Applications closed - for fully-funded Derek Ingram Press Fellowship 2026

For the third year and in conjunction with the Commonwealth Journalists Association, we are now inviting applications for a Derek Ingram Press Fellow to join the Wolfson Press Fellowship Programme. This is a residential programme held at Wolfson College for three months during the Easter Term, 2026. The Programme has been running since 1982 and to date has welcomed over 370 journalists from 47 countries.

This particular Fellowship honours the memory of Derek Ingram, pictured, the distinguished journalist who did so much to improve media coverage and public understanding of the Commonwealth throughout his long career, and who was also a life-long supporter of the Wolfson Press Fellowship Programme.

The Ingram/CJA Fellowship is open to established journalists from any Commonwealth country. The successful candidate will join a small cohort of other journalists at Wolfson College from 13 April 2026 for ten weeks, during which he or she will investigate a subject of their own choosing under light academic supervision.

The Press Fellowship programme

The Press Fellowship Programme is not a course, but an opportunity for journalists in mid-career to research a project of their own choosing under light academic supervision. Although each Press Fellow can choose what they wish to investigate, their project must be relevant to one or more of four broad themes.

The changing role of media in a networked world
Improving the reporting of business, the environment, sustainable development, medicine, bio-science and technology
The role of free media in democratic governance
The implications of AI for journalism

Press Fellows become members of Wolfson College, and gain access while they are in residence to the social, intellectual and scholarly resources at the University of Cambridge. During their stay, they work in close collaboration with the Director of the Programme, Professor John Naughton, who is the co-founder of the Minderoo Centre for Technology and Democracy in the University, and the Technology columnist of the London Observer newspaper.

Fees and costs

The Derek Ingram Press Fellowship covers all of the fees, living, travel and project-related expenses of Fellows from the moment they arrive until they depart. Travel to, from, and within the UK, along with any Visa application costs, will also be covered. The Fellow is provided with a room in College, as well as full dining rights. Please note that the Fellowship does not cover any costs associated for a spouse, partner and/or family if they accompany the Fellow to Cambridge.

Making an application

To make an application, please follow the steps outlined on the Press Fellowship applications webpage. Please note that the deadline for submission of applications for the Derek Ingram Press Fellowship is 5 January 2026.

Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed via Zoom on 6 February 2026 by a Press Fellowship panel.

For further information, please email press-fellowship@wolfson.cam.ac.uk

A man wearing a flat cap, glasses, and a light gray shirt speaks into a microphone. He has shoulder-length dreadlocks and is seated against a plain light background.

"Cambridge wasn't just a destination – it was a revelation. As one of the 2025 CJA-UK/Derek Ingram Press Fellows, I arrived with an overweight suitcase, a boarding pass to Shanghai (true story), and a head full of questions about the role of cartoonists in democracy. Wolfson College welcomed me with warmth and humour."

Msanii Kimani wa Wanjiru | Derek Ingram Fellow 2025

A bearded man with curly hair stands outdoors at night, wearing a dark blue shirt. Soft, colorful lights blur in the background

"Of all the best moments in my life, finding myself among brilliant minds full of talent and experience at Wolfson College is unmatched. As a Derek Ingram Fellow, my time at Wolfson taught me countless lessons, both personal and professional. At Wolfson, my growth was nurtured, and my work was given recognition that will undoubtedly influence my future path."

Kaisar Ul Haq Andrabi | Derek Ingram Fellow 2025

man with short dark hair and a trimmed beard sits in an outdoor setting, wearing a dark button-up shirt. A window with decorative metal bars and a wooden canopy appear in the background

"Becoming the first Derek Ingram Fellow to join the prestigious Press Fellowship at Wolfson College has been a profoundly transformative experience. Immersing myself in the academic life in Cambridge and exchanging knowledge, ideas, and experiences through intellectually stimulating seminars and memorable one-on-one conversations has been an absolute delight and privilege."

Saad Zuberi | Derek Ingram Fellow 2024