Focus on Fellowships
Ever wondered if a fellowship might be right for you? A fellowship can provide funding and opportunities to help you further explore your research ideas and develop independence.
New to Fellowships?
- Watch our 'Is a Fellowship Right for Me?' video for an introduction to fellowships
- Access our Fellowships and Funding webpage for more guidance on navigating your fellowship options.
- Learn more about Cambridge and Oxford Junior Research Fellowships (JRFs) with our intro to JRFs video Introduction to Junior Research Fellowships (JRFs)
- Hear from fellowship holders about their journeys to securing a fellowship Fellowship Panel: Success in Research Funding.
Ever wonder what it really takes to successfully get a fellowship? Not sure how to find people who have gone through the process? These group guidance sessions will provide a confidential space where you will work together with the experienced session facilitators and your peers to support one another.
You can expect to:
- Exchange strategies with fellow researchers across disciplines
- Share your research narrative, application challenges, and lessons learned with peers who understand the process
- Gain insights from others' approaches to crafting research proposals and addressing panel feedback
Engage in structured discussions to refine your planning and strategy in finding and applying for fellowships
Upcoming Sessions
Am I Ready? and Identifying Opportunities (Group Guidance)
Tuesday 3rd March 2026, 16:00 - 17:00, West Hub, Room B
Get application ready (Group Guidance)
Monday 16th March 2026, 14:30 - 15:30, Biomedical Campus Postdoc Centre, Seminar Room
Navigating the Fellowship Process (Group Guidance)
Tuesday 31st March 2026, 14:30 - 15:30, Alison Richards Building, S2
Thursday 5 March 2026, 13:00 - 14:15, Online
If you're working on Fellowship or funding applications, you are likely to be asked to complete a Narrative CV. Aiming to measure a wide range of contributions to research, innovation and academic leadership, Narrative CVs require a different approach to the standard academic CV.
Junior Research Fellowships Applications
Tuesday 10 March 2026, 16:00 - 17:15, Online
In the competitive realm of Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) applications, how can you write a compelling research statement for the college panel? In this interactive workshop, we'll explore what selection committees are looking for in JRF applications, and appraise two successful research summaries to help you recognise the features of an effective application. New to Junior Research Fellowships? Watch our Intro video or read our introduction to Junior Research Fellowships webpage which covers key information about what a JRF is, and the different types.
Research Mini-Proposals Workshop
Monday 30 March, 14:00 - 16:30, Student Services Centre (SSC), New Wing Seminar Room
Winning an independent research fellowship can be the golden ticket to a long-term academic career – but how do you turn your research ideas into a compelling pitch that will convince a panel to award you one?
This session gives you the chance to try out being the applicant and a selector, and learn from both sides of the process. We’ll simulate a funding body panel selection exercise. You will submit a short proposal that will be considered by a panel of fellow early career researchers. You will also be a panel member and review proposals from other participants. It’s a great way to see what really makes a proposal stand out and you’ll receive valuable feedback on your proposal from peers.
All proposals submitted will be treated as confidential.
Additional Training and Support for Fellowships and Funding
Additional training sessions and resources are available from the Researcher Development Team and Postdoc Academy to support you with developing your research ideas and preparing for Fellowship applications.
19 March: Writing Fellowship Grants with Impact
25 March: Narrative CV Writing Retreat
- Learn more about different types of funding, when to apply and access funding resources on our Fellowships & Funding webpage
- Learn more about the Research Professional funding database in this short video: How to use Research Professional - a database of funding opportunities
- Hear from Senior Academics about how fellowship applications are reviewed Focus on Fellowships: How are Funding Applications Reviewed
- Watch our short video on Junior Research Fellowship applications Applications for Junior Research Fellowships (JRFs)
- Access the Academic Application toolkit for guidance on Narrative CVs, research statements and more!
- Access bespoke presentations from funding agencies such as the British Academy and Future Leaders Fellowship for Cambridge students and postdocs
- Access further guidance on fellowship applications, including support for costing your research and sourcing funding via the Research Operations Office website.