All Souls College Post-Doctoral Research Fellowships 2027: Five-Year Oxford Research Posts Paying Up to £57,341 a Year

All Souls College Post-Doctoral Research Fellowships 2027: Five-Year Oxford Research Posts Paying Up to £57,341 a Year

All Souls College, University of Oxford, is accepting applications for up to five Post-Doctoral Research Fellowships beginning in October 2027. The current competition covers Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, History of Art or History of Music, Law, Life Science, and Theoretical Computer Science. Each fellowship is fixed-term for five years and cannot be renewed.

This is a salaried research appointment rather than a short visiting fellowship or a small project grant. The published annual stipend is £53,234 to £57,341 when the housing allowance is included, or £41,523 to £45,630 for Fellows who live in College or otherwise do not qualify for that allowance. The exact rate depends partly on teaching. The package also includes a study, an academic allowance, pension enrollment, meals at common table, medical insurance eligibility, possible relocation support, and access to additional research resources.

The application deadline is 12 noon UK time on Friday, 4 September 2026. The application and referee deadlines are the same, so a candidate who waits to contact referees is taking a material risk. The College expects to elect the Fellows on 23 January 2027, with the appointments normally starting on 1 October 2027.

Key details

The figures above come from the College’s 2026–27 Further Particulars document for the competition. Applicants should read that document and the live application platform before submitting because the College’s instructions control if a web summary and an uploaded form ever differ.

What the fellowship provides

The central benefit is five years of protected, independent research in Oxford. All Souls describes the primary duty as pursuing an approved programme of advanced study and research for publication. The position is intended to help early-career researchers establish a strong research profile, not simply to provide a temporary affiliation while they search for a permanent job.

The annual stipend is set on a scale. A Fellow living out of College but within 25 miles of Oxford is eligible for a pensionable housing allowance of £11,711, producing the higher published range of £53,234 to £57,341. A Fellow living in College or otherwise not eligible for the allowance receives the lower range of £41,523 to £45,630. The exact rate also varies according to teaching: the highest rate requires an undertaking to give at least sixteen lectures in the University during that academic year, with an intermediate rate when fewer lectures are given. Applicants should therefore treat the top figure as conditional, not as an automatic salary for every Fellow.

The College may offer single residential accommodation at no charge, subject to availability. That accommodation is a taxable benefit, and a Fellow who takes it does not also receive the housing allowance. The College also operates a joint-equity property scheme for Fellows relocating to Oxford. These details matter when comparing the award with another job or fellowship, because the headline package can take different forms depending on housing and teaching choices.

Academic support is unusually concrete. Every Fellow is entitled to a study in College or one of its ancillary buildings, connected to the University IT network. The College assists with computing equipment through the academic allowance, currently £4,552 per year, which can support books, conference attendance, and other research expenditure. For laboratory-based work, the College can provide additional funds for laboratory consumables up to £5,000 a year. Fellows may also apply for additional funding for research work or conferences.

Other published entitlements include automatic enrollment in the USS pension scheme, lunch and dinner at common table when the Kitchen is open, and a designated College mentor. In appropriate cases, the College may contribute to relocation costs, including visa and NHS surcharge costs. Fellows and their immediate dependants may participate in the College’s medical insurance scheme without charge, although the College notes that this is a taxable benefit.

Who is a good fit

The advertised subject list is the first filter. A strong candidate needs to show that the proposed research belongs clearly in one of the five competitions. The list is specific: a project in a neighboring field may be intellectually interesting but still unsuitable if the College cannot place it within the relevant Subject Committee. Interdisciplinary applicants should identify a primary subject and explain the connections without making the proposal sound unfocused.

The normal doctorate window is equally important. The College says it normally accepts applicants who were awarded their doctorate on or after 1 August 2024, or who expect to have been awarded it by 1 October 2027. The relevant date is the successful defense of the doctoral dissertation, or the degree-award date where no viva is required. A candidate outside the normal window can request an adjustment for special reasons such as serious illness or parental leave, but the request must be supported with evidence in the application.

This fellowship suits someone who already has a research question, a credible publication path, and enough independence to describe a five-year programme. It is not a generic postdoctoral training place with a fully defined project waiting for the appointee. The College wants a clear account of the work the candidate intends to pursue in Oxford, including the possibility of preparing a thesis for publication if that is part of the plan.

The appointment also carries College responsibilities. Post-Doctoral Research Fellows are full Fellows and members of the governing body. They are expected to attend College meetings, may serve on committees, and may assist with the annual Prize Fellowship examinations. They are encouraged to undertake appropriate University lecturing, teaching, and research supervision. Someone seeking a completely solitary research post should weigh these obligations carefully.

Application materials and process

Applications are made through the online form reached from the College’s appointments page and the official fellowship page. The required package is detailed in the current Further Particulars:

1. A curriculum vitae.
2. A thesis abstract of no more than 500 words and no fewer than the amount needed to explain the work clearly.
3. A proposed-work statement of no more than 1,000 words, including references, figures, and bibliography.
4. A 100-word summary of the proposed work written for a non-specialist audience.
5. A sample of written work of no more than 10,000 words, including references and bibliography. The College allows a published paper, thesis extract, or equivalent.
6. Written evidence of the doctoral award date, a degree certificate, or formal confirmation of the planned thesis-submission date.
7. The names and addresses of two referees who have agreed to provide confidential assessments.

Documents from the CV through the doctoral evidence must be uploaded as separate PDF files. The College requires items one through five to be written in English. If the degree evidence is in another language, the applicant should provide an English translation together with the original in one consolidated PDF. Referees receive instructions through the application platform, and their references must arrive by the same 4 September deadline.

The process has several stages. The College will create an initial shortlist and obtain independent academic assessments of the candidates’ work and research proposals. Candidates on that longer shortlist may be asked to submit a complete thesis, or work of similar length, by 23 October 2026. Final-shortlist candidates are expected to be notified by 14 December 2026. Interviews are scheduled for 14 or 15 January 2027, and shortlisted candidates are expected to attend in person unless an alternative is agreed in advance. The College says it will reimburse interview travel costs, including visa fees.

How to prepare a competitive proposal

Start with the five-year research programme, not with a list of career ambitions. The 1,000-word limit forces a candidate to identify the central question, the work that will be completed during the appointment, and the publications or other scholarly outputs that will result. A useful draft should make the first paragraph understandable to an academic outside the subject. Then add the methods, sources, stages, and risks that a specialist reviewer needs.

The 100-word summary deserves separate writing. It is not a shortened abstract filled with technical nouns. Use it to state the problem, the proposed contribution, and why the work matters. If the project requires Oxford collections, laboratory access, collaborators, or a particular scholarly community, explain that connection precisely. Do not claim access to a resource unless you have checked that it exists and is available to the relevant subject.

Choose the writing sample for evidentiary value. The College is assessing qualities as a scholar and researcher, so the sample should make the candidate’s reasoning, method, and command of evidence visible. A published paper is not automatically the best choice if a thesis extract gives a clearer picture of the proposed work. Explain internally how the sample relates to the new programme, even if the application form does not ask for a separate explanation.

Contact referees before the final week. Give them the proposal, CV, writing sample, and the exact deadline. Ask whether they can assess the research rather than merely confirm employment. Because references are due at noon UK time on the application deadline, a referee who submits later can leave an otherwise complete application incomplete.

Timeline and practical checks

The immediate task is to confirm the subject competition, assemble the PDF files, and secure the references before 4 September 2026. Applicants who may need an eligibility adjustment should prepare the supporting explanation and evidence at the same time rather than waiting for a shortlist.

After submission, monitor the application platform to confirm that the two references have arrived. If shortlisted, prepare for the possible 23 October thesis submission and consider Oxford host-department arrangements early if the research is laboratory-based or requires specialist facilities. The Further Particulars says long-shortlisted laboratory applicants may need a letter from an Oxford host department confirming that the required space and facilities can be provided without cost to the College.

The expected election date is 23 January 2027. The normal start is 1 October 2027. Appointment remains subject to proof of the doctorate, a medical questionnaire, and proof of the right to work in the United Kingdom. The College says it will meet visa costs for applicants and dependants where necessary, but candidates should not assume that immigration processing is automatic.

Common mistakes to avoid

The most serious mistake is missing the shared application and reference deadline. A polished proposal cannot compensate for a referee whose assessment arrives after noon on 4 September. A second mistake is treating the £57,341 figure as an unconditional salary. The published scale includes a housing allowance and ties the highest rate to a teaching commitment; compare the correct rate for the living arrangement you expect.

Do not submit a proposal that describes five unrelated years of work. The College wants a coherent programme, and the primary duty is research for publication. Do not omit the College responsibilities either. Governance, meetings, examinations, teaching, and supervision are part of the fellowship’s structure.

Another avoidable error is failing to document the doctorate date. If the degree is not yet awarded, obtain the formal university confirmation the College requests. If an eligibility adjustment is necessary, include the evidence at the time of application. Finally, do not assume that laboratory support will be arranged after election. The College specifically encourages early contact with a suitable Oxford department when specialist facilities are needed.

Frequently asked questions

Is this a five-year grant or a job?

It is a fixed-term, salaried post-doctoral fellowship. The appointment lasts five years and is non-renewable. Fellows conduct independent research, receive College entitlements, and take on the responsibilities of full College Fellows.

Can someone who has not defended their doctorate apply?

Yes, if they expect to have been awarded the doctorate by 1 October 2027. The College normally uses the successful defense date, or the degree-award date where no viva is required. Evidence of the planned award date is required.

Which subjects are open in this round?

The 2027 competition lists Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, History of Art or History of Music, Law, Life Science, and Theoretical Computer Science. The College intends to elect up to five Fellows, normally one in each subject.

Does the fellowship include housing?

Possibly. Subject to availability, the College may offer single residential accommodation. That is a taxable benefit and replaces the housing allowance. A Fellow living out within 25 miles of Oxford may instead qualify for the £11,711 annual housing allowance.

Are references due after the application?

No. The application and references must be received by 12 noon UK time on 4 September 2026. Referees are contacted through the application platform, and the applicant is responsible for entering the correct contact details and checking receipt.

What should I do if my research needs a laboratory?

Identify an appropriate Oxford host department and discuss the facilities needed. If you reach the longer shortlist, the College may ask for a support letter confirming that laboratory space and access to necessary facilities can be provided without cost to the College.

Official links and next steps

Read the official All Souls College fellowship page, then open the current Further Particulars from that page before completing the form. The Further Particulars contains the authoritative stipend scale, eligibility window, required PDFs, subject list, shortlist stages, and interview dates. Use the College’s linked application platform for the live form and submission confirmation.

Before submitting, make a checklist for the seven required items, convert each required document to the specified PDF format, verify the word limits, and ask both referees to submit early. If the fellowship is a serious fit, the next useful action is to complete a one-page research-programme outline and use it to test whether the five-year plan is coherent, feasible in Oxford, and legible to a non-specialist reviewer.