The UK’s most prominent PhD funding options are the Leverhulme Centenary Doctoral Scholarships (LCDS) 2026. The initiative, which was started to commemorate the Leverhulme Trust’s 100th anniversary, provides fully financed scholarships to students from the UK and abroad. Supported by a £100 million investment, the program offers postdoctoral research opportunities, expands access for underrepresented groups, and encourages multidisciplinary doctorate study.
One of the most extensive PhD financing schemes in the UK is LCDS 2026, which provides support for academic advancement beyond the PhD as well as for PhD study. Since applications will be handled directly by the participating UK universities, prospective candidates should keep up with their changes.
Host Country: UK
University: UK Universities
Opportunity Type: PhD, Masters
Subjects: All Subjects
Eligibility Country: International Students, Domestic Students
Financial Coverage: Fully Funded
Eligibility Criteria:
For Universities
- Eligible applicants must be UK universities with research degree-awarding powers.
- A consortium of up to two universities may also submit applications.
For Students
- PhD Scholarships: Open to exceptional UK and international candidates, with selection carried out by the host university rather than directly by the Leverhulme Trust.
- Master’s + PhD Pathway (reserved for underrepresented groups in the UK):
- Applicants must be UK domiciled.
- Applicants must not already hold a master’s degree from the host university.
Candidates should be from a low-income background (e.g., previously received a full maintenance loan during undergraduate study) or belong to one of the following ethnic groups:
- Black African
- Black Caribbean
- Black Other
- Mixed—White and Black Caribbean
- Mixed—White and Black African
- Other mixed backgrounds, including Black African/Black Caribbean/Black Other
Benefits:
UK Doctoral Scholarships
- Maintenance allowance provided at UKRI base levels.
- Full tuition fees covered at the UK rate.
- £10,000 research and training grant awarded per student.
International Doctoral Scholarships
- Maintenance allowance at UKRI base levels.
- Tuition fees covered up to £25,000 per year.
- £10,000 research and training support per student.
Master’s and Doctoral Scholarships
- Master’s (1 year): Maintenance allowance plus tuition fees (up to £12,000).
- PhD (up to 4 years): Maintenance allowance and tuition fees at UKRI base levels.
- £10,000 research and training grant, available across both the master’s and PhD stages.
Additional Support
- £75,000 allocated for cohort-building activities.
- £400,000 reserved for postdoctoral opportunities for LCDS graduates.
- £225,000 was provided for program administration support.
Deadline: 06 March 2026
