Research Project Grants
Leverhulme Trust's Research Project Grants fund original, interdisciplinary UK-based research projects that advance fundamental knowledge and encourage innovation across disciplines.
Funder: Leverhulme Trust
Due Dates: February 27, 2026 (Outline) | December 1, 2025 (Detailed, earliest close) | July 1, 2026 (Encouraged Detailed) | September 1, 2026 (Final Detailed)
Funding Amounts: Up to £500,000 per project, for up to 5 years; minimum 75% of budget must support research staff.
Summary: Supports innovative, original research projects led by UK university-based researchers, especially those crossing disciplinary boundaries.
Key Information: Two-stage application (Outline, then Detailed by invitation); strict eligibility and remit rules apply.
Description
The Leverhulme Trust's Research Project Grants support ambitious, original research projects led by researchers at UK universities, higher education institutions, or, on a trial basis, UKRI-eligible independent research organisations. The scheme encourages proposals that cross traditional academic boundaries and demonstrate strong personal vision and risk-taking in research design. Funding is provided primarily for research staff and essential research costs, enabling project teams to pursue innovative objectives that might not otherwise attract support.
Projects must align with the Leverhulme Trust’s remit, which excludes work with immediate clinical, policy-driven, or commercial aims. The Trust values interdisciplinary and high-risk research, but proposals must clearly justify why Leverhulme is the most appropriate funder.
