Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellowships

Outline

This scheme aims to provide career development opportunities for those who are at a relatively early stage of their academic careers, but who have a proven record of research. The expectation is that Fellows should undertake a significant piece of publishable work during their tenure, and that the Fellowships should lead to a more permanent academic position either within the same or another institution.

Applications will be considered in all subject areas with the exception of research studies of disease, illness and disabilities in humans and animals, or research that is intended to inform clinical practice or the development of medical applications.

The scheme is based on a pattern of joint support whereby the Leverhulme Trust will contribute 100% of the Fellow's total salary costs (including National Insurance, superannuation and London allowance, where applicable) up to a maximum of £56,000 in year one of the award. The Trust will then contribute 50% of the Fellow's total salary costs up to a maximum of £28,000 in years two and three, and the balance is to be paid by the host university.

Fellowships are tenable for 3 years on a full-time basis. The Trust will support requests to hold the award part-time over a proportionately longer period for health related reasons, disability or childcare commitments.

The call for applications opens:
1 January 2026

Closes:
19 February 2026, 4pm

More information can be found at Early Career Fellowships and ECF Guidance for applicants 2025

The Philosophy Department's deadline for preliminary applications is: 5pm on 7 November 2025.

How to apply

Applications should consist of 4 separate documents:

  1. A Cover letter detailing:
    1. Your current position: (post/job title), Institution and location.
    2. Title of research project: No more than 80 characters including spaces.
    3. Fields of study: The fields of study which most closely reflect the area of research of the current application.
    4. Abstract of research project: This account should be given in non-technical terms so as to be easily comprehensible to a non-expert (maximum 100 words).
    5. Details of current and past research: Give details of your current and past research experience (maximum 250 words). If this is too extensive to be summarised in 250 words focus on the research most relevant to the current application.
    6. Details of 3 referees: Name, email address and current institution. No more than one referee should be from the proposed host institution. The head of department from your proposed host institution may not act as a referee.
  2. Detailed statement of proposed research: This should include aims, objectives, methodology and outcome (e.g. publication plans). This statement and the bibliographic references may not exceed two sides of A4. We recommend that you use Arial font size 11.
  3. Short CV, making clear PhD award date: (Note, the Doctoral Viva must have been submitted by 19 February 2026)
  4. Major publications: Please list your publications (maximum one side of A4) under three main headings; 'In preparation', 'Submitted' and 'Published', as appropriate. We recommend that you use Arial font size 11. If a full list of your publications exceeds one page, then include only the publications most relevant to the current application.

Applications should be sent to the Director of Research, Prof Theron Pummer, at phildor@st-andrews.ac.uk.

Once your application is received, it will be reviewed internally by members of the department. If approved, the Department will write a letter of support on your behalf, to be considered by the Vice Principal (Research, Collections and Innovation) and the Master of the United Colleges. You will be informed of the outcome as soon as possible.

Due to the sheer volume of applications we receive, we regrettably cannot provide feedback on unsuccessful applications.

Please note:

Applicants should not apply to Leverhulme, citing the University of St Andrews as the supporting institution unless they have been selected by the Vice Principal (Research, Collections and Innovation) and given formal notification that they are an institutional candidate.