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Research Project Grants

Leverhulme Trust

For researchers based at universities, institutions of higher education or registered charities with university-equivalent research capacity, to undertake an innovative and original research project

During 2025, the Trust will also accept applications to the Research Project Grant scheme from eligible UK independent research institutes/organisations on a trial basis. Please note carefully the Trust guidance on remit and what the Trust offers

Value

The maximum grant value is £500,000.

Duration

Research Project Grants may be held for up to five 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

Institutions

The following institutions are eligible to apply:

UK universities
Other institutions of higher education in the UK
Registered charities in the UK which have research capacity equivalent in standing to that of a UK university

And on a trial basis during 2025:

UK-based independent research institutes/organisations. We will consider applications from organisations defined as eligible by UKRI: https://www.ukri.org/publications/organisation-eligibility
Please note that not all of these institutions will conduct research that is a fit to the Trust remit. For details, please consult the webpage on ‘Research we do not fund’.

The applicant, or Principal Investigator

The applicant (Principal Investigator) must take responsibility for directing the grant, and their employing institution must also agree to administer the grant.

Eligible applicants will already be employed by the eligible institution or be academics who have maintained close links with that institution following retirement.

Applications can be submitted by those holding contract research posts, provided that their appointment continues for a period at least equal to the span of the requested award.

Up to three co-applicants from the same or different institutions may also be included. Overseas co-applicants are allowable.

Fields of study

Not all subject areas are eligible for funding from the Trust. Broadly, this includes medical and clinical research, research aiming to influence current policy, research with immediate commercial application, where the focus is on assembling a database, advocacy, capacity building, networking, or skills development. This is principally because of the large amounts of funding available from other funders for these activities.

More details and examples, are given here: leverhulme.ac.uk/research-we-do-not-fund

If applicants are uncertain about eligibility, they are encouraged to email the Trust before beginning an application.

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: Leverhulme Trust

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: 1 Pemberton Row London EC4A 3BG

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