Non-Stipendiary Research Fellowships in Sciences 2027
Overview
Wolfson College at the University of Oxford plans to elect up to twelve non-stipendiary Research Fellows and Junior Research Fellows in the sciences, covering the Medical Sciences Division and the MPLS division, without limitation of subject. The fellowships start on 1 January 2027, subject to candidates being of sufficient merit.
Who can apply
Candidates must hold a doctorate and be engaged in research. They must either hold a full-time University of Oxford employment contract for the length of the fellowship or have full-time external research funding with formal contractual support from an Oxford department or faculty. For clinical posts, a 50 percent university contract alongside a 50 percent NHS contract is welcome.
Junior Research Fellowships are for those with limited research experience who have recently finished, or are about to finish, a doctorate, normally within five years of receiving it. Research Fellowships are for those progressing toward becoming established scholars, normally within ten years of the doctorate, and are not suitable for people on sabbatical from an academic post. Allowances may be made where a career has been interrupted by circumstances such as childbirth, family commitments, illness or compulsory military service. Applications are encouraged from holders of Research Council or charity fellowships and particularly from under-represented groups.
What you get
The fellowships are non-stipendiary, so candidates must show financial independence and evidence of their means of support, and any offer is conditional on proof of funding. Fellows receive Common Table rights, currently up to 61.60 pounds per week for meals in Hall, and other college benefits. Fellowships run for three years initially. Junior Research Fellows may apply to become Research Fellows for a further four years, and Research Fellows may apply for a final four-year renewal, subject to Governing Body approval.
Key dates
The closing date is Sunday 25 October 2026 at 5pm. Shortlisting is on Tuesday 3 November 2026 and interviews are on Tuesday 17 November 2026.
About University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a collegiate research university in Oxford, England. Teaching there is documented from the late eleventh century, which makes it one of the oldest universities in the world, although its exact founding date is unknown. It has no single central campus, and its buildings are spread throughout the city. Every student belongs to a college, and the colleges operate alongside the university's academic departments, which are grouped into divisions.
Source: Wikipedia