Shape the Future of Research with the Leverhulme Doctoral Scholarships 2026
The Leverhulme Centenary Doctoral Scholarships LCDS 2026 mark the 100th anniversary of the Leverhulme Trust and provide fully funded PhD opportunities for UK and international students The scheme invests £100 million to support interdisciplinary doctoral training expand access for underrepresented groups.
Program Details
PhD-level doctoral study with potential Master’s + PhD pathway for eligible UK students from underrepresented groups Interdisciplinary research projects identified as priorities by the host university Fields excluded include medical and clinical research policy-driven projects commercial applications or database-heavy studies
Eligibility Criteria
For students PhD Scholarships open to outstanding UK and international candidates selection is made by the host university Master’s + PhD pathway reserved for UK students from underrepresented backgrounds Must be UK domiciled Not already hold a Master’s from the host university Low-income background or belonging to specific ethnic groups including Black African Black Caribbean Mixed White and Black Caribbean Mixed White and Black African and other mixed backgrounds For universities Must be a UK university with research degree awarding powers Applications can also come from a consortium of up to two universities
Benefits
UK Doctoral Scholarships Maintenance allowance at UKRI base levels Full tuition fees at UK rate £10,000 research and training grant International Doctoral Scholarships Maintenance allowance at UKRI base levels Tuition fees covered up to £25,000 per year £10,000 research and training support Master’s + PhD Scholarships Maintenance and tuition for Master’s (up to £12,000) Maintenance and tuition for PhD at UKRI base levels £10,000 research and training grant Additional Support £75,000 for cohort-building activities £400,000 for postdoctoral opportunities for LCDS graduates £225,000 for programme administration support
Seize the Opportunity
The Leverhulme Centenary Doctoral Scholarships 2026 offer a transformative path to world-class research doctoral training and postdoctoral progression Take this chance to join a network of exceptional researchers and make your mark on the future of knowledge
How to Apply
Universities apply directly to the Leverhulme Trust between 3 November 2025 and 6 March 2026 12pm UK time Once funding is awarded participating universities will recruit doctoral candidates Students apply directly to the host university for advertised Leverhulme Doctoral Scholarships Decisions announced in July 2026