Oxford skyline
The Oxford skyline with the Sheldonian Theatre in the foreground.
Copyright © Oxford University Images / Rob Judges Photography -- All rights reserved.

Non-Stipendiary College Associations for Research Staff

Welcome to the Non-Stipendiary College Associations webpage.

Benefits of acquiring a college association

There are many benefits to acquiring a college association.  Most importantly, it enables researchers to meet and talk with people beyond their own department or academic discipline.  An opportunity to engage with the wider collegiate research and teaching community is considered a quintessential part of the Oxford experience, for University research staff as well as their external collaborators and visitors.  Such benefits are at the core of the collegiate system.

Information for college administration teams

Types of Association

  • There are many different forms of non-stipendiary college associations, from Junior Research Fellowships to lighter forms of association such as Senior Common Room membership or association in return for acting as a College Adviser. 
  • The form of non-stipendiary association offered will vary by college and/or vacancy. 
  • All vacancies listed below are for non-stipendiary positions.  Applicants must have their salary funded via another source. 
  • All forms of association enable researchers to meet others outside their field,  and to forge new intellectual and social links.

The application process

  • Applications for non-stipendiary association should be made directly to the relevant college following the procedure described in the further particulars.
  • Please see the details of each individual opportunity to learn more about entitlements offered, the eligibility requirements, and the objectives of the college in making the appointment.
  • Associations are in demand and there are usually more research staff seeking college association than positions available, leading to a competitive selection process. 
  • Following the positive discussion among Head of House at Conference on 8 December 2020, colleges are encouraged to expand the number of associations going forward and so do revisit this page if you do not find a suitable vacancy today.

Other useful web resources

  • Colleges are invited to advertise their vacancies for non-stipendiary college association to University research staff via this page.   Additional opportunities may be advertised on the website of individual colleges.

Vacancies for non-stipendiary college associations for University research staff are listed below:

Vacancy 1

CollegeKellog College
Type of associationResearch Members of Common Room
Brief details

Research Members of Common Room are elected through an application process led by the Research Coordinator. Membership gives post-doctoral researchers a chance to contribute to and enjoy college life. The application process occurs annually and applications are made to the Academic Administrator, with a reference and statement as to how one would contribute to the life of the College, and are approved by the Research Coordinator.


Membership is renewable annually, coterminous with holding a (paid) research post in the University and attending an annual meeting.

RMCR are required to act as College Advisors. The College Academic Office will assign a maximum of 9 students to each member.

University cards allowing access to University buildings and the Bodleian as well as various online access are distributed through the members’ departments only. Kellogg will add a College ‘link’ on University cards to enable access to the College Hub.

RMCR are offered the use of meeting rooms, and short-term accommodation when available. Membership comes with discounted lunches and Guest Night Dinners as well as being invited to College-wide seminars and events.

To find out more, see Fellows - Kellogg College (ox.ac.uk)
Closing dateWhile applications are accepted all year round, they are only considered once a year over the summer. Nominations should be sent to academic.office@kellogg.ox.ac.uk

Vacancy 2

CollegeKellog College
Type of associationCommon Room Members
Brief details

Common Room members are proposed to Academic Committee by Official Fellows and agreed by Governing Body. Members can be non-academics, or academics whose standing is not regarded as of a Fellowship level. The membership is £60 per annum.

The length of membership is one year and renewable annually with payment.

If invited by the President or Senior Tutor and approved by the Academic Committee, Common Room Members may act as student advisors, in which case the £60 fee will be waived. The College Academic Office will assign around 6 students to each member.

Common Room Members will receive discounted lunches and Guest Night Dinners as well as being invited to College-wide seminars and events

Kellogg does not offer University cards to Common Room Members..

To find out more, see Fellows - Kellogg College (ox.ac.uk)
Closing dateNominations are accepted all year and will be considered by Academic Committee each term. Nominations should be sent to academic.office@kellogg.ox.ac.uk

Vacancy 3

CollegeWolfson College
Type of associationResearch Membership of Common Room
Brief detailsResearch Membership of Common Room (post-doctoral or more senior) is aimed at Early Career Researchers, employed by the University of Oxford who are engaged in substantial research but do not have a College attachment. Membership is for a period of three years and all applications must be supported by the applicant’s Head of Department and a Wolfson College Governing Body Fellow.
To find out more, seehttps://www.wolfson.ox.ac.uk/membership-charges
Closing dates
Michaelmas term 202127 September 202129 October 2021
Hilary term 202231 December 20214 February 2022
Trinity term 20228 April 202213 May 2022

Vacancy 4

CollegeSt Antony’s College
Type of associationSCR membership
Brief details

St Antony’s offers the opportunity to apply for Senior Common Room (SCR) membership to anyone who does not already have an affiliation with any college in Oxford and is on the payroll of any of those departments from which the college recruits graduate students, essentially all departments in the Social Sciences Division (plus the Oxford Martin School) and the Faculties of History and Oriental Studies in the Humanities Division.

SCR members cannot apply directly but must be nominated by their Head of Department or Chair of Faculty and must be willing to be a college advisor for up to 4 (occasionally 5) graduate students. College advisors are supported by the College's Registrar, Dean and Senior Tutor and the role involves offering support for students on the non-academic aspects of their time in Oxford. College advisors are matched with students outside their academic departments to avoid any conflict of interest.

SCR members are entitled to free lunches throughout the year and to use of the Senior Common Room in the College. They are encouraged to attend College academic seminars and workshops but not required to do so. The SCR memberships are coterminous with the applicant’s university contracts up to a maximum of three years.

To find out more, seeNominations should be sent by Heads of Department/Faculty Chairs to warden@sant.ox.ac.uk
Closing dateThe college allows nominations by Heads of Department/Faculty Chairs throughout the year but particularly encourages them before the beginning of Michaelmas Term so that college advisees can be allocated to advisors from when they first arrive.

Recently Closed 

 

CollegeKellog College
Type of associationJunior Research Fellows
Brief details

Junior Research Fellows are employed by the University in a research role. They apply to College when the fellowships are advertised in Hilary term and are interviewed by a panel comprising the Senior Tutor and other Fellows.

The length of the fellowship is co-terminous with the University post or for 3 years, whichever is first.

Junior Research Fellows are required to act as student advisors. The College Academic Office will assign around 9 students to each JRF.

Junior Research Fellowship comes with the rights of Common Table which comprise free lunches and discounted Guest Night Dinners per term as well as being invited to College-wide seminars and events.

To find out more, see Fellows - Kellogg College (ox.ac.uk)
Closing dateThe role is advertised during Hilary term each year. Nominations should be sent to academic.office@kellogg.ox.ac.uk

CollegeWolfson College
Type of associationNon-Stipendiary Research Fellowships in Humanities and Social Sciences 2023
Brief details

The College proposes to elect up to twelve non-stipendiary Research/Junior Research Fellows in Humanities and Social Sciences from 1 October 2023.

Candidates will be required to be engaged in research, with a full-time University of Oxford/Wolfson contract of employment for the duration of the Fellowship.

To find out more, see 

https://www.wolfson.ox.ac.uk/job-vacancies
Closing dateSunday 26 March 2023
Was this page useful?*