Newnham College Cambridge Research Fellowships for Female Researchers

Our Fellowships offer an opportunity to carry out independent research in a stimulating and supportive academic community, to meet established researchers across a range of disciplines, and to take part in the life of Newnham College.

Applications will be accepted from any female graduate of a university within or outside the United Kingdom. Candidates should note that these Research Fellowships are extremely competitive.

The stipend is Point 42 on the University Scale - £38,784 for 2025-26. The stipends are on a three point scale and rise each year to the next point on that scale.

For further details, see below.

Meet our current Junior Research Fellows

Eligibility

• There is no age limit, but the Research Fellowships are intended to support women with high potential at an early stage of their academic careers. Research Fellowships will be given to candidates who have recently been awarded their PhD, or who have recently submitted their PhD thesis, or who have no more than a few years of full-time postdoctoral research experience, and who will expect to go on to hold posts in institutions of international standing. Candidates who have taken time out of research for professional or family reasons will not be at a disadvantage.
• The appointments comply with legislation on sex discrimination, relying on the Equality Act 2010, Schedule 22, and Article 3 of the College Charter. Following the Supreme Court’s decision in For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers [2025], when we refer to “women” we mean those assigned female at birth.
• The Fellowships are open to women of any nationality, but where a candidate is appointed who requires a visa in order to work in the UK, the appointment will be conditional upon the candidate successfully obtaining the necessary visa, covering the entire duration of the appointment.
• Successful candidates will be asked to produce identification documentation (e.g. passport or full birth certificate). It is expected that this documentation will be in the female gender.
• By submitting an application, a candidate is confirming that they meet all the eligibility criteria. If you have a query about your eligibility, please contact the Principal’s Executive Assistant, Rebecca Kenny: rebecca.kenny@newn.cam.ac.uk. 

Fellowship Details

Research Fellows are appointed for a period of three years, although many leave sooner if they are successful in gaining faculty appointments in Cambridge or elsewhere.

During their tenure, JRFs have no other duties other than to pursue their research, but they are encouraged to consider undertaking a small amount of College teaching, or other activities such as mentoring Newnham postgraduates, assisting with Newnham admissions interviewing, or pastoral tutoring of Newnham students. They are members of the College Governing Body, and may serve on other College committees.

The Fellowships carry a competitive stipend. Accommodation in a college set or flat may be available to rent.

Funds are available to support research costs, such as conference travel. All Research Fellows are also entitled to a one-off sum of up to £10K towards the cost of running an approved Newnham-based research event, such as a conference, workshop or seminar series.

The Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Research Fellowship

The Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Research Fellowship subjects are offered on a three-year rotation, with the subjects as listed below. Newnham research students in the whole field of the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences may apply in any year, regardless of the rotational listing. 

Applications for the 2026 Fellowship are now invited. Applications will close on Friday 3 October 2025 at 23:59 UK local time. 

The successful candidate will enter into their Fellowship on 1 October 2026. Any requests to defer the start date will only be granted for a maximum of three months.

Further information and details of how to apply 

2026: Architecture, Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, History of Art, Human Social and Political Sciences (including Archaeology, Anthropology, Politics and International Studies, Social Sciences). The successful candidate will enter into their Fellowship on 1 October 2026.

2027: Classics, Geography, History and Philosophy of Science, Modern and Medieval Languages (including Theoretical and Applied Linguistics), Music, Philosophy. The successful candidate will enter into their Fellowship on 1 October 2027.

2028: Business & Management, Divinity, Economics, English (including Anglo-Saxon, Norse & Celtic), Education, History, Land Economy, Law. The successful candidate will enter into their Fellowship on 1 October 2028.