The Leverhulme Research Fellowships support experienced researchers who need protected time to complete a programme of original research. The 2027 round offers awards worth up to £70,000 for fellowships lasting 3 to 24 months. The scheme is intended for researchers whose regular teaching or administrative duties have restricted research progress. Applications close at 4pm on 5 November 2026.
The fellowship is not a student scholarship or a new salaried research post. Funding can contribute to eligible replacement costs and research expenses while the researcher remains focused on the approved project. Awards must start between 1 June 2027 and 1 May 2028. Applicants should use the current Leverhulme guidance and institutional research-office procedures before submitting.
Leverhulme Research Fellowships Details
The The fellowships are designed for experienced researchers in any discipline who have a substantial piece of original research to complete. Priority is given to applicants whose research has been constrained by routine duties during the previous three years.
A fellowship may run for 3–24 months, and fellows must devote at least 75% of their time to the approved research. The maximum total value is £70,000, with the final request based on eligible costs and the needs of the proposed programme.
Program | Leverhulme Research Fellowships |
|---|---|
Funder | The Leverhulme Trust |
Maximum award | £70,000 |
Duration | 3–24 months |
Research commitment | At least 75% of fellowship time |
Start window | 1 June 2027–1 May 2028 |
Deadline | 5 November 2026 at 4pm |
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Leverhulme Research Fellowships Benefits
Successful applicants can request up to £70,000 toward eligible costs that make dedicated research time possible. The scheme may support reasonable replacement costs for teaching or administrative duties and eligible research expenses connected with the approved project.
The award also creates a sustained period for completing ambitious original research without the normal level of routine duties. A fellowship can be tailored from three months to two years, provided the proposed duration and budget are justified by the research plan.
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Leverhulme Research Fellowships Eligibility
Applicants must be experienced researchers with a record that shows they can complete the proposed original research. The scheme is especially relevant to researchers whose teaching and administrative responsibilities have limited their research time during the previous three years.
The fellowship does not support independent scholars, degree study or applicants whose current role is wholly or predominantly research. Institutional eligibility and employment conditions matter, so applicants should confirm the current Trust rules with their university research office before applying.
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Application Requirements
Applicants need a clearly defined programme of original research, a justified timetable and an appropriate budget. The application must explain why protected research time is necessary and how the fellowship will enable work that routine duties have prevented the applicant from completing.
Institutional approval is also important because replacement-cost requests and research leave normally involve the employing university. Applicants should follow the current Leverhulme Grant System guidance and any earlier internal deadline set by their institution.
How to Apply for Leverhulme Research Fellowships
Applications are submitted through the official Leverhulme Grant System. Researchers should review the current scheme guidance before opening the form and should coordinate with their institution where internal approval is required.
Prepare the research proposal, cost information and institutional details before final submission. The funder deadline is the external closing point, but universities may impose an earlier internal deadline for review and authorization.
Leverhulme Research Fellowships Deadline
The 2027 Research Fellowships round closes at 4pm on 5 November 2026. University research offices may set earlier internal dates so they can review budgets, approvals and the final application before it reaches the funder.
Successful awards must begin between 1 June 2027 and 1 May 2028. Applicants should verify the live Leverhulme page before submission in case the Trust publishes a clarification or changes a procedural detail.
Leverhulme Research Fellowships FAQ
The scheme is research funding for experienced researchers rather than a general tuition scholarship. Its central purpose is to create protected time for a defined programme of original research.
Funding and duration are flexible within the published limits, but each request must be justified. The current official guidance remains the final authority for eligibility, eligible costs and application requirements.
How much funding is available?
The maximum total value of a fellowship is £70,000, subject to eligible costs and the approved budget.
How long can a Leverhulme Research Fellowship last?
A fellowship may run for 3 to 24 months, with at least 75% of the fellow’s time devoted to the research project.
Can the fellowship fund a PhD?
No. Research Fellowships are not intended to fund degree study or doctoral programmes.
Leverhulme Research Fellowships Conclusion
These fellowships give experienced researchers a practical route to protect time for ambitious original work. With awards of up to £70,000 and a duration of three to 24 months, the scheme can support both replacement costs and eligible research expenses.
Researchers who meet the current employment and experience conditions should start institutional preparation early. Complete the official Leverhulme Grant System application and submit it by 5 November 2026 at 4pm, while respecting any earlier university deadline.
