Leverhulme Trust
Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship
3-year fellowship with salary + research costs for early-career researchers at UK institutions.
About the Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship
The Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship supports researchers in their first 4 years after PhD (with extensions for career interruptions) who are establishing their independent research profile. The fellowship provides 50% of salary contribution (the host institution provides the remaining 50%) plus £6,000 per year for research expenses, over 3 years. Hosted at UK universities and research institutions. Open to all disciplines — Leverhulme is known for funding across humanities, social sciences, and sciences without sector favouritism. The scheme favours candidates whose research is original and would not fit neatly into other UK funding streams. Applications are evaluated primarily on the originality of the research proposal and the candidate's trajectory. Leverhulme is considered one of the most important independent funders for UK-based early-career researchers, particularly in humanities and interdisciplinary work.
Key facts
- Career stage
- 0–4 years post-PhD
- Duration
- 3 years
- Salary
- 50% Leverhulme + 50% host
- Scope
- All disciplines
- Success rate
- ~15–20%
Who is eligible?
- •PhD awarded within the last 4 years at the call deadline
- •Extensions possible for career interruptions
- •Host institution in the UK
- •Open to all disciplines (humanities, social sciences, sciences)
Frequently asked questions
+Why does Leverhulme cover only 50% of the salary?
The 50/50 split is intentional: Leverhulme requires host institutions to co-invest in the researcher, which strengthens institutional commitment and often leads to permanent positions after the fellowship. Host universities typically fund the remaining 50% from core budgets.
+Is Leverhulme open to non-UK nationals?
Yes. Nationality is not a criterion. What matters is that you hold (or can obtain) the right to work in the UK for the duration. Many Leverhulme fellows are international researchers who have moved to the UK.
+How is Leverhulme different from UKRI/NIHR/Wellcome?
Leverhulme is a private charitable foundation with broader disciplinary scope (including humanities), fewer thematic constraints, and often funds more speculative/unconventional projects. UKRI (Research Councils) and Wellcome are larger and more structured.
+Do I need a host institution lined up before applying?
Yes. You apply through a UK host institution and must have confirmation of hosting at the time of application. Most applications are coordinated with the host university's research office from the start.
Related programmes
Wellcome Trust
Wellcome Early-Career Award
Salary + up to £400,000 over 5 years for researchers establishing their own independent research programme.
Dutch Research Council (NWO)
NWO Veni
Up to €320,000 over 4 years for researchers in the Netherlands within 3 years of PhD completion.
European Research Council
ERC Starting Grant
Up to €1.5M for early-career researchers 2–7 years post-PhD conducting ground-breaking frontier research.
Want Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship deadlines in your inbox?
Free personalised digest with grants matched to your research profile.
Find my next grant →