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Philip Leverhulme Prizes

For researchers at an early stage of their careers whose work has had international impact and whose future research career is exceptionally promising - to use for any research purpose

Philip Leverhulme Prizes have been offered since 2001 in commemoration of the contribution to the work of the Trust made by Philip Leverhulme, the Third Viscount Leverhulme and grandson of William Hesketh Lever, the founder of the Trust.

Value

Each prize is worth £100,000.

Duration

The funding is available over 2 to 3 years.

Before beginning your application, please read the information below or download it as a PDF Guidance for Nominees.

Eligibility

Nominees must hold either a permanent post or a long-term fellowship in a UK University with research degree awarding powers that would extend beyond the duration of the Philip Leverhulme Prize. Those otherwise without salary are not eligible to be nominated.

Nominees should normally have been awarded their doctoral degree not more than ten years prior to the closing date for nominations. The award date is considered to be the date on which the degree was confirmed by the awarding institution.

Prizes are awarded to individuals. The Trust Board will not consider making an award where two (or more) nominations are received for substantially the same body of work. 

Specialist arts institutions are permitted to nominate candidates for the Visual and Performing Arts prizes only.

Subject areas

Applications will be considered within the six broad subject areas available each year. These rotate on a 3-year cycle. The current cycle is 2023, 2024 and 2025. The next 3-year cycle will be 2026, 2027 and 2028. You may not be nominated for more than one prize subject in any 3-year cycle. 

Subject areas 2024

Classics
Earth Sciences
Physics
Politics and International Relations
Psychology
Visual and Performing Arts

Subject areas 2025

Archaeology
Chemistry
Economics
Engineering
Geography
Languages and Literatures

Subject areas 2026

Biological Sciences
History
Law
Mathematics and Statistics
Philosophy and Theology
Sociology and Social Policy

Excluded fields of study

Two areas are always excluded:

  • studies of disease, illness and disabilities in humans and animals
  • research that is intended to inform clinical practice or the development of medical applications

The Trust excludes these because substantial funding is available from other sources for applied medical research, and the Trust’s priority is to support investigations of a fundamental nature.

Use of prize money

The funding is available over 2 to 3 years. Prizes can be taken up on the first of a month between 1 December in the year in which they are awarded and 1 November the following year.

Expenditure from the award may be used for any purpose related to the advancement of the research or artistic practice of the Prize Winner, provided that the items of expenditure fall within the categories classically eligible for the support of the Trust. 

Eligible items of expenditure include:

  • research assistance
  • teaching replacement
  • travel and subsistence
  • consumables (including specialist books, databases and similar materials)
  • technical support
  • computer equipment and software

Ineligible items of expenditure are:

  • capital equipment
  • augmentation of the Prize Winner’s salary
  • institutional overheads
How to make a nomination

Nominations are to be made by the nominee's head of department (or equivalent). 

No institution may submit more than three nominations in any prize subject.

To make an nomination, please access the Leverhulme Trust Grants Management System. The recommended browser to use is Google Chrome.

Institutional approval is required both from the head of department and from an administrative officer on behalf of the institution. 

Nominees will be informed of the result of their nominations by the end of the November following their nomination.

Feedback on nominations

Unfortunately, due to the large number of nominations for this scheme, it is not possible to provide feedback.

Current grant holders

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Contact
The Leverhulme Trust
1 Pemberton Row
London
EC4A 3BG
General enquiries
020 7042 9888