Visiting Research Fellowship - further information

Smuts Visiting Research Fellowship in Commonwealth Studies 2026-27 is advertised here.  

The Smuts Management Committee invites applications for a non-renewable Smuts Visiting Research Fellowship in Commonwealth Studies, tenable for 9 months commencing from 1st October 2026.

The Smuts Memorial Fund usually elects one Smuts Visiting Research Fellow a year, in association with Clare Hall, to come to Cambridge to carry out research for up to 9 months. These Fellowships are intended for mid- to senior career academics, of international calibre and who received their PhD at least five years prior to the closing application deadline. 

Fellowship holders are expected to live in Cambridge for the bulk of their tenure.

Fellows may come from any nationality, and a wide variety of disciplines in the social sciences, arts and humanities. They are expected to advance Commonwealth Studies in Cambridge mainly by pursuing research, but also by taking part in seminars and similar activities within the University. Commonwealth Studies is defined here as research that is focussed on past or present countries and/or issues pertaining to one or more parts of the Commonwealth. Fellows will have access, by agreement, to the holdings of Faculty and Departmental libraries, to the libraries of the Centres of African Studies and South Asian Studies and to the University Library, which houses the extensive collection of materials relating to the history of the British Empire and Commonwealth, formerly housed in the Royal Commonwealth Society Library in London.

The Managers expect that the person appointed would be intending to come to Cambridge to work on a project that builds on existing research for which a period of residence in Cambridge is demonstrably appropriate, although they would not rule out a new piece of work that is expected to be completed by the end of the 9 month tenure of the Fellowship.

The closing date for applications is 10 February 2026. 

Applicants will be informed of the outcome of their application in March 2026.