Fellowships

Holding your fellowship here enables you to establish your academic career in a vibrant, inclusive, research-intensive environment.
We are looking for independent researchers to come to Leeds and see how we are tackling some of society’s biggest challenges.
A fellowship award gives you the opportunity to set aside time to conduct independent research, grow or expand your own group, and progress your career.
We welcome enquiries from fellowship applicants at any career stage, or academics wishing to transfer their existing fellowship to Leeds. You should discuss your application with an academic sponsor or Head of School at the earliest opportunity.
What we offer
You will have access to a range of support, facilities and opportunities, including:
- help identifying funding opportunities
- specialist research facilities and infrastructure
- access to industry through our
- application support via workshops and one-to-one training
- help shaping your research ideas and support for proposal development
- rigorous pre-application peer review
- CV development
- coaching and interview preparation
- a with excellent transport links
Fellowship schemes currently available
For each scheme you should contact your proposed host School via the faculty listings. For schemes with an internal process you should email the R&I development team via R-IDevelopment@leeds.ac.uk. Inform us that you intend to submit, once you have secured the support of a host School, so we can advise of you of timescales and requirements. For EU fellowships and grants please email the EU funding team via EUFunding@leeds.ac.uk.
Fellowship schemes currently available include:
- : This cross-UKRI scheme supports early career researchers and innovators with outstanding potential. Round seven has now closed, and we are waiting for UKRI to confirm plans for round eight.
- : Designed to develop scientific leadership among the most promising early-career environmental scientists. Our internal process begins in April for submission to NERC in October.
- : This scheme provides greater support to the aspiring and current individuals who are delivering the highest quality research to meet UK and global priorities. Our internal processes start three times a year, in January, April and September.
- : Provide support for early career post-doctoral researchers and encourage them to become future research leaders in engineering. Our internal process begins in June each year for submission in early September.
- : For scientists who are in the early stages of their research career and have the potential to become leaders in their field. Our process starts in May each year for submission to the Royal Society in autumn.
- : To enable outstanding early career researchers to pursue an independent research project, towards the completion of a significant piece of publishable research in the humanities or social sciences.
- : Aimed at people wanting to become an independent researcher through managing their first major research project. Applicants can submit an Expression of Interest to us at any time. If accepted, you’ll be supported to develop a full application.
- : Support talented post-doctoral researchers to lead their own research plans and establish their own research team to make the transition from post-doctoral researcher to independent investigator.
- : Support clinicians, including (but not limited to) medics, surgeons, dentists, clinical psychologists, public health specialty trainees, allied health professionals, nurses, midwives and veterinarians, to undertake a PhD or other higher research degree.
- : Develop talented medically and other clinically qualified professionals who have a higher research degree to lead their own research plans and establish their own team to become an independent investigator.
- : A great option if you are a researcher looking to give your career a boost by working abroad.
- : For talented early-career scientists who have already produced excellent supervised work, and are ready to work independently and show potential to be a research leader.
- : For scientists who want to consolidate their independence by establishing a research team.
- : For established, leading principal investigators who want long-term funding to pursue a ground-breaking, high-risk project.
- : For early career researchers, with a research record but who have not yet held a full-time permanent academic post, to undertake a significant piece of publishable work. Please note: there is no institutional level process for this scheme, if you are interested in applying for a Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship you should contact your proposed host school only, via the faculty listings.
- : Supports individuals on their trajectory to becoming future leaders in NIHR research. Four fellowships have been designed to support individuals at various points of their development in becoming leading researchers, from initial pre-doctoral training to senior post-doctoral research. These are , , and a .
- (for non-medics): Provides research training awards for health and social care professionals, excluding doctors and dentists, who wish to develop careers that combine research and research leadership with continued practice and professional development. The awards available are , and .
- : The flagship award for the NIHR, which aims to fund research leaders of the future. Our internal process begins in April each year.
- Provide funding for early-career researchers from any discipline who are ready to develop their research identity and deliver shifts in understanding that could improve human life, health and wellbeing. By the end of the award, candidates will be ready to lead their own independent research programme.
- : Provide funding for researchers from any discipline who have the potential to be international research leaders. The awards support candidates to develop their research capabilities, drive innovative programmes of work, and deliver significant shifts in understanding that could improve human life, health and wellbeing.
Some fellowship schemes place restrictions on how many applications can be submitted by a single institution. Please make sure that you discuss your proposal with your potential host school.
Institutionally coordinated opportunities
For details of institutionally coordinated Fellowship opportunities, visit the University’s .