Professor Jason Arday has resigned from his post at the University of Cambridge as the institution continues an investigation into allegations surrounding his academic qualifications, honorary appointments and claims of research misconduct. The resignation comes shortly after Cambridge confirmed it had launched a formal inquiry into "new information" relating to the sociology professor, whose appointment in 2023 made him the university's youngest Black professor.

Professor Arday has been at the centre of growing controversy in recent months following allegations that sections of his PhD thesis closely resembled material from a student's paper published six years earlier. Separate questions have also been raised about claims he made regarding honorary academic appointments, charitable fundraising achievements and other aspects of his public profile.

Yesterday, Professor Arday announced he would step down from his position, describing his time at Cambridge as "the greatest professional privilege of my life."

In a letter to colleagues, published by the Good Law Project, he paid tribute to his students, writing: "It has been the privilege of my life to teach my students, to learn alongside them, and to witness their curiosity, kindness and ambition. They have given me far more than I could ever have given them."

Explaining his decision, Professor Arday said sustained public attention had become overwhelming.

He wrote: "While criticism is an inevitable part of academic life, what I have experienced has gone far beyond scholarly disagreement. The relentless accusations, speculation and public commentary have taken a profound toll on me and on those I love."

He added that stepping away was "the only way to bring this chapter to an end," insisting that his resignation should not be interpreted as a rejection of academia or an acceptance of the allegations made against him.

Professor Arday wrote: "This decision should not be interpreted as a loss of faith in scholarship or in the values that first brought me to Cambridge.

"Nor should it be mistaken for an acceptance of the narratives that have surrounded me. It is simply the decision of someone who has reached the limits of what any person should reasonably be expected to endure."

The academic, who grew up in Clapham, south London, has also faced scrutiny over reported claims that he raised £5.5 million for charity through endurance running, completed a 600-mile run in six days and held honorary positions at several universities. Some of the institutions named have since said they have no record of him holding the honorary titles in question.

Professor Arday has previously acknowledged making mistakes but strongly rejected suggestions that he deliberately misled people.

Speaking to The Times, he said: "I am accountable for the mistakes I've made. I hold myself accountable and other people should hold me accountable.

"We're talking about academia here. I didn't murder somebody. I think the cruelty that I've experienced and the positioning of me as this kind of liar and fantasist is totally unacceptable."

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The University of Cambridge confirmed that separate investigations remain ongoing. The university said: "The University of Cambridge has begun an investigation following new information about Professor Arday's academic qualifications and honorary appointments. In order to ensure a fair process, we will not comment further until this has concluded.

"Separately, there remains a number of ongoing complaints regarding academic misconduct, which are being handled in line with our misconduct in research policy. This is consistent with our previous statement on the matter.

"While we are fully aware of the public commentary and concerns around this matter, it remains vital that any process is thorough and adheres to both university policies and employment law.

"We also fully recognise that there is a person at the centre of this situation and we continue to provide support to him.

"We are aware that Jesus College, Cambridge, will be taking their own steps in relation to some of these matters."

The developments follow reports that the Metropolitan Police investigated a journalist after he attempted to question Professor Arday about the allegations.

Jack Grove, a reporter for Times Higher Education, had been examining Professor Arday's academic record after academics alerted him to what they believed were similarities between parts of his published work and another student's research.

During the reporting process, Professor Arday instructed the law firm Carter-Ruck, which wrote to Times Higher Education suggesting the investigation into his academic record "may be racially motivated."

A harassment complaint was subsequently made to Scotland Yard, prompting a police investigation that lasted around four months before being closed in February without further action.

Mr Grove was never interviewed by officers and only became aware of the investigation when police informed him that no action would be taken.

According to The Guardian, the Metropolitan Police also passed details of a complaint concerning another academic researching Professor Arday's record to a separate police force, which declined to pursue the matter.

Mr Grove said he was "stunned" to discover he had been investigated for carrying out routine journalistic work. He also said he had been advised to stop contacting Professor Arday because the reporting had allegedly affected the professor's mental health.

Speaking to The Telegraph, Mr Grove said: "Journalists should be free to ask questions of anyone, even star professors."

As part of his reporting, Mr Grove contacted Professor Arday directly, as well as the University of Cambridge and Liverpool John Moores University, where Professor Arday completed his PhD, seeking clarification over the alleged overlap between his doctoral thesis and another student's work.

Questions were also raised during the investigation over Professor Arday's claims of raising millions of pounds for charity through ultra-distance running.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: "On 18 November 2025, the Met received an allegation of harassment. The case was closed in February this year."

A spokesperson for the University of Cambridge added: "The university did not make any complaint to the police against Jack Grove in 2025. Neither was it aware of any such complaint being made."