Jason Arday, a professor at the University of Cambridge, was found dead at a residence in Battersea, South London, on August 14, 2026. He was 41 years old. The Metropolitan Police reported that officers were called to the scene by the London Ambulance Service shortly after 3 p.m. and confirmed that his death is being treated as unexpected but not suspicious. A file will be prepared for the coroner.
Arday had recently resigned amid allegations of plagiarism related to his PhD thesis. Nathan Cofnas, a philosopher at the University of Ghent, accused Arday of lifting passages with minimal editing from other sources. Reports indicated that over 100 passages in his thesis resembled a work published by a Brunel University student six years prior.
In a statement, a University of Cambridge spokesperson expressed sadness over Arday's death, extending condolences to his family and friends. Glasgow University, where Arday previously taught, also expressed shock and sadness. Arday is survived by his wife and two children.
He became the youngest Black professor at the University of Cambridge in 2023 and had recently released a memoir titled "Great and Unfortunate Things." In a prior interview, Arday acknowledged his mistakes and discussed the impact of his alleged learning disabilities on his work.