Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellowships 2026 for Researchers (Salaried)

Applications are now open for the Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellowships 2026, a prestigious three-year salaried fellowship designed to support outstanding early career researchers in undertaking ambitious, publishable research at eligible UK higher education institutions. The fellowship provides researchers with protected time, salary support, research funding, mentorship, and an opportunity to strengthen their academic careers while working on original research projects with broad intellectual significance.

The fellowship is one of the United Kingdom's most respected early career research schemes. It is intended for researchers who have recently completed their doctorate and have demonstrated strong research potential but have not yet secured a permanent full-time academic appointment. Fellows are expected to undertake a significant programme of independent research that contributes meaningfully to their discipline while positioning them for future academic leadership.

The Opportunity Desk announcement highlights opportunities for applicants wishing to be hosted by the Centre for Research in the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities (CRASSH) at the University of Cambridge. Successful applicants will become salaried fellows and receive institutional support while carrying out research between September 2027 and May 2028 start dates, depending on their fellowship arrangements.

About the Fellowship

The Leverhulme Trust established the Early Career Fellowships programme to help talented researchers make the transition from doctoral studies or temporary academic appointments to long-term academic careers. Rather than supporting short-term research activities, the fellowship enables recipients to undertake an ambitious research programme over a three-year period within a supportive university environment.

Each fellow works closely with an academic mentor at the host institution while developing an independent research profile. The programme encourages applicants to propose innovative research that demonstrates originality, intellectual ambition, and the potential to contribute significantly to their discipline.

For applicants seeking to hold the fellowship at CRASSH, research proposals should align with one of the participating centres, including:

• Centre for Geopolitics.
• Cambridge Digital Humanities.
• Centre for Pandemic Risk Management.

Fellowship Benefits

Successful applicants will receive:

• A three-year salaried research fellowship.
• Salary support jointly funded by the Leverhulme Trust and the host institution.
• Up to £6,000 per year for research expenses.
• Dedicated academic mentorship.
• Access to world-class research facilities.
• Opportunities to collaborate with leading scholars.
• Professional development and networking opportunities.
• Time to produce high-quality, publishable research.
• Enhanced prospects for securing permanent academic positions.
• Membership within a vibrant interdisciplinary research community.

Eligible Research Areas

The fellowship supports original research across a broad range of academic disciplines funded by the Leverhulme Trust, particularly within:

• Arts.
• Humanities.
• Social Sciences.
• Interdisciplinary Research.
• Digital Humanities.
• Geopolitics.
• Public Policy.
• History.
• Philosophy.
• Literature.
• Cultural Studies.
• Political Science.
• International Relations.
• Other eligible non-clinical research disciplines.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must generally satisfy the following requirements:

• Hold a doctoral degree before the fellowship begins.
• Have submitted their doctoral thesis for viva examination by the Leverhulme Trust's deadline.
• Have submitted their doctoral thesis no more than four years before the fellowship deadline unless eligible career breaks apply.
• Not hold a full-time permanent academic position at a UK university or equivalent institution.
• Have fewer than three years of postdoctoral research experience devoted primarily to independent research.
• Either hold a degree from a UK university or have been employed in a UK academic position for the required qualifying period before the application deadline.
• Be supported by an eligible UK host institution.

Required Application Documents

Applicants are generally expected to prepare:

• Completed application cover sheet.
• Curriculum Vitae (maximum two pages).
• List of major publications.
• Statement describing current research.
• Detailed research proposal.
• Two letters of reference.
• Information about the proposed academic mentor.
• Any additional documentation requested by the host institution.

Research proposals should clearly explain the originality, objectives, methodology, anticipated outcomes, and wider significance of the proposed project.

Selection Criteria

Applications will typically be assessed based on:

• Academic excellence.
• Originality of the proposed research.
• Quality and feasibility of the research proposal.
• Publication record.
• Research potential.
• Suitability of the host institution.
• Strength of academic references.
• Likelihood that the fellowship will contribute to long-term academic career development.

Reviewers also consider how well the proposed host institution and mentor support the applicant's research ambitions and career progression.

How to Apply

To apply for the Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellowships 2026:

1. Identify an eligible UK university willing to host your fellowship.
2. Contact a prospective academic mentor within the host institution.
3. Review the institution's internal application procedures and deadlines.
4. Prepare your research proposal and supporting documents.
5. Submit your application through the host institution's internal selection process.
6. If nominated, complete the official Leverhulme Trust fellowship application.