Location: United Kingdom
Program: Postgraduate (PhD research degree)
Eligibility: UK (Home fee-rated) students only
Duration: 2.5 to 3.5 years
Deadline: April 1, 2026
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The Leeds Doctoral Scholarships 2026 is a fully funded research scholarship offered by the University of Leeds to its very best incoming Home fee-rated PhD students, providing full academic fees and an annual maintenance grant of £20,780 (2025/26 rate, increasing annually in line with the UKRI rate) for up to 3.5 years of full-time doctoral study across any of the university’s seven eligible faculties. Up to 5 scholarships are available for the 2026/27 session, making this one of the most competitive and prestigious doctoral funding awards at the University of Leeds, reserved exclusively for candidates of the highest academic calibre. Please note that this scholarship is open to UK Home fee-rated students only and is not available to international students paying overseas tuition fees.
The University of Leeds is one of the United Kingdom’s leading research-intensive universities, a member of the prestigious Russell Group, and consistently ranked among the world’s top 100 universities in major global rankings including the QS World University Rankings. Founded in 1904, Leeds is home to over 38,000 students from more than 150 countries and is internationally recognised for outstanding research across science, engineering, medicine, business, arts, humanities, and social sciences. The university’s Leeds Doctoral College provides a rich and supportive research training environment, and its strong industry connections, international research partnerships, and commitment to diversity and inclusion make it one of the most dynamic and rewarding destinations for doctoral study in the United Kingdom.
Benefits of the Scholarship
This scholarship will provide the following to its recipients:
- Full academic tuition fees for 3 years of full-time study (pro-rata for part-time)
- Annual maintenance grant of £20,780 (2025/26 rate) for 3.5 years, increasing annually in line with the UKRI rate
- Available for full-time or part-time PhD study across all eligible faculties
- Other benefits
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Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for this scholarship, applicants must meet the following:
- Must be classified as a UK Home fee-rated student; this scholarship is not available to international students paying overseas tuition fees
- Must hold a First Degree at undergraduate level equivalent to at least a UK First Class Honours degree, or must be in their final year of study and expect to achieve this level
- Candidates with a lower undergraduate mark may be considered if they hold or expect to receive a Distinction in a Master’s programme relevant to their field of research, or can demonstrate relevant alternative experience in industry or business
- Must be a new Postgraduate Researcher undertaking full-time or part-time research study leading to the degree of PhD
- Must not have previously been awarded a PhD or be currently registered on a PhD programme; those who previously studied for a PhD but did not complete may be considered
- Must be available to take up the award by October 1, 2026
- Must be willing to live within a reasonable distance of the University of Leeds whilst in receipt of the scholarship
- Must meet the University of Leeds minimum English language requirement of IELTS 6.0 overall with at least 5.5 in each component, or equivalent, dated within two years of the course start date
- Stage 1: must submit a complete application for a research programme of study with all required supporting documents before the April 1, 2026 deadline
- Stage 2: must complete the online scholarship application form using the nine-digit Student Application ID received after submitting the study application
Note: Kindly check the official webpage for full and detailed requirements
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Selection Criteria
The Leeds Doctoral Scholarships selection process is conducted in two stages, with each School first selecting a shortlist of applicants it wishes to nominate for the award, after which the University of Leeds Scholarship Selection Panel makes the final selection based solely on academic merit with no other factors such as financial hardship taken into account. Academic performance is fundamental, with the panel reviewing transcripts, grades, academic references, and the overall quality of the research application, and strong candidates are those who combine a First Class undergraduate degree or Master’s Distinction with a clearly developed and compelling research proposal that demonstrates genuine potential for high-quality doctoral investigation aligned with the strengths and priorities of their chosen school or faculty.
How to Apply
CLICK HERE to visit the official webpage and submit your application.
