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Call for Entries: Philip Leverhulme Prize (United Kingdom)

Deadline: 14-May-2026

The Philip Leverhulme Prize 2026 supports outstanding early-career researchers at UK universities whose work has achieved international impact and demonstrates exceptional future promise.
Up to 30 prizes of £100,000 each will be awarded across six subject areas, with flexible funding to advance the recipient’s research career.
Nominations must be submitted by institutions by 4:00 pm on 14 May 2026 through the Leverhulme Trust’s Grants Management System.

Overview

The Philip Leverhulme Prize is a prestigious research award offered by the Leverhulme Trust to support researchers at an early stage of their academic careers.

The prize recognises scholars whose work has already made an original and significant contribution to knowledge and who show exceptional promise for future research excellence.

Funding is flexible and may be used for any eligible research purpose that advances the recipient’s scholarly career.

Aims and Purpose of the Prize

The Philip Leverhulme Prize aims to:

  • Recognise outstanding research achievement at an early career stage

  • Reward original and significant contributions to knowledge

  • Support researchers with demonstrated international impact

  • Enable future-shaping research across a wide range of disciplines

  • Assess excellence irrespective of departmental or institutional structures

Subject Areas Covered in 2026

In 2026, up to 30 prizes will be awarded across the following subject areas:

  • Biological Sciences

  • History

  • Law

  • Mathematics and Statistics

  • Philosophy and Theology

  • Sociology and Social Policy

Across the three-year cycle from 2026 to 2028, prizes will be offered in 18 subject areas in total.

Each individual may be nominated for only one subject area during this period.

Prize Value and Funding Structure

Each Philip Leverhulme Prize is valued at £100,000.

The funding structure is as follows:

  • Paid in two equal instalments

  • Transferred to the prize holder’s employing institution

  • Managed on behalf of the award recipient

The prize does not increase salary and does not include institutional overheads.

What the Prize Funds Can Be Used For

Eligible Uses

Prize funds may be used to advance the research of the award holder, including:

  • Research assistance

  • Teaching replacement or buy-out

  • Travel and subsistence for research activities

  • Consumables and specialist materials

  • Technical support

  • Computing equipment and research software

Ineligible Uses

Prize funds may not be used for:

  • Capital expenditure

  • Salary augmentation

  • Institutional overheads or indirect costs

Who Is Eligible?

Institutional and Employment Requirements

Nominees must:

  • Hold a permanent academic post or a long-term fellowship

  • Be employed at a UK university with research degree-awarding powers

  • Have a contract that extends beyond the duration of the prize

Career Stage Criteria

Nominees should normally have been awarded their doctoral degree no more than 10 years before the nomination deadline.

Exceptions are permitted for eligible career breaks, including:

  • Maternity or paternity leave

  • Caring responsibilities

  • Long-term illness

Individual Award Policy

  • Prizes are awarded to individuals, not teams

  • The Trust Board will not make an award if multiple nominations relate to substantially the same body of work

Special Conditions for Biological Sciences

Nominees in the Biological Sciences must ensure their research falls within the Leverhulme Trust’s remit.

The Trust does not support:

  • Medical research

  • Clinical sciences

Applications focused on ineligible research areas will not be considered.

Where eligibility is borderline, nominees are strongly encouraged to contact the Trust at an early stage for clarification.

Why the Philip Leverhulme Prize Matters

The Philip Leverhulme Prize is one of the UK’s most respected early-career research awards.

It matters because it:

  • Recognises excellence without requiring a predefined project

  • Provides substantial, flexible research funding

  • Enhances international academic visibility

  • Supports long-term career development

  • Allows recipients to shape their own research agenda

How the Nomination Process Works

Step 1: Institutional Nomination

  • Nominations must be made by the nominee’s Head of Department or equivalent

  • Each institution may submit no more than three nominations per subject area

Step 2: Online Submission

  • Nominations must be submitted through the Leverhulme Trust’s Grants Management System

  • Institutional approval must be completed by 4:00 pm on 14 May 2026

Step 3: Referee References

  • Referees must submit their references by 1 June 2026

Step 4: Decision and Award Period

  • Nominees will be informed of the outcome by the end of November 2026

  • Prizes may be taken up between 1 December 2026 and 1 November 2027

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Submitting nominations for ineligible research areas, particularly medical or clinical sciences

  • Missing internal institutional approval deadlines

  • Exceeding the institutional cap on nominations

  • Assuming prize funds can be used for salaries or overheads

  • Failing to seek early guidance for borderline eligibility cases

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can researchers apply directly for the Philip Leverhulme Prize?

No. Applications must be made through institutional nomination by the Head of Department or equivalent.

2. How many prizes are available in 2026?

Up to 30 prizes will be awarded across six subject areas.

3. Is there an age limit for applicants?

There is no age limit. Eligibility is based on years since the doctoral award, normally within 10 years.

4. Can prize funds be used for teaching buy-out?

Yes. Teaching replacement is an eligible use of prize funds.

5. Are medical or clinical research projects eligible?

No. The Leverhulme Trust does not support medical or clinical sciences.

6. When will applicants be notified of the results?

Nominees will be informed of the outcome by the end of November 2026.

7. When can successful applicants start using the prize?

Prizes can be taken up between 1 December 2026 and 1 November 2027.

Conclusion

The Philip Leverhulme Prize 2026 offers a unique opportunity for early-career researchers at UK universities to gain significant, flexible funding in recognition of international research excellence.

By focusing on past achievement and future potential rather than rigid project plans, the prize enables scholars to advance their research careers with autonomy, visibility, and long-term impact.

For more information, visit The Leverhulme Trust.