scale: £32,428 per year, over three years

  • Subsidised College accommodation (~£3,556/year)

  • Bench fee of ~£12,000/year for departmental research facilities access

  • Free daily lunch or dinner at the College

  • Option to join the University pension scheme; potential contribution toward university fees

• Duration: Three years, commencing 1 October 2026

• Application Deadline: 5 pm (UK time) on Monday, 8 September 2025 — including both application and referees’ reports

• How to Apply: Via the online portal at jrf.jesus.cam.ac.uk, open from 4 August 2025 to register and submit your application

📚 Fellowship Overview

Jesus College awards two stipendiary Arts Research Fellowships annually, supporting outstanding early-career researchers in core Arts and Humanities disciplines. Fellows are selected based on both an excellent research track record and the potential to make significant contributions to their field. The program empowers fellows with financial stability, access to top-tier resources, and integration into a robust academic community at Cambridge.

🎁 Benefits

• Competitive Stipend: £32,428 per year (Step 35, University of Cambridge scale)

• Accommodation Support: Subsidised housing worth approximately £3,556 annually

• Research Resources: Annual bench fee (~£12,000) to access University department facilities

• Inclusive College Life: Free daily lunch or dinner whether living in or out of College

• Professional Perks: Enrollment in the University Pension Scheme and potential contributions toward tuition fees

• Teaching Option: May be invited to undertake limited undergraduate teaching with College Council approval

✅ Eligibility Criteria

• Open to candidates in Archaeology, Classics, History of Art, Linguistics, Music, Philosophy, or Politics

• Intended for early-career researchers:

  • Graduate students nearing completion of their PhD, or

  • Recent PhD graduates

• Typically, candidates having more than five years of full-time research experience are unlikely to be considered, though exceptions may be made if justified during the application process

• Candidates must present an exceptional research record and demonstrate the potential to perform at the highest academic level

📝 Application Procedure

• Registration & Submission: Applications are submitted via jrf.jesus.cam.ac.uk, accessible from 4 August 2025 

• Written Statement: A statement of research (max 2,000 words), intelligible across disciplines, outlining both completed and proposed research

• Shortlisted Candidates (November 2025) must submit:

  • A sample written work (up to ~40,000 words)

  • A 500-word statement emphasizing the significance of their current and proposed research

• Referees' Reports: Two are required; these must be submitted by the same 8 September 2025 deadline

• Importantly: Incomplete applications or missing reference reports will not be accepted 

💡 Why Apply?

• Competitive Edge: Prioritize research excellence across humanities disciplines.

• Launchpad for Your Career: A fully funded, prestigious lecture-track-aligned fellowship beginning in October 2026.

• Comprehensive Support: Financial aid, research infrastructure, college life perks, and academic community immersion.

• Strategic Timing: Apply by 8 September 2025 to start in October 2026.

🔗 Apply Now

🔗 Official Link

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