JRFs are among the most highly competitive, prestigious postdoctoral fellowships in the United Kingdom.

They tended to be paid either from central university funds or by an outside organisation such as a charity or company, or through an external grant-awarding body such as a research council or a royal society, for example in the Royal Society University Research Fellowship.

During and after the First World War, Oxbridge colleges instituted more reforms to their research programs.

[8] In the postwar years, British universities began to invest more resources into junior research fellowships.

JRFs offer full funding, usually with additional privileges, such as free or subsidized housing and dining rights in college.

[17] JRF selection committees prioritize applicants with high research potential and prepare them for tenure-track positions.

They generally receive applications from final-year PhD students and recent graduates.

[28] JRF holders are also described as being predominantly male, although some colleges have in recent years reported having a majority of female JRFs.