What is a Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellowship?
The Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellowship provides three years of funding to support talented early-career researchers to develop their research profile and produce a substantial piece of publishable work.
The fellowship is designed for researchers who are within four years of completing their PhD and who have not yet secured a permanent academic position. Fellows benefit from dedicated research time, mentoring and a supportive academic environment at The University of Manchester.
The scheme supports research across science and engineering, with the exception of studies of disease, illness and disability in humans or animals, research intended to inform clinical practice or the development of medical applications.
Key information
Institutional deadline: This fellowship is subject to an internal deadline. The deadline for this fellowship has now passed and no new applications will be accepted for the current call.
Call deadline: 19 February 2026.
Eligibility:
- Early-career researchers within four years of PhD submission (career breaks considered)
- Not hold nor have previously held, a full-time permanent academic post
- Not hold another stipendiary fellowship concurrently.
Funding
- Salary contribution: 100% of salary costs up to £56,000 in year one. 50% of salary costs up to £28,000 in years two and three (remaining costs met by the host institution)
- Research expenses: up to £6,000 per year
- Duration: three years full-time (part-time options considered for health, disability or childcare reasons).
Before you apply: Due to the highly competitive nature of this scheme and institutional limits on applications, prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to contact us well ahead of the funder’s deadline to confirm eligibility, assess alignment with Faculty and University priorities and allow time for internal selection processes.
Benefits of the Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellowship
Leverhulme Trust early-career Fellows receive three years of funding to develop an independent research profile and deliver a substantial programme of publishable research at The University of Manchester.
Manchester supports researchers at all career stages, promoting equality of opportunity and offering guidance on fellowship applications, funding routes and support for childcare or other responsibilities.
As a Fellow at Manchester, you’ll benefit from:
- A supportive research environment across science and engineering
- Access to specialist facilities and research communities
- Mentoring and guidance from experienced academic sponsors
- Support from the Faculty Fellowship Development Team throughout the application process.
Application process
Confirm that you meet the fellowship’s eligibility criteria before preparing an application.
To apply, you must:
- Hold a doctorate by the time you take up the fellowship
- Have submitted your doctoral thesis for viva voce examination by 4pm on 19 February 2026
- Have submitted your doctoral thesis for viva voce examination no more than four years prior to the closing date (unless eligible career breaks apply)
- Not hold nor have previously held, a full-time permanent academic post
- Not hold another stipendiary fellowship concurrently
- Meet the Leverhulme Trust’s UK connection requirements (via a UK degree or qualifying UK academic employment).
Additional eligibility conditions apply, including restrictions relating to prior postdoctoral funding, institutional mobility and matching funding. Applicants are strongly advised to review the full scheme guidance.
You must contact a department well in advance of the funder deadline to confirm support and understand any internal requirements.
Some departments and institutes operate additional internal processes or provide tailored support for fellowship applicants. These arrangements may affect how and when you apply and, in some cases, require an Expression of Interest (EOI) or internal selection before submission to the funder.
Contact:
- For advice on departmental fit and internal processes, contact a potential supervisor in the first instance by searching Research Explorer.
If, after carefully reviewing Research Explorer, you are unable to identify a suitable supervisor whose expertise aligns with your proposal, you may contact the Department\’s Head of Research for further guidance. - For all other queries, including application development support, please contact the FSE Research Development and Innovation team.
As part of this initial engagement, you may be asked to discuss:
- Your proposed fellowship project
- Its alignment with departmental priorities.
Be prepared to provide:
- A CV
- A brief outline of your proposed fellowship project.
Once departmental support is confirmed, you can prepare your application for submission via the Leverhulme Trust Grant Management System.
Applications must be submitted via the Funding Service (email submissions cannot be accepted).
Please note that Manchester’s internal review process may require materials several weeks before the funder deadline.
After submission, your application will be assessed by the funder.
This typically includes:
- External peer review and panel evaluation
- Final funding decisions are made by the Trust.
Successful candidates will then agree start dates with their host institution.
What our fellows say
“The fellowship was a real opportunity to establish myself as an independent researcher. I was able to use the award to access small grants, join new networks and forge new collaborations that expanded and cemented my research portfolio.
With the fellowship, I was able to take risks and could take the time to learn new skills and gain new knowledge that has supported the research, teaching and public engagement aspects of my career well beyond the fellowship duration.”
Dr Michael O’Toole / Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellow
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Because the University must prepare a host statement and complete internal quality checks, we typically require applicants to submit draft materials several weeks before the Trust's official deadline. Exact timelines vary by department, so contact your potential supervisor early to confirm dates.
Search Research Explorer to identify a potential supervisor whose expertise aligns with your proposed project, then contact them directly to discuss your application.
Prospective applicants receive support identifying an academic sponsor, refining their research proposal and navigating internal review. You’ll also have access to guidance on developing a competitive application, feedback from senior academics, and information about facilities and research groups you can incorporate into your proposal.
Further questions? Get in touch
Fellowship scheme questions
- For questions about eligibility, funding rules or Leverhulme Trust processes, contact the Leverhulme Trust team at grants@leverhulme.ac.uk.
Manchester-specific queries
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Departmental fit and internal processes
- For advice on departmental fit and internal requirements, contact a potential supervisor in the first instance by searching Research Explorer. If, after carefully reviewing Research Explorer, you are unable to identify a suitable supervisor whose expertise aligns with your proposal, you may contact the Department’s Head of Research for further guidance.
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Application development and other Faculty queries
- For all other queries, including application development support, please contact the FSE Research Development and Innovation team.