Early-career researchers interested in peacebuilding, religious studies, conflict resolution, social transformation, and international affairs have an opportunity to pursue an independent research project through the Cambridge Interfaith Programme (CIP) at the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom.
The programme has announced a call for applications from outstanding early-career researchers whose work explores the relationship between religion, culture, peace, conflict, and political violence in contemporary societies.
Successful candidates in the programme’s internal selection process will receive support to apply for a Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship, with matching funding from the Faculty of Divinity, subject to the candidate’s subsequent selection by the Leverhulme Trust.
The opportunity is particularly relevant to scholars seeking to develop an independent research agenda, strengthen their academic profile, and contribute to interdisciplinary debates about how communities experience conflict, pursue justice, resist violence, and build sustainable peace.
The application deadline is 30 November 2026.
Overview of the Cambridge Interfaith Programme Fellowship Opportunity
The Cambridge Interfaith Programme is a research centre based within the Faculty of Divinity at the University of Cambridge. It promotes interreligious and interdisciplinary inquiry, alongside dialogue between faith communities and secular society.
For the 2026–2031 period, the programme’s strategic focus examines how individuals and communities create, experience, contest, and sustain peace in contexts affected by conflict and political violence.
The fellowship opportunity is intended to support researchers developing substantial new projects that align with this research agenda.
Key details include:
- Host institution: University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Research centre: Cambridge Interfaith Programme
- Faculty: Faculty of Divinity
- Funding scheme: Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship
- Research focus: Peace, conflict, religion, violence, justice, and social transformation
- Fellowship duration: Three years under the Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship scheme
- Application deadline: 30 November 2026
- Application method: Email
- Application contact: Dr Peter Harland, Faculty Manager
- Email: pjh42@cam.ac.uk
- Programme enquiries: team@interfaith.cam.ac.uk
Important: This is a competitive, two-stage process. Applicants first undergo internal selection by the Cambridge programme. Successful candidates are then supported in applying to the Leverhulme Trust, which makes the final funding decision. Funding is therefore not guaranteed by the internal selection alone.
Research Themes and Areas of Interest
The Cambridge Interfaith Programme is particularly interested in research that examines the cultural, religious, ethical, and lived dimensions of peace and conflict.
Applicants are encouraged to develop original projects addressing one or more of the following themes.
1. Religion, Conflict, and Political Violence
Research may investigate how religious beliefs, institutions, practices, and identities influence the ways people understand and respond to conflict.
Possible areas include religious interpretations of violence, the role of faith communities during political crises, and the ways religious resources influence resistance, reconciliation, and peacebuilding.
The programme welcomes projects that examine these relationships through detailed engagement with contemporary societies.
2. Peacebuilding, Reconciliation, and Nonviolent Resistance
Another area of interest concerns how individuals and communities respond to violence and work toward peaceful social change.
Research could explore grassroots peace initiatives, reconciliation processes, solidarity networks, restorative practices, and forms of nonviolent resistance.
Projects may investigate how communities develop alternatives to violence, repair damaged relationships, and establish new possibilities for coexistence.
3. Gender, Justice, and Social Transformation
Researchers may examine how social identities, religious traditions, and cultural practices shape experiences of conflict and access to justice.
This could include research into the experiences of marginalised communities, the influence of gender on peacebuilding, or the ways individuals challenge established social and political boundaries.
Applicants should ensure that their proposed research makes a clear contribution to the programme’s central interests in peace, conflict, and religion.
4. Memory, Narratives, and Representations of Violence
The programme also welcomes research examining how collective memories, historical narratives, and representations of violence shape contemporary understandings of conflict.
Projects may investigate how communities remember traumatic events, interpret historical injustices, and use cultural or religious narratives to support reconciliation or resistance.
The programme particularly encourages ethnographic, anthropological, and related interpretive approaches. Projects may focus on different geographical and religious contexts, with particular interest in the Middle East and related regions.
Research should focus primarily on events from the 1950s onwards.
Who Is Eligible to Apply?
The opportunity is intended for early-career researchers who meet the eligibility requirements of the Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship scheme.
According to the Cambridge Interfaith Programme’s published guidance for the current application cycle, applicants must have submitted their PhD thesis for viva voce examination no earlier than 18 February 2023.
Applicants who have not yet submitted their thesis must submit it before 18 February 2027.
However, satisfying these dates alone does not establish eligibility. The Leverhulme scheme has additional requirements that candidates must review carefully before applying.
The Cambridge programme also notes that postdoctoral researchers without an existing connection to a UK higher education institution, whether through previous study in the United Kingdom or current employment, are not ordinarily eligible for Leverhulme awards.
Researchers should therefore assess their individual circumstances against the current official eligibility rules before preparing an application.
Those who have not completed a PhD and cannot meet the thesis submission requirement are advised to explore doctoral study opportunities instead.
Application Requirements
Applicants must prepare a complete application containing the following documents.
1. Academic CV
The CV must not exceed two sides of A4 and should present the candidate’s academic background, research experience, publications, and relevant achievements.
2. List of Major Publications
This document must not exceed one side of A4 and should organise publications under three headings:
- In preparation
- Submitted
- Published
3. Statement of Current and Previous Research
Applicants must provide a statement of no more than 250 words outlining their existing research interests and previous work.
4. Research Proposal
The proposal must not exceed two sides of A4 and should explain:
- The research question and aims.
- The methodology and proposed research activities.
- The project’s contribution to existing scholarship.
- Anticipated research outputs and a realistic three-year work plan.
- The potential contribution to and benefits of participating in the Cambridge Interfaith Programme’s intellectual environment.
The proposal should demonstrate a clear research question, methodological strength, originality, and a realistic plan for completing the project within the fellowship period.
5. Two Academic References
Applicants must arrange two references, one of which should normally come from outside the University of Cambridge.
Referees must send their references directly to Dr Peter Harland at the application email address provided below.
Applicants should contact referees early to ensure that the references arrive in accordance with the programme’s instructions.
How to Apply for the Cambridge Fellowship Opportunity
Applications should be submitted by email to the Faculty Manager, Dr Peter Harland.
- Application email: pjh42@cam.ac.uk
- Deadline: 30 November 2026
- VISIT OFFICIAL WEBSITE HERE
Applicants should consult the official announcement and the Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship guidance before submitting their documents.
The application should follow the prescribed document limits, include all required materials, and reflect the Cambridge Interfaith Programme’s research priorities.
Given the competitive nature of the opportunity, prospective applicants should allow enough time to refine their research proposal, verify their eligibility, and coordinate references.
Is This Opportunity Fully Funded?
The announcement describes a pathway to the Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship, with matching funding provided by the Faculty of Divinity for a successful candidate, subject to selection by the Leverhulme Trust.
However, applicants should not interpret the internal call as a guarantee of funding. Candidates must first be selected by Cambridge and then secure the relevant award through the Trust’s process.
For accurate information about salary, research expenses, eligible costs, and the precise financial arrangements, applicants should consult the official Leverhulme scheme guidance and the Cambridge programme’s published information.
Final Thoughts
The Cambridge Interfaith Programme’s call for applications offers early-career researchers an opportunity to develop independent scholarship on some of the most pressing questions surrounding religion, political violence, justice, reconciliation, and peacebuilding.
Its emphasis on ethnographic, anthropological, and interpretive research creates opportunities for scholars to investigate how people experience conflict and draw on cultural and religious resources to imagine more peaceful futures.
For eligible researchers, the opportunity combines a structured application pathway, potential three-year fellowship funding, and mentorship within the University of Cambridge’s Faculty of Divinity.
Application deadline: 30 November 2026.
Interested candidates should review the eligibility requirements, prepare the required documents, and submit their applications to **pjh42@cam.ac.uk** before the deadline.
