Leverhulme Trust Philip Leverhulme Prizes 2026 (internal deadline: 3rd March 2026)

The Philip Leverhulme Prizes of £100,000 are awarded to researchers at an early stage of their careers whose work has had international impact and whose future research career is exceptionally promising. The funding should be used for any purpose related to the advancement of the research or artistic practice of the Prize Winner, provided that the items of expenditure fall within the categories classically eligible for the support of the Trust. Funding is available over 2 to 3 years and is paid in two equal instalments to the Prize Winner’s employing institution. Prizes can be taken up on the first of a month between 1st December 2026 and 1st November 2027.

For more information, please see the Trust’s webpage.

Eligibility

Nominees must: 

  • have been awarded a doctoral degree not more than ten years prior to the closing date for nominations (some exceptions apply; see the eligibility requirements).
  • hold either a permanent post or a long-term fellowship in a UK institution of higher education or research that would extend beyond the duration of the Philip Leverhulme Prize. Those otherwise without salary are not eligible to be nominated. 
  • not have a clinical focus to their present and past work

Subject areas 2025

Applications will be considered within the six broad subject areas available each year. These rotate on a 3-year cycle (the current cycle is 2023, 2024 and 2025). Nominees may not be nominated for more than one prize subject in any 3-year cycle.

  • Biological Sciences
  • History
  • Law
  • Mathematics and Statistics
  • Philosophy and Theology
  • Sociology and Social Policy

Two areas are always excluded because substantial funding is available from other sources for applied medical research, and the Trust’s priority is to support investigations of a fundamental nature:

  • studies of disease, illness and disabilities in humans and animals
  • research that is intended to inform clinical practice or the development of medical applications

University Internal selection:  

The funder stipulates that the University can submit no more than three nominations in any prize subject. Therefore, this call will be managed according to the University’s restricted calls procedure. We therefore ask each Department/Faculty to register andrank up to 3 nominations per prize subject. Nominations are to be made by the nominee's head of department (or equivalent).

Please submit your Department/Faculty’s nomination(s) via this online form, by ​3rd March 2026 (if requested, please log-in with your Raven details; please note that a Form cannot be saved and returned to). 

You will need the following documents and information to complete the Form:  

  • Nominee details including name, Department and prize category. 
  • Nominee's eligibility details including 1) date when the nominee's PhD was confirmed by the awarding institution and 2) whether the nominee has a permanent position or fellowship that will outlast the Leverhulme prize 3) that the focus of the nominee's present and past work is not clinically focused.
  • A letter of support from the Head of Department/Faculty/Institute confirming their support for the project and that the respective Department is happy to host it (max. 2 pages per nominee)
  • Brief summary of reason for nomination (max. 250 words per nominee)
  • CV including the nominee's four most significant publications asterisked (max. 2 pages per nominee). Nominees should consider DORA principles when presenting research outputs.

Internal Assessment Criteria: 

Please note that the assessment of internal applications will focus on the following core funder criteria: 

  • Criterion 1: the nominee's work has had international impact
  • Criterion 2: the future research career of the nominee is exceptionally promising 

Funder deadline: 14th May 2026

If you have any queries, please don’t hesitate to contact us at researchstrategy@admin.cam.ac.uk.