The University of Cambridge is grappling with allegations of plagiarism against Jason Arday, one of its youngest black professors, who was appointed in 2023 at the age of 37. The controversy centers on Arday’s PhD thesis, awarded by Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU), which has been scrutinized amid claims that portions of his work were copied from an earlier thesis by Paula Zwozdiak-Myers of Brunel University. Arday and his supporters deny the allegations, describing them as part of a coordinated campaign to undermine his reputation.

The initial plagiarism accusations were brought forward by Nathan Cofnas, a former researcher at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, now based at Ghent University in Belgium. Cofnas highlighted similarities between Arday’s 2015 thesis on peer mentoring and Zwozdiak-Myers’ earlier work. Arday’s defenders argue that the claims come from a critic with a history of controversial statements regarding race in academia, suggesting the campaign against Arday is politically motivated.

Liverpool John Moores University conducted an investigation into the allegations in 2025 and cleared Arday of wrongdoing, confirming that his PhD remains valid. Arday has acknowledged making mistakes but emphasizes that his work should be seen in the context of what he describes as a broader “war on critical race theory” and a targeted weaponization of plagiarism allegations against Black academics. He also noted he received minimal supervision during his doctoral studies, reportedly only a single formal meeting over two and a half years—a claim that raises concerns about LJMU's doctoral supervision standards.

The growing scrutiny extends beyond the PhD controversy. Questions have been raised about several of Arday’s claims, including his professed running achievements, fundraising efforts, and affiliations. For example, his assertion of having installed water points in South America and West Africa was challenged by the charity WaterAid, which denied sending volunteers abroad. Additionally, his stated role as a visiting professor at the University of Glasgow’s School of Education was found to be inaccurate; he was previously a professor of sociology there but not a visiting professor as claimed.

Cambridge has maintained that allegations of plagiarism involving Arday have been fully investigated by the relevant institutions and journals, and that he has been cleared of any misconduct. Nonetheless, the case has prompted calls from some academics for a more independent inquiry. Critics argue the situation risks damaging public trust in Cambridge, the discipline of sociology, and the credibility of Black scholarship broadly. Professor Colin Mills of the University of Oxford spoke of concerns about “academic fraud and low academic standards,” reflecting the anxieties of some within the academic community.

Supporters of Arday, including head of Wolfson College Professor Dame Ijeoma Uchegbu and a number of other academics and politicians, initially signed an open letter defending him against what they characterized as “fake accusations.” However, Uchegbu’s name was later removed from the letter posted online. Friends and colleagues of Arday emphasize his personal struggles, highlighting his background of growing up with autism spectrum disorder and overcoming significant educational challenges to rise in academia. They describe him as a level-headed individual who has been unjustly subject to a damaging and coordinated “character assassination.”

Arday himself has asserted that he is accountable for his mistakes but rejects the broader narrative that paints him as dishonest. He has described facing harassment since joining Cambridge, including an unsubstantiated allegation involving a pig’s head sent to his family home. The Metropolitan Police have no record of this incident.

As the debate continues, the university and the academic community face growing pressure to address both the specific allegations against Arday and the wider implications for academic integrity and diversity initiatives. Whether further independent investigations will be launched remains uncertain, but the controversy has already cast a shadow over one of Cambridge’s most high-profile recent appointments.