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Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellowships 2027
Three-year early-career fellowships at UK universities for researchers with a doctorate who have not yet held a permanent academic post, covering salary costs plus research expenses.
| Amount / funding | Trust contribution of 100% of salary costs up to £56,000 in year one and 50% up to £28,000 in years two and three (balance paid by the host university) + up to £6,000 per year in research expenses; approximately 145 fellowships in 2027 |
|---|---|
| Deadline | 18 February 2027, 4:00 PM (host-university approved submission to the Trust) |
| Start date | Between 1 September 2027 and 1 May 2028 |
| Level | Postdoctoral |
| Funding type | full |
| Field |
About this scholarship
Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellowships: three-year fellowships at UK universities for early-career researchers with a research record who have not yet held a full-time permanent academic post, with the Trust contributing up to £56,000 of salary costs in year one and up to £28,000 in years two and three, plus up to £6,000 per year in research expenses; approximately 145 fellowships in 2027. Placed in category 12 because the scheme covers all disciplines, not humanities only.
Minimum requirements
Early-career researchers with a research record who have not yet held a full-time permanent academic post. All candidates must hold a doctorate by take-up; those registered for a doctorate must have submitted their thesis for viva voce examination by 4pm on the closing date of 18 February 2027; candidates must have submitted their thesis not more than four years before the closing date (not before 18 February 2023 unless a career break is made out for maternity leave, family commitments, illness or other exceptional circumstances; time outside academia does not qualify). Candidates must either hold a degree from a UK higher education institution or hold a UK academic position at the deadline that commenced at least four months earlier. Candidates who have held or currently hold postdoctoral positions totalling 3 or more years pursuing their own research project are not eligible. Fellowships are tenable at UK universities with research degree awarding powers; the Fellow's main residence must be in the UK; the host department must secure matching funding before the closing date. Applications are considered in all subject areas except studies of disease, illness and disabilities in humans and animals, and research intended to inform clinical practice or medical applications. One application per year; previously unsuccessful applicants may reapply. Teaching, if undertaken, averages no more than 3 hours per teaching week in term time.
Application checklist
- Secure a host UK university with research degree awarding powers and its matching-funding commitment before the closing date
- Obtain institutional approval from the head of the host department and an administrative officer of the host university
- Hold a doctorate by take-up, with the thesis submitted for viva voce by 4pm on the closing date and not more than four years before it (career-break cases excepted)
- Confirm the UK-degree or UK-academic-position condition (position commenced at least four months before the closing date)
- Confirm the project is a significant piece of publishable work, not a reworking of the doctoral research
- Submit through the host university by 4pm on the closing date
Application tips
- Start with the host department, not the Trust: without secured matching funding and institutional approval by the closing date, the application is rejected as ineligible.
- Check the four-year thesis window precisely — theses formally submitted before 18 February 2023 are ineligible unless a career break is made out.
- If you have not moved institutions during your academic career, nominate a new host university or document strong academic or personal reasons for staying.
- Host internal deadlines fall in November 2026 (for example Oxford 20/27 November, Leeds school 30 November, Bristol 9 November) — the February Trust deadline is not the first deadline you face.
Always verify deadline, amount and eligibility on the official page before applying. Values marked ESTIMATE are based on a previous cycle and are not confirmed for the current round.
Tags: United Kingdom, Early career fellowship, Postdoctoral