Leverhulme Centenary Doctoral Scholarships 2026 – £100M UK Funding for PhD Students

Leverhulme Centenary Doctoral Scholarships 2026: Overview

The Leverhulme Trust has launched the Leverhulme Centenary Doctoral Scholarships (LCDS) 2026, opening in November 2025 with a submission deadline in March 2026. To celebrate its 100th anniversary, the Trust has committed £100 million to expand PhD opportunities across UK universities, offering funding for doctoral, master s-to-doctoral pathways, and new postdoctoral support.

Leverhulme Centenary Doctoral Scholarships 2026: Eligibility

• Institutions: Open to UK universities with research degree awarding powers.

• Consortia: Up to two universities may apply jointly.

• Students:

  • UK/home PhD students.

  • International PhD students.

  • UK students from low-income or Black ethnic backgrounds for the Master’s + PhD route.

Benefits

• Up to 30 doctoral scholarships per UK university.

• 24 PhD scholarships (18 UK/home + 6 international).

• 6 Master’s + PhD scholarships for underrepresented UK students.

• Funding for postdoctoral opportunities for programme graduates.

• Dedicated funds for training, cohort-building, and administrative costs.

• Total award: £5 million per university, running over 9 years.

Programme Components

• UK Doctoral Scholarships (4 years each).

• International Doctoral Scholarships (4 years each).

• Master’s + PhD Scholarships (for widening access).

• Cohort-building activities for research collaboration.

• Postdoctoral support for LCDS alumni.

• Administration funding for programme delivery.

Application Requirements

• Application form + detailed programme description.

• Supporting statement from university leadership.

• Institutional approval from the lead university.

• Applications must be submitted by a principal applicant from the lead institution.

Selection Criteria

• Interdisciplinary research relevance.

• Institutional capacity and commitment.

• Widening participation efforts for underrepresented groups.

• Quality and impact of the proposed doctoral programme.

Application Process

• UK universities (or a consortium of two) may submit only one lead application.

• Once selected, universities must email the principal applicant’s details to the Leverhulme Trust to gain system access.

• Applications must be submitted via the Leverhulme Trust Grants Management System.

For more information and application: 

Visit the official website of the Leverhulme Centenary Doctoral Scholarships 2026 – £100M UK Funding for PhD Students