Leverhulme Trust Research Fellowships 2027: Up to £70,000 for Experienced Researchers in Any Discipline

The fellowship offers up to £70,000 and can support research periods lasting between 3 and 24 months. Researchers from a wide range of academic disciplines can apply, making this an opportunity for established scholars seeking protected time to develop and complete substantial research projects.

About the Leverhulme Trust Research Fellowships

The Research Fellowships are offered by the Leverhulme Trust, a UK charitable organisation that supports research and education.

The fellowship is designed around a specific challenge faced by many experienced academics: although they may have strong research ideas and established research records, their ability to conduct research can be restricted by teaching, administration and other routine institutional responsibilities.

The programme therefore provides financial support that can enable successful applicants to devote a significant period of time to their research.

The Trust gives particular priority to applicants whose teaching and administrative duties have significantly affected their capacity to conduct research during the three years before applying.

This makes the fellowship especially relevant to experienced researchers who can demonstrate that institutional responsibilities have prevented them from giving sufficient attention to an important original research programme.

Fellowship Value

Successful applicants can receive funding of up to:

£70,000

The maximum value gives researchers substantial flexibility to structure an appropriate period of research leave and cover eligible costs associated with undertaking the proposed research.

Applicants should nevertheless ensure that their requested budget is appropriate to the scale and requirements of their proposed project rather than simply requesting the maximum amount available.

Duration of the Fellowship

Research Fellowships can be held for:

• A minimum of 3 months
• Up to a maximum of 24 months

The duration should correspond to the amount of dedicated research time genuinely required to complete the proposed programme.

A project requiring a shorter period of concentrated research may therefore be proposed for a shorter fellowship, while a more substantial programme may require a longer period, subject to the scheme’s conditions and assessment.

Who Is the Fellowship Designed For?

The Research Fellowships are intended for experienced researchers who want to complete a defined piece or programme of original research.

The scheme is particularly relevant to researchers who:

• Have an established research background.
• Have developed an original research project that requires dedicated time to complete.
• Have been unable to devote sufficient time to research because of routine academic responsibilities.
• Have significant teaching commitments.
• Have substantial administrative responsibilities within their institution.
• Can demonstrate that these responsibilities have affected their research activity during the three years preceding the application.
• Are able to undertake the proposed research within the fellowship period.

The Trust’s emphasis on the impact of teaching and administration means that applicants should clearly explain how their professional responsibilities have constrained their research time and why the fellowship would make a meaningful difference.

Research in Any Discipline

One of the notable features of the Leverhulme Trust Research Fellowship is its broad disciplinary scope.

The opportunity is available to researchers working across disciplines rather than being restricted to a single academic field.

Depending on the nature of the proposed project, this can include research areas within fields such as:

• Humanities
• Social sciences
• Arts and related disciplines
• Natural sciences
• Other eligible academic research fields

The breadth of the scheme means that the quality and originality of the proposed research, together with the applicant’s experience and eligibility, are important considerations.

Applicants should consult the official scheme guidance carefully to determine whether their particular discipline and research proposal satisfy the Trust’s requirements.

Why the Fellowship Is Important for Experienced Researchers

Academic researchers often have responsibilities extending well beyond conducting research. Teaching, student supervision, administration, committee responsibilities, institutional projects and other duties can substantially reduce the amount of time available for original research.

The Leverhulme Research Fellowship is structured to address this problem by providing support for a period in which an experienced researcher can concentrate on a specific research programme.

For an applicant, the fellowship may therefore provide an opportunity to:

1. Create dedicated research time

   The fellowship can help an experienced researcher obtain a sustained period away from routine responsibilities so that they can concentrate on their research.

2. Complete an existing research programme

   Researchers who have already developed a substantial body of work but have struggled to bring it to completion may use the fellowship period to make significant progress.

3. Develop original research

   The scheme is intended for original research, making the research question, methodology and anticipated contribution important elements of an application.

4. Advance an established research career

   A successful fellowship can provide researchers with additional time and resources to develop significant scholarly work.

5. Address research interruptions caused by academic duties

   Researchers whose teaching and administrative workload has reduced their research capacity can explain this context as part of their application.

Priority for Researchers Affected by Teaching and Administrative Duties

A particularly important feature of this fellowship is the Trust’s stated priority for applicants whose research has been affected by routine institutional responsibilities.

The Trust specifically indicates that priority will be given to applicants whose teaching and administrative duties have significantly impacted their ability to undertake research during the three years before the application.

This means applicants should pay close attention to explaining their circumstances.

Rather than simply stating that they are busy, applicants should demonstrate the relationship between their professional workload and their reduced research activity.

For example, an applicant may need to explain:

• The nature of their teaching responsibilities.
• The extent of their administrative workload.
• How these responsibilities have affected their available research time.
• The period over which the impact occurred.
• How dedicated fellowship time would allow them to complete the proposed research.

The purpose should be to establish a clear connection between the applicant’s current circumstances and the need for the fellowship.

What Type of Research Can Be Proposed?

The fellowship is intended to support a piece or programme of original research.

Consequently, applicants should have a clearly defined research objective rather than presenting a general desire to undertake academic work.

A strong proposal should communicate:

• The central research question or problem.
• The significance of the research.
• The originality of the proposed work.
• The approach or methodology to be used.
• The work that will be undertaken during the fellowship.
• The expected scholarly contribution.
• Why the proposed fellowship period is necessary.
• How the research will progress during the requested period.

The research programme should also be realistically structured around the amount of time and funding requested.

Internationally Focused Projects

The fellowship information also contains guidance concerning projects with an international focus.

Researchers whose proposed work involves international subjects, locations, sources, collaborations or comparative research should carefully review the Trust’s specific guidance on projects with an international focus before submitting an application.

This is particularly important for researchers whose projects extend beyond the UK or involve research activities in multiple countries.

Applicants should make sure that the international dimension of their proposal is clearly justified by the research itself and that all relevant eligibility and funding conditions are satisfied.

Application Preparation

The Leverhulme Trust advises prospective applicants to read the available information before beginning the application.

The Trust has provided Application Help Notes 2027 to assist researchers in preparing their submissions.

The guidance should be reviewed carefully because it contains information about the requirements and information applicants need to prepare.

Applicants should ideally begin preparation well before the closing date, allowing enough time to develop their research proposal, assemble supporting information and review their application before submission.

How to Apply

Applications are submitted through the Leverhulme Grant System.

Prospective applicants should:

1. Review the Research Fellowships information provided by the Leverhulme Trust.
2. Read the Application Help Notes 2027.
3. Develop a clearly defined original research programme.
4. Confirm that they meet the fellowship’s eligibility requirements.
5. Consider the appropriate duration of the proposed fellowship.
6. Prepare the information and supporting material required by the application system.
7. Prepare a realistic funding request, taking into account the maximum fellowship value.
8. Submit the completed application through the Leverhulme Grant System before the deadline.

Applicants should avoid waiting until the final day to submit, particularly where institutional approval or additional information may be required.

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Application Deadline

The deadline for the Leverhulme Trust Research Fellowships 2027 is:

5 November 2026

Applicants should ensure that their applications are submitted before the stated closing date and should check the official application system for any submission-time requirements.

Funding Amount and Duration at a Glance

What Applicants Should Emphasise

Applicants should ensure that their proposal presents a convincing and coherent explanation of the research they intend to undertake.

Several areas deserve particular attention.

1. Explain the originality of the research

The application should make clear what is new about the proposed research and what contribution it is expected to make.

2. Demonstrate research experience

Because the fellowship is intended for experienced researchers, applicants should present their relevant research background and demonstrate their ability to undertake the proposed work.

3. Explain the need for dedicated research time

Applicants should clearly explain why the research cannot easily be completed alongside their existing teaching and administrative responsibilities.

4. Address the three-year context

Researchers who have been significantly affected by teaching and administrative responsibilities should clearly explain how those duties have constrained their research activities during the relevant three-year period.

5. Develop a realistic timetable

The proposed research should be achievable within the requested fellowship period. Applicants should demonstrate how the available research time will be used.

6. Prepare an appropriate budget

Although the maximum award is £70,000, applicants should request an amount that is justified by the needs of their specific research programme.

Research Fellowship Application Strategy

A prospective applicant can strengthen the preparation process by treating the application as a coherent research case rather than simply a request for funding.

The application should connect four central elements:

Research problem → Original contribution → Need for dedicated time → Achievable research programme

The research problem establishes what the applicant wants to investigate. The originality explains why the research matters academically. The explanation of the applicant’s workload establishes why dedicated fellowship time is necessary. Finally, the research plan demonstrates that the proposed work can realistically be completed during the fellowship.

This structure can help ensure that the application remains focused and that the need for fellowship support is clearly communicated.

Who Can Apply?

The opportunity is designed for experienced researchers. The information provided by the Leverhulme Trust does not describe the fellowship as a general scholarship for undergraduate or newly enrolled students.

Applicants should therefore assess their level of research experience and their ability to demonstrate a substantive programme of original research.

The Trust’s emphasis on applicants affected by teaching and administrative responsibilities also means that the fellowship is particularly relevant to established researchers working within academic or research institutions.

Who Is Not the Main Target of the Fellowship?

Based on the stated purpose of the scheme, this opportunity is not primarily presented as a general funding programme for:

• Undergraduate students.
• Students seeking tuition funding.
• Applicants without an established research background.
• Individuals seeking general professional development funding.
• Projects that are not based on original research.

The fellowship is specifically framed around experienced researchers seeking time to complete a programme of original research.

Official Application Resources

Prospective applicants should review the Leverhulme Trust’s official Research Fellowships information and the Application Help Notes 2027 before preparing their application.

The application is made through the Leverhulme Grant System.

The Trust also provides a dedicated contact for Research Fellowship enquiries, which applicants can use if their questions are not answered in the published guidance.

Visit HERE for more information about the Leverhulme Trust Research Fellowships 2027.

Conclusion

The Leverhulme Trust Research Fellowships 2027 offer experienced researchers an opportunity to obtain dedicated time and financial support to complete original research. With funding of up to £70,000 and fellowship periods ranging from 3 to 24 months, the scheme can provide substantial support for researchers whose teaching and administrative responsibilities have limited their ability to pursue research.

The fellowship is particularly relevant to applicants who can demonstrate that their routine academic duties have significantly affected their research capacity during the previous three years. Researchers should therefore carefully explain their research experience, the originality and importance of their proposed project, the effect of their existing responsibilities, and why a dedicated fellowship period is necessary.

Interested researchers should begin preparing early, read the 2027 application guidance carefully and submit their applications through the Leverhulme Grant System before the 5 November 2026 deadline.

For more global Fellowship opportunities, visit OFY HERE.