Jason Arday, the former University of Cambridge professor who resigned amid allegations of plagiarism, has been found dead.
The academic was pronounced dead after being found “unresponsive” at an address in Battersea, south London, on Friday, August 14.
Metropolitan Police officers were called by the London Ambulance Service. A 41-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene, and his next of kin have been informed, the force said.
Arday resigned as a Cambridge professor of sociology of education last week after allegations of plagiarism and questions about some of his achievements. He had denied the claims.
In a statement, the Met Police said: “At this time his death is being treated as unexpected, but is not believed to be suspicious.”
Cambridge University vice-chancellor Professor Deborah Prentice said: “We are desperately saddened to hear this tragic news”.
“Our heartfelt sympathies go to Jason Arday’s family and friends at this incredibly difficult time”, she said.
Arday, 41, had denied any plagiarism – but admitted errors in his work – and last week said the recent controversy about his work had led to “an unrelenting level of public scrutiny and personal attack”.
The row first erupted after another academic, Nathan Cofnas, who was sacked from his Cambridge role in 2024, said he found numerous instances of plagiarism in Prof Arday’s work and questioned some of his stated achievements.
Announcing his resignation last week, Arday said the “personal cost” of the scrutiny of him had become “too great”.
He said: “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 stressed that his resignation should not “be mistaken for an acceptance of the narratives that have surrounded me”.
