Back to opportunities
Undergraduate / University of Cambridge

UK University of Cambridge Leverhulme Early Career Fellowships 2026

Scholarship
UK
On-site
Published Aug 12, 2025

Overview

The Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship is designed for promising researchers who have recently completed their PhD and are looking to establish themselves in academia. In this round, the Faculty of History will nominate shortlisted candidates to the Isaac Newton Trust for match funding, as required by the Leverhulme Trust.

The scheme is highly competitive , with selection taking place at three levels:

Description

The Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship is designed for promising researchers who have recently completed their PhD and are looking to establish themselves in academia. In this round, the Faculty of History will nominate shortlisted candidates to the Isaac Newton Trust for match funding, as required by the Leverhulme Trust.

The scheme is highly competitive , with selection taking place at three levels:

Internal Faculty competition

University-level selection for Isaac Newton Trust match funding

National competition run by the Leverhulme Trust

Eligibility

To be eligible, applicants must:

Not have held a full-time permanent academic post in a UK institution
Have submitted their PhD between 19 February 2022 and 19 February 2026 (with allowances for career breaks)
Hold a UK degree or have held a UK academic position for at least 4 months before 20 October 2024

Additional Information

About The Fellowship

The Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship is designed for promising researchers who have recently completed their PhD and are looking to establish themselves in academia. In this round, the Faculty of History will nominate shortlisted candidates to the Isaac Newton Trust for match funding, as required by the Leverhulme Trust.

The scheme is highly competitive , with selection taking place at three levels:

Internal Faculty competition
University-level selection for Isaac Newton Trust match funding
National competition run by the Leverhulme Trust

Degree Level

Undergraduate and Postgraduate programs

Available Subjects

Applications are welcome from all areas of history. Candidates should first contact a suitable academic host within the Faculty’s staff. Those unsure about whom to approach can seek guidance from the Faculty’s Research Director, Prof. David Maxwell ( djm223@cam.ac.uk ).

Benefits

The Isaac Newton Trust provides 50% of salary costs for Years 1–3, plus underwrites any shortfall.
Matching funding from the Isaac Newton Trust is a requirement before applying to the Leverhulme Trust.

Eligible Nationalities

Open to applicants of all nationalities

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible, applicants must:

Not have held a full-time permanent academic post in a UK institution
Have submitted their PhD between 19 February 2022 and 19 February 2026 (with allowances for career breaks)
Hold a UK degree or have held a UK academic position for at least 4 months before 20 October 2024

Application Procedure

Applicants must submit the following by 13 October 2025 (noon) to researchgrants@hist.cam.ac.uk:

Completed Application Cover Sheet
CV (maximum 2 A4 pages)
List of publications (1 page max)
Statement of current research (max 250 words)
Detailed research proposal (max 2 A4 pages) — Word or PDF format only

References:

Two letters of reference (one from outside Cambridge) sent directly to researchgrants@hist.cam.ac.uk by the deadline
A third reference will be required at the national stage of the competition
Shortlisted candidates who secure Isaac Newton Trust funding will then prepare their national application to the Leverhulme Trust in February 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions Faqs

Who can apply for Spring Intake 2026? Both domestic and international students meeting the admission criteria can apply.
Are scholarships available for Spring Intake? Yes, various merit-based and need-based scholarships are available for eligible candidates.
Can I apply to multiple programs at the same time? Some universities allow multiple applications, but check the specific institution’s guidelines.

Everything You Need To Study Abroad

Explore the universities, programs and support behind studying in UK — all in one place.

Never Miss A Scholarship

Get new UK scholarships & deadlines in your inbox.

Searching Scholarships For You

on the best scholarships platform

Card

Funding

Partial Funding

Organization

University of Cambridge

Subjects

History

Nationality

International Students, Domestic Students

Country

UK

Source

Information provided by scholarships_ads.

View source
// Network Access

Your Next Opportunity Is Out There.

Browse opportunities by category or country and find the next step toward your goals.

Weekly Updates

Stay Ahead of Deadlines

Get the latest scholarships, fellowships, and career openings delivered directly to your inbox every week. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

YOP Network

Discover scholarships, internships, jobs, fellowships, grants, and other opportunities from around the world.

// Platform

A simple platform for discovering opportunities and connecting applicants with organizations.

© 2026 YOP Network

System Operational