All Souls Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship 2027 in UK

All Souls Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship 2027 in the UK | Fully Funded

The All Souls Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship 2027 is a prestigious research opportunity at All Souls College, University of Oxford, UK, for early-career researchers who have recently completed or are about to complete a doctoral degree. The fellowship offers an exceptional five-year, non-renewable research position beginning in October 2027, giving successful candidates a substantial period to develop their academic research and build an independent scholarly profile.

Unlike many postdoctoral positions that last only two or three years, the All Souls fellowship provides five years of dedicated research time. The opportunity is open to candidates who have obtained or are completing their doctorate at any recognised university, meaning applicants do not need to have studied at Oxford or previously been affiliated with the UK.

For the 2026–27 competition, All Souls College is inviting applications in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, History of Art/History of Music, Law, Life Science, and Theoretical Computer Science. The subject areas are selected for each competition and may change in future rounds.

The application deadline is 4 September 2026 at 12:00 noon UK time, so eligible researchers should complete their applications and references well before the closing time.

All Souls Post-Doctoral Fellowship 2027 – Key Details

The published Further Particulars state a salary range of £53,234 to £57,341, including a housing allowance of £11,711 for eligible candidates.

About the All Souls Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship

All Souls College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford and has a distinctive academic structure. Its Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship is designed to support promising researchers during the early stages of their academic careers.

The fellowship is fixed-term for five years and is not renewable. Successful candidates are expected to take up their fellowships on 1 October 2027, or another date agreed in advance with the College.

The long duration allows researchers to concentrate on substantial scholarly projects, develop publications and establish a strong academic profile.

Eligible Research Fields

Applicants must apply in one of the subject areas selected for the current competition.

The eligible areas are:

Asian and Middle Eastern Studies

History of Art

History of Music

Law

Life Science

Theoretical Computer Science

The official All Souls announcement combines History of Art and History of Music as one area for the competition, while the detailed Further Particulars list them together.

Researchers whose field is outside the listed areas should not submit an application for this particular competition. All Souls generally elects Post-Doctoral Research Fellows in alternate years according to specific subject fields, so the eligible areas can change between competitions.

Eligibility Criteria

The fellowship is intended for early-career researchers.

Generally, applicants must:

Have recently completed a doctorate, or be close to completing one.

Hold or expect to receive a doctorate from a recognised university.

Work within one of the eligible subject areas.

Be available to take up the fellowship from October 2027.

Meet the requirements outlined in the official Further Particulars.

For this competition, the College normally accepts applications from candidates who were awarded their doctorate since 1 August 2024 or who expect to receive their doctorate by 1 October 2027.

Importantly, applicants do not need to have obtained their doctorate from Oxford. Candidates from recognised universities worldwide can be considered.

Financial Benefits

The All Souls Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship provides substantial financial support.

Successful fellows can receive:

Salary of approximately £53,234–£57,341.

Housing allowance of up to £11,711, where eligible.

Five years of fellowship support.

Dedicated time for academic research.

Membership and participation in the academic environment of All Souls College.

An opportunity to develop an independent research profile at Oxford.

The salary figures and housing allowance are stated in the official 2026–27 Further Particulars.

Required Application Materials

Applicants should carefully review the official Further Particulars and FAQ before beginning the application.

The application process requires candidates to provide relevant academic and research information, including evidence of doctoral completion or expected completion, research plans and academic references.

Candidates who have not yet completed their doctorate should provide a credible timeline demonstrating when their doctoral work is expected to be completed. References should also provide strong evidence of the applicant's research ability and future academic potential.

Because this is a highly competitive postdoctoral fellowship, applicants should ensure that their research proposal clearly communicates the significance, originality and feasibility of their proposed work.

How to Apply for the All Souls Postdoctoral Fellowship?

Eligible candidates can follow these steps:

Step 1: Confirm Your Research Field

Check that your research falls within one of the five eligible subject areas for the 2027 fellowship.

Step 2: Check the Doctoral Eligibility Period

Confirm that your doctorate was awarded within the required period or that you expect to complete it by the specified date.

Step 3: Read the Further Particulars

The official Further Particulars contain important information about eligibility, application requirements and fellowship conditions.

Step 4: Prepare Your Research Proposal

Develop a clear and convincing research plan explaining what you intend to achieve during the five-year fellowship.

Step 5: Arrange References

Ask suitable academic referees to prepare and submit the required references before the deadline.

Step 6: Apply Online

Applications must be submitted through the CASC Online Platform.

Step 7: Submit Before the Deadline

The application and references must be submitted by 4 September 2026 at 12:00 noon UK time.

Application Deadline

The final deadline for the All Souls Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship 2027 is:

4 September 2026, 12:00 noon UK time.

Applicants should remember that the deadline is at noon, rather than midnight. The College advises candidates to use the CASC platform for applications and ensure references are also submitted before the closing time.

Why Apply for This Fellowship?

The All Souls Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship is particularly attractive because of its unusually long five-year duration. Early-career researchers can use this period to develop major research projects, publish academic work and strengthen their future career prospects.

The fellowship also provides an opportunity to conduct research within the University of Oxford's academic environment while becoming part of All Souls College.

For researchers in the eligible fields, the combination of a competitive salary, housing support where applicable, and five years of protected research time makes this a significant early-career opportunity.

Final Thoughts

The All Souls Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship 2027 is an outstanding opportunity for early-career researchers seeking a long-term research position at the University of Oxford. The fellowship lasts five years, is non-renewable and begins in October 2027.

The current competition covers Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, History of Art/History of Music, Law, Life Science and Theoretical Computer Science. Applicants from recognised universities around the world can apply if they meet the doctoral eligibility requirements.

With a published salary range of £53,234–£57,341, plus a housing allowance of up to £11,711 for eligible candidates, the fellowship provides substantial financial and academic support.

Interested researchers should prepare their research proposal, academic documents and references as early as possible. The application deadline is 4 September 2026 at 12:00 noon UK time, and applications must be submitted through the CASC Online Platform.

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