University of Leeds Opened PhD Scholarships for 2026 Intake Globally
The 2026 doctoral scholarship season is officially underway, and the United Kingdom has begun rolling out some of its most competitive fully funded research opportunities. Among the first major announcements is the Leeds Doctoral Scholarships 2026, now open at the University of Leeds, offering a limited number of fully funded PhD positions for the upcoming academic year. This early call signals a strong move by one of the UK’s leading research universities to secure high-calibre doctoral researchers and support them with long-term funding, academic stability, and institutional backing from day one of their PhD journey.
What makes the Leeds Doctoral Scholarship particularly important is how it is awarded. This is a university-funded doctoral research award, managed directly by the University of Leeds rather than through external councils or quota-based schemes. Applicants are first assessed by their chosen academic School, which nominates candidates based on research potential and academic excellence. Final decisions are then made by a central University of Leeds Scholarship Selection Panel, with merit as the sole evaluation criterion. Being selected means more than just winning funding — it means securing a fully supported PhD position at one of the UK’s most research-intensive institutions.
The structure of the scholarship is clear and focused on long-term academic success. It is available only for doctoral research degrees, offered on a full-time or part-time basis, and funded for up to 3.5 years (pro-rata for part-time study). The University of Leeds acts as the awarding body, with funding confirmed through School nomination and central panel approval — ensuring that recipients receive both academic endorsement and institutional commitment.
Successful scholars receive a comprehensive funding package designed to support them throughout the PhD period. The award covers full UK academic tuition fees for the standard doctoral registration period and provides a maintenance grant aligned with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) rates. For the 2025/26 session, the annual stipend stands at £20,780, with increases applied each year in line with national funding adjustments. The maintenance grant is paid for 3.5 years for full-time study, while tuition fees are covered for three years, with part-time awards adjusted proportionally. Funding is initially confirmed for one year and renewed annually, subject to satisfactory academic progress. It is important to note that the scholarship does not cover relocation costs, visa fees, or dependent support, and recipients must live within reasonable commuting distance of the University of Leeds. The award must be taken up by 1 October 2026.
Eligibility for the Leeds Doctoral Scholarship is clearly defined. The award is open only to Home-fee applicants under UK regulations and is not available to international (overseas-fee) candidates. Academically, applicants must hold — or be completing — an undergraduate degree equivalent to a UK First Class Honours. Candidates with a lower undergraduate classification may still be considered if they hold, or expect to achieve, a Distinction at Master’s level in a relevant field. In exceptional cases, relevant professional or industry experience may also be taken into account. Applicants who already hold a PhD or are currently registered on a PhD programme are not eligible, though candidates who previously withdrew from a PhD without completion may be considered. All scholarship holders must reside within reasonable distance of Leeds for the duration of their funded period.
The scholarship supports PhD research across all major academic Faculties at the University of Leeds. This includes Arts, Humanities and Cultures; Biological Sciences; Business; Engineering and Physical Sciences; Environment; Medicine and Health; and Social Sciences. Research areas span everything from advanced engineering, artificial intelligence, and life sciences to health innovation, sustainability, social policy, and interdisciplinary research. The award is strictly for doctoral research degrees and does not apply to undergraduate, taught master’s, or non-degree programmes. The language of instruction for doctoral study is English.
Applicants must also meet the University’s English language requirements for postgraduate research. As a general guide, this means providing an IELTS Academic score of 6.0 overall, with 5.5 in each component, although some Schools may require higher scores depending on the research field. Test results must be no more than two years old at the time of programme start to remain valid.
The application process follows a two-stage online route https://phd.leeds.ac.uk/funding/209-leeds-doctoral-scholarships-2026. First, candidates must submit a complete application for a PhD research programme at the University of Leeds, including all supporting documents required by their chosen School or Faculty. Incomplete applications at this stage will not be considered for scholarship nomination. Once applicants receive their 9-digit Student Application ID, they must then complete the separate Leeds Doctoral Scholarship application form online — this second step is mandatory for funding consideration.
For candidates aiming to secure one of the UK’s most competitive university-funded PhD awards, timing is critical. The application deadline for the Leeds Doctoral Scholarships 2026 is 17:00 (UK time) on Wednesday, 1 April 2026. With full tuition coverage, a nationally benchmarked stipend, and the backing of a world-class research university, this scholarship stands out as a career-defining opportunity for home-fee doctoral applicants ready to begin their PhD journey in 2026 with stability, prestige, and long-term academic support.
