University of Leeds Doctoral Scholarships 2026

Applications are now open for the University of Leeds Doctoral Scholarships 2026. Up to 5 Leeds Doctoral Scholarships are available for Home fee-rated students for Session 2026/27 for study in any Faculty.

The fully funded research scholarship is available for 3.5 years for full-time study, pro-rata for part-time study.

Summary

1. Application Deadline: 01 June 2026
2. Value: Fully funded—full academic fees + £20,780 annual maintenance grant (pro-rata for part-time)
3. Study Level: PhD (Doctoral Research)
4. Sponsor: University of Leeds
5. Eligible Country: United Kingdom

Eligibility Criteria for University of Leeds Doctoral Scholarships 2026

1. Applicants must hold a First Degree at the undergraduate level equivalent to at least a UK First Class* Honours degree.
2. Applicants should either have graduated with the appropriate First Degree or be in their final year of study.
3. Candidates with a lower mark in their undergraduate degree will be considered if they have or are expected to receive a Distinction in a Master's programme relevant to their field of research, or if they can demonstrate relevant alternative experience (eg in industry or business).
4. Applicants who are uncertain about the requirements for a particular research degree are advised to contact the School or Graduate School prior to making an application.

Interview date, Process, and Venue for Leeds Doctoral Scholarships

1. The awards are available for new Postgraduate Researchers undertaking a full-time or part-time research study leading to the degree of PhD
2. Applicants who have previously been awarded a PhD or are currently registered for a PhD are excluded from applying. Those who were previously studying for a PhD but did not complete it may be considered.
3. Awards must be taken up by 1 October 2026
4. Applicants must live within a reasonable distance of the University of Leeds whilst in receipt of this Scholarship
5. Selection Process
6. Each School selects a shortlist of applicants whom they wish to nominate for the award. The University of Leeds Scholarship Selection Panel selects the final list of awards based on academic merit, and no other factors, such as financial hardship, are taken into account.
7. The University will publish the names of the successful applicants within the University within 10 weeks of the relevant scholarship closing date.

Benefits of University of Leeds Doctoral Scholarships 2026

1. The award provides full academic fees and a maintenance grant (£20,780 in Session 2025/26) for full-time study; part-time will be pro-rata. This amount increases per annum in line with the UKRI rate. Full-time awards provide full fees for 3 years and a maintenance award for 3.5 years (Part-time awards are pro-rata).

How to Apply

Stage 1

1. First of all, apply for a research programme of study by completing the application form

In order to be considered for the scholarship, you must submit all the required supporting documents for your application for study*. Any study applications that are not accompanied by the documents requested by the scholarship deadline will not be considered for the award.

Please note that an unsuccessful application for this scholarship does not exclude you from applying for other research study opportunities or scholarships offered by the University of Leeds.

*The supporting documents you need to provide with your study application are listed on the website for the School/Faculty in which you are applying to study.

Stage 2

1. Once you are in receipt of your 9-digit Student Application ID complete the online application form.

Please note that, due to the large volume of applications, the Postgraduate Scholarships Office will not enter into any correspondence regarding the progress of an application until the outcome is known.

As an international research-intensive university, we welcome students from all walks of life and from across the world. We foster an inclusive environment where all can flourish and prosper, and we are proud of our strong commitment to student education. Across all Faculties, we are dedicated to diversifying our community, and we welcome the unique contributions that individuals can bring, and we particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, Black, Asian, and minority ethnic people; people who identify as LGBT+; and people with disabilities. Applicants will always be selected based on merit and ability

For more details, visit University of Leeds Scholarship webpage

Application Deadline

June 1, 2026

Application Link(s)

• Apply for University of Leeds Doctoral Scholarships 2026