Description
The University of Oxford seeks to appoint an Associate Professor of History with research and teaching expertise in Modern South Asian History (c.1760 onwards). The successful candidate will contribute to Oxford’s internationally recognised research environment and play a leading role in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching in this field.
Oxford is one of the most important sites for the study of South Asia, supported by outstanding resources including the Indian Institute Library and the collections of the Pitt Rivers and Ashmolean Museums. Established in the 1960s as one of the first posts dedicated to modern South Asian history, this position has been central to the development of the field internationally. The appointee will hold the only post in the History Faculty dedicated to South Asia and will provide intellectual leadership, fostering collaboration across a wide network of scholars working on the region throughout the University.
Within the Faculty of History, the postholder will join colleagues specialising in South Asia and Global and Imperial History, and will engage with a vibrant interdisciplinary community spanning the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, International Development, Anthropology, Theology, the Blavatnik School of Government, and other departments. As a Non-Tutorial Fellow of St Antony’s College, the appointee will be a member of the College’s Asian Studies Centre, an important hub for seminars, workshops and conferences on the region.
Modern South Asia is an area of exceptionally strong student demand at Oxford. The postholder will contribute substantially to undergraduate and postgraduate teaching. This will include teaching Special and Further Subjects in Modern South Asian history; supervising undergraduate dissertations; contributing to core outline papers in Global and Imperial History; and supervising and examining MSt and DPhil students. The appointee will contribute to the MSt in Global and Imperial History and to graduate training, and will be encouraged to develop new courses reflecting their research expertise. They will also contribute to core teaching in historical methods and approaches.
The successful candidate will be an active and collaborative member of the Faculty, contributing to academic leadership, admissions, and administration. They will support the Humanities Division’s commitment to strengthening extra-European and Global History at Oxford.
We welcome applications from individuals from all backgrounds, including those under-represented in higher education. No applicant or member of staff will be unlawfully discriminated against on the basis of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.
The post is tenable from 1 October 2027 or as soon as possible thereafter. Applications must be submitted online through the University’s e-recruitment system by 12 noon (UK time) on Monday 16th March 2026. Details of how to apply are available in the further particulars.
To view the further particulars and apply for the position, visit https://my.corehr.com/pls/uoxrecruit/erq_jobspec_details_form.jobspec?p_id=184917, then click on the Apply Now button on the ‘Job Details’ page and follow the on-screen instructions to register as a new user or log-in if you have applied previously.
If you would like to discuss this post and find out more about joining the academic community at Oxford, for the Faculty please contact Professor Martin Conway, Chair of the History Faculty Board, (email: martin.conway@history.ox.ac.uk). If you would like to learn more about St Antony’s College, please contact the College Secretary, Lisa Driver Davidson (email: college.secretary@sant.ox.ac.uk). All enquiries will be treated in strict confidence and will not form part of the selection decision.
Requirements
The postholder will hold a doctorate and demonstrate an internationally recognised track record of research and academic achievement in Modern South Asian History, commensurate with their career stage and individual circumstances.
They will have the ability to educate and inspire both undergraduate and graduate students in Modern South Asian History, with a proven capacity to foster high levels of student achievement. Sensitivity to student welfare and a proactive approach to supporting students will be essential. A successful record of Master’s and doctoral supervision, along with experience in curriculum and pedagogical development — including new course design — would be advantageous.
The successful candidate will demonstrate ambitious plans for future research and the ability to secure external funding to support research projects. They will be capable of producing high-quality publications suitable for submission to the UK Research Excellence Framework (REF). A broad intellectual vision and sufficiently wide historical interests to contribute to the long-term development of the subject at Oxford are essential. Evidence of active contribution to academic communities — such as delivering invited keynote lectures, chairing sessions, or participating in national and international conferences — would be desirable, as would a record of effective public engagement and promoting the subject beyond academia.
The role requires outstanding communication and interpersonal skills, alongside the ability to contribute to the strategic development of South Asian History at Oxford. The postholder will be expected to build and sustain strong internal and external networks, acting as an ambassador for the University. Professionalism, collegiality, and a proven track record of constructive working relationships are essential. Experience of promoting collaborative research and inclusive academic environments for individuals from diverse backgrounds would be desirable, as would an awareness of the University’s obligations under the Equality Act 2010 and the Public Sector Equality Duty.
The successful candidate will demonstrate strong computer literacy and ICT competence, including the ability to engage effectively with University and College software systems (training will be provided). The ability to utilise technological innovations to enhance teaching and research would be an advantage.
