The Faculty of English and Department of Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic welcomes applications from potential applicants for the Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship Scheme 2027. The Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellowship programme is a prestigious national competition for early career researchers, normally no more than four years after submitting their doctoral dissertation. The scheme supports a three-year independent research project.

For applicants wishing to hold a Fellowship at the University of Cambridge, there is a Cambridge internal selection process before applications are submitted to the Leverhulme Trust. Each candidate entering the national competition must have the support of the host institution and an offer of matching funding for 50% of salary costs in Years 2 and 3 of the Fellowship, and for any salary costs exceeding £56,000 in any year of the award.

At Cambridge, the Isaac Newton Trust runs an internal competition to identify candidates who may be offered matched funding. The Faculty of English and Department of Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic may put forward up to two candidates to this internal competition.

Applicants should read the following guidance carefully before applying: 

• Leverhulme Early Career Fellowships 
• Newton Trust Leverhulme Early Career Fellowships 2027

Applicants must check the Leverhulme Trust’s eligibility rules before applying. The Leverhulme Trust determines eligibility and application requirements.

All research subjects are eligible except Clinical Medicine, and the study of disease, illness or disability in animals or humans. Applicants should pay particular attention to the Leverhulme Trust’s rules on PhD submission dates, career breaks, UK degree or UK academic employment requirements, and restrictions on permanent academic posts.

Queries about eligibility should be directed to the Leverhulme Trust.

Applicants to the Faculty of English or Department of Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic should first identify a potential mentor in the Faculty and contact them in good time before applying. The proposed mentor should normally be a permanent post-holder in the Faculty, such as an Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, or Professor.

Please submit the following application materials to coordinator@english.cam.ac.uk by 20 October 2026.