The Leverhulme Trust's flagship early-career scheme gives researchers with a doctorate but no permanent academic post three years of salaried research time at a UK university — the Trust pays your full salary in year one and half of it in years two and three, with the host university matching. Around 145 fellowships are awarded in 2027 across all subjects except clinical medical research.
Why it is notable: the application is submitted BY the host university, not by you — your department must secure its matching funding and institutional approval before the deadline, so the real deadline is your university's internal selection weeks earlier. Also note: the Trust's Study Abroad Studentships scheme is currently closed — this is the live Leverhulme route.
Funding at a glance
What it covers
Salary: 100% of total salary costs (incl. National Insurance, superannuation, London allowance) up to £56,000 in year one; 50% up to £28,000 in years two and three (balance paid by the host university):
Research expenses up to £6,000 per year (conferences, travel/subsistence UK and overseas, research assistance, consumables, equipment items up to £2,500 each, books up to £1,000/yr; green-travel costs covered):
3-year salaried academic post at a UK university with dedicated desk/lab space and computing equipment:
Teaching capped (not compulsory): max ~3 hours/week term time, related to the fellow's research, total teaching duties ≤1 day/week:
Eligibility criteria
Qualification Required
PhDfor Postdoc
This scholarship is offered for Postdoc programs.
Who can apply
all nationalities — BUT you must either hold a degree (any degree) from a UK higher education institution at take-up, OR at the deadline hold a UK academic position (e.g. fixed-term lectureship, fellowship) that commenced no less than 4 months before the closing date (i.e. before ~October 2026). The scheme supports careers being built within the UK.
Experience
early-career: thesis submitted for viva no more than 4 years before the closing date (before 18 Feb 2023 = ineligible unless a career break applies — maternity, family, illness or exceptional circumstances; time working outside academia does NOT count); candidates with 3+ years total of postdoctoral positions pursuing their own research project are NOT eligible
Language Certificate
not applicable
Other Certificates
doctorate evidence; detailed statement of proposed research
Age Limit
No Age Limit
Check your eligibility
Run all three quick checks before reviewing your chosen course's full entry requirements.
1
Country checker
all nationalities eligible, subject to the UK-ties rule (UK degree OR UK academic post started ≥4 months before the deadline). The fellowship is tenable only…
2
Last degree checker
Choose your highest completed qualification to see which degree level may fit.
3
Course checker
Pick a course to see whether it falls inside this scholarship's scope.
Complete all three checks
Your combined result will appear here.
Based on published eligibility — always confirm on the official page before applying.
Application essentials
Requirements
Review each requirement before you begin the application.
01
Qualification
doctorate held by take-up; viva submission by 4pm 18 Feb 2027 at the latest if still registered; thesis submitted within the last 4 years (career-break extensions possible).
02
UK ties
UK degree (any) by take-up, OR UK academic post commenced ≥4 months before the deadline.
03
Status
no full-time permanent academic post (past or concurrent); <3 years total postdoctoral posts pursuing own research; not registered for other qualifications at commencement.
04
Project
significant publishable research, achievable in 3 years, not a reworking of the PhD; all subjects except clinical-medical.
05
Host commitment
matching funding secured and specifically allocated before the closing date; institutional approval by head of department + administrative officer.
06
Fee
no fee.
Document checklist
01Application in the Leverhulme Grant System (submitted by the host university)
02Detailed statement of proposed research
03CV / research record
04Budget (eligible costs only — no accommodation/overheads; not full economic costing)
05Institutional approval (head of department + university administrative officer)
06Evidence of secured matching funding, specifically allocated to the applicant
Application fee
No fee — completely free.
Visa, kept concise: Study visa type for this destination: UK Skilled Worker visa (or Global Talent visa where eligible) — the host university sponsors the Certificate of Sponsorship; many research fellows use the Skilled Worker route. (Concise — confirm…
Application Procedure
10 steps — follow in order. Each stage prepares the next.
01
Confirm eligibility: doctorate timing
UK-ties rule, no permanent post, <3 years of postdoc posts, non-clinical subject.
→
02
Identify a UK host university/department and negotiate
the department's matching-funding commitment (the host must secure and specifically allocate the matching funds to you BEFORE the closing date).
→
03
Follow the university's internal selection process and
internal deadlines (typically Nov 2026–Jan 2027 — weeks before the Trust deadline).
↓
06
The host university approves and submits to
the Trust by 4pm, 18 February 2027. Results by email end of May 2027.
←
05
Obtain institutional approval from the head of
department AND an administrative officer of the host university.
←
04
Prepare the application in the Leverhulme Grant System
detailed statement of proposed research (practising artists: include link to up to 12 images or a short film/music excerpt), CV, budget within eligible costs.
↓
07
Application in the Leverhulme Grant System (submitted
by the host university)
→
08
Detailed statement of proposed research
→
09
CV / research record
↓
10
Budget (eligible costs only —
no accommodation/overheads; not full economic costing)
Application milestones
18 Feb 2027
Application deadline
2027
Intake year
Ready to apply?
Continue on the official UK universities with research degree awarding… platform.
18 Feb 2027 — , 16:00 (host university submits to the Trust). University internal deadlines fall weeks earlier — check your…
Who can apply?
all nationalities — BUT you must either hold a degree (any degree) from a UK higher education institution at take-up, OR at the deadline hold a UK academic position (e.g. fixed-term lectureship, fellowship) that commenced no less than 4 months before the closing date (i.e. before ~October 2026). The scheme supports careers being built within the UK.
What does the scholarship cover?
Salary: 100% of total salary costs (incl. National Insurance, superannuation, London allowance) up to £56,000 in year one; 50% up to £28,000 in years two and three (balance paid by the host university):; Research expenses up to £6,000 per year (conferences, travel/subsistence UK and overseas, research assistance, consumables, equipment items up to £2,500 each, books up to £1,000/yr; green-travel costs covered):; 3-year salaried academic post at a UK university with dedicated desk/lab space and computing equipment:; Teaching capped (not compulsory): max ~3 hours/week term time, related to the fellow's research, total teaching duties ≤1 day/week:
Where do I apply?
Through the official application portal linked in the Official links section on this page.
Need document or attestation help?
Detailed attestation guidance stays in Opplore's standalone Guides section, not inside this scholarship page.
United Kingdom · UK universities with research degree awarding…