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Leverhulme Doctoral Scholarships

Leverhulme Trust

The Leverhulme Centenary Doctoral Scholarships are now open for submission in March 2026. While the scheme requirements remain largely as set out for the 2023 round, this round includes additional studentships, as well as funding for postdoctoral opportunities and programme administration costs.

For UK universities to fund up to 30 Leverhulme Doctoral Scholarships in an interdisciplinary priority research area for that institution.

Please note the Leverhulme Trust does not accept applications directly from graduates wishing to pursue doctoral study.

Following the Trust’s recent £100 million commitment to mark its 100th anniversary, the Leverhulme Centenary Doctoral Scholarships (LCDS) will include:

An increased number of doctoral scholarship places
Additional scholarship places to support students from underrepresented groups in the UK to undertake a master’s plus doctoral programme
An increased number of doctoral scholarships for international students
Dedicated funding to support research and training expenses and cohort-building activities
New funding to support a limited number of postdoctoral level opportunities for LCDS programme graduates
New funding to contribute to dedicated administrative assistance costs
The option to apply as a consortium of up to two universities

Value

Ten awards of up to £5 million will be made to UK universities in this round.

Each award provides funds for 18 four-year Leverhulme Centenary Doctoral Scholarships at UK/home rates and 6 four-year Scholarships at international/overseas rates, with 8 scholarships to be offered in each year of the first three years of the grant.

To provide targeted support to ensure better progression of low income and Black students to doctoral study, universities can apply for additional funding, for up to six students from these underrepresented groups to undertake a research master’s degree before progressing to a PhD.

Duration

Each grant runs over a period of 9 years.

AI based application success predictor

According to the Trust’s own guidance, successful applications reflect outstanding scholarship and a distinctive intellectual vision. The following factors are strong predictors of success:

✔ 1. Originality & Intellectual Vision

The Trust prioritises research that is innovative and goes beyond incremental advances — especially where the applicant believes a topic is an important frontier in the field. leverhulme.ac.uk

Success tip: Frame your proposal around questions no one is yet exploring thoroughly and demonstrate how your project will open new avenues for research.

✔ 2. Importance & Broader Relevance

Projects should promise to enable further enquiry and have significance outside a narrow domain. Work that engages with ideas beyond a single discipline is particularly welcome. leverhulme.ac.uk

Success tip: Explain how your research connects to broader intellectual or societal debates.

✔ 3. Methodological Merit & Feasibility

Even for “blue skies” ideas, proposals should have a sound research design and realistic plan for execution that trustees can judge as feasible. leverhulme.ac.uk

Success tip: Provide clear stages, milestones and justification of methods — even in interdisciplinary contexts.

✔ 4. Applicants’ Track Record & Environment

Reviewers assess whether the applicant and host institution are well-placed to realise the research objectives — including evidence of relevant expertise and institutional support. leverhulme.ac.uk

Success tip: Highlight past outputs and institutional commitments that support the project’s success.

✔ 5. Willingness to Take Appropriate Risks

The Trust values work that pushes disciplinary boundaries or takes intellectual risks with potential for high scholarly payoff. leverhulme.ac.uk

Success tip: Make a compelling case for why the risk is justified and how it might lead to significant new insights.

🧠 Practical Application Tips

✔ Match scheme to career stage: Research Project Grants suit established projects; Early Career or Major Fellowships fit career development needs. leverhulme.ac.uk+1
✔ Justify why Leverhulme is the right funder: Explicitly explain why other funders aren’t more suitable, especially when the Trust’s distinctive remit is about originality. leverhulme.ac.uk
✔ Build a compelling narrative: Articulate why this project matters now and its scholarly impact over time. leverhulme.ac.uk
✔ Demonstrate feasibility without over-specifying rigid outcomes: Trust reviewers value flexibility when managing ambitious research. leverhulme.ac.uk

📌 Summary: Leverhulme Trust Success Checklist

Predictor	Why It Matters
Originality & risk-taking	Core to Trust mission. leverhulme.ac.uk
Importance & broad relevance	Signals impact beyond narrow fields. leverhulme.ac.uk
Strong methodology	Ensures feasible scholarship. leverhulme.ac.uk
Competent investigator	Shows ability to deliver. leverhulme.ac.uk
Appropriate scheme match	Aligns award to career and goals.

Specialties

Public Health

Eligibility Requirements

The scheme is open to applications from any UK university that holds research degree awarding powers in its own right.

To increase the reach of the scheme and the diversity of institutions the Trust funds, applications will also be accepted from a consortium of a maximum of two universities. In the proposal, one university and one principal applicant must be identified to lead. The principal applicant will submit the proposal and, if an award is made, take responsibility for financial and reporting matters. The funding contract would be held by the lead university.

A university may submit only one application as lead but may partner in multiple applications, provided they are in different disciplinary areas.

In addition to the 24 four-year doctoral scholarship places, institutions may also recruit six students to a master’s plus PhD programme.
Students wishing to pursue the master’s plus PhD route need to fulfil the following criteria:

Be a UK domiciled student
Not already have a master’s degree from the host institution
Be from a low-income household background evidenced by, for example, being in receipt of a full maintenance loan or Special Support loan during their undergraduate studies

AND/OR
Be one of the following categories of ethnicity
o  Black African
o  Black Caribbean
o  Black Other
o  Mixed – White and Black Caribbean
o  Mixed – White and Black African
o  Other mixed background (including Black African, Black Caribbean and Black Other)

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: Leverhulme Trust

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: 1 Pemberton Row London EC4A 3BG

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