Discover Funding Opportunities

Leeds Opportunity Research Scholarship 2026

Up to 5 Leeds Opportunity Research Scholarships (LORS) are available to prospective postgraduate researchers from Black, Asian and other minoritised ethnic groups for study in any Faculty at the University of Leeds in Session 2026/27. These scholarships are part of the University's wider commitment to postgraduate diversity and inclusion as outlined by the Access and Student Success Strategy (2025), including involvement with the Yorkshire Consortium for Equity in Doctoral Education (YCEDE) and Generation Delta. The award provides full academic fees and a maintenance grant (£20,780 in Session 2025/26, increasing annually in line with the UKRI rate) for full-time study, with part-time options pro-rata. Full-time awards provide full fees for 3 years and a maintenance award for 3.5 years. The LORS selection process acknowledges historic awarding gaps and barriers often faced by those from minoritised ethnic groups, with selection based on personal circumstances, personal statements, and financial declarations rather than solely on extra-curricular activities. Recipients also benefit from additional engagement, mentoring, and support from the PGR Diversity Team throughout their PhD studentship.

School of Education Postgraduate Research Scholarship in Education, Childhood or Youth 2026/27 (International)

One highly competitive scholarship is available in the School of Education for academic year 2026/27 and provides full fees with a tax-free maintenance allowance that matches UKRI rates. The award is open to full-time candidates who have been offered a place on a PhD degree at the School of Education. The School invites applications that connect to core research areas of inclusion, childhood and youth, language education, digital education, curriculum, pedagogy and policy. Particular interest areas include inclusion in higher education, creativity and play in education, assessment in higher education, performing arts for inclusion, maths education, cognitive theory and language teacher, learner motivation, child and pupil wellbeing and EMI (English as medium of instruction). The School of Education is an intellectually rich and stimulating environment for postgraduate research, recognising Education as a hub for many disciplinary perspectives with challenge-led, global, and transformative research with social justice at its core. All postgraduate researchers are members of one of the Research Centres, creating a hub of internationally leading research across interdisciplinary teams. The award covers tuition fees for three years and a maintenance grant at the standard UKRI rate for 3.5 years, subject to satisfactory progress.

School of Education Postgraduate Research Scholarship in Education, Childhood or Youth 2026/27 (UK)

The School of Education at the University of Leeds is offering one highly competitive scholarship for academic year 2025/26. This scholarship provides full fees with a tax-free maintenance allowance that matches UKRI rates (currently £20,780 in 2025/26) and rises annually in line with UKRI rates. The award is open to full-time and part-time candidates who have been offered a place on a PhD degree at the School of Education. The School of Education is an intellectually rich and stimulating environment for postgraduate research, recognising Education as a hub for many disciplinary perspectives, all contributing to challenge-led, global, and transformative research with social justice at its core. All postgraduate researchers are members of one of the Research Centres, creating a hub of internationally leading research across interdisciplinary teams in: Curriculum, Pedagogy and Policy; Digital Education; Language Education Research; and Inclusion, Childhood and Youth. Applications are invited that connect to the School's core research areas of inclusion, childhood and youth, language education, digital education, curriculum, pedagogy and policy. The scholarship particularly welcomes applications in the areas of: inclusion in higher education; creativity and play in education, assessment in higher education, performing arts for inclusion, maths education, cognitive theory and language teacher, learner motivation, child and pupil wellbeing and EMI (English as medium of instruction). Outstanding candidates without a Masters will be considered for an additional fully-funded year to complete one of the taught masters programmes.

School of Law (William Harrison) Doctoral Scholarships 2026/27

Two full scholarships are available in the School of Law at the University of Leeds to prospective UK postgraduate researchers who wish to commence study for a PhD in the academic year 2026/27. These scholarships provide full UK fees with a tax-free maintenance allowance that matches UKRI rates (currently £20,780 in 2025/26), which rises annually in line with UKRI rates for 3.5 years. One scholarship will be awarded by the School, and the other will be funded through the William Harrison Doctoral Scholarship, an endowed scholarship provided by a donation to the School of Law. The scholarships are available to full-time or part-time UK candidates who have been offered a place on a PhD degree at the School of Law. The School of Law has been consistently ranked amongst the top 10 UK law schools, with 88% of research rated as world-leading or internationally excellent. The School especially welcomes applications that connect to the work of their four research centres: the Centre for Criminal Justice Studies, the Centre for Law & Social Justice, the Centre for Business Law and Practice, and the Centre for Innovation and Research in Legal Education. The School is committed to diversifying its community and particularly encourages applications from Black, Asian, people who belong to a minority ethnic community, people who identify as LGBT+, and people with disabilities. The School has a vibrant and inclusive community of around 90 postgraduate researchers and provides access to a wide array of career and personal development opportunities. Applicants will be selected on merit and ability.

PhD Politics of Global Challenges Scholarships

The School of Politics and International Studies (POLIS) at the University of Leeds offers two prestigious scholarships for excellent applicants who wish to commence PhD study in 2026/27. The scholarships are designed for postgraduate researchers investigating the 'politics of global challenges' who can play a dynamic role in the school's research community. The program seeks applicants who can develop into future leaders in their research area and/or make an impact on non-academic organizations. Successful candidates will pursue original research informed by rigorous research design and contribute actively to the school's research centres including the Centre for Democratic Politics, Centre for Global Development, Centre for Global Security Challenges, Centre for Contemporary Political Theory, Centre for African Studies, and Leeds Institute for Data Analytics. The school fosters an equal, diverse, inclusive and nurturing space for rigorous scholarship combined with deep commitment to student education and researcher training. PhD researchers are closely integrated within research centres, attend and organize research events, publish in world-leading journals, and engage with practitioners and policy-makers.

Social Sciences Access to Research Doctoral Scholarships

The Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Leeds is inviting applications for doctoral scholarships specifically for UK Black, Asian and other minoritised ethnic groups currently underrepresented within postgraduate research. Two scholarships are available for students to undertake PhD research within the Faculty's four schools: Education, Law, Politics and International Studies, and Sociology and Social Policy. Scholarship holders will have access to world-leading facilities and supervision, and to research centres which shape the research and innovation agenda within and beyond the social sciences. All postgraduate researchers in the Faculty are members of the Social Sciences Graduate School, bringing together a socially, culturally and intellectually diverse community of doctoral researchers in an interdisciplinary research environment geared to addressing global challenges. These scholarships are available on either a 1+3.5 (Masters and 3.5 year PhD) or a +3.5 (3.5 year PhD) basis, or part-time equivalent. Each scholarship covers full UK research degree fees and a maintenance grant at current UKRI rates (£20,780 in 2025/26). Research proposals should clearly demonstrate alignment with the research priorities and areas of expertise of one or more of the Faculty Schools, with interdisciplinary proposals particularly encouraged. Applicants must be eligible to pay fees at the Home (UK) rate and must self-identify as being from UK Black, Asian and other minoritised ethnic groups. The selection process is based on academic merit, with applicants normally requiring at least an upper second class British Bachelors Honours degree and a Masters degree with Merit grade or equivalent.

Enhancing Road Safety by Addressing the Risky Behaviour of Commercial Riders of Powered Two-Wheelers in Developing Countries

This PhD research project investigates the need for behavioural change and intervention design to enhance powered two-wheeler (PTW) safety, primarily in Low- and Middle-Income Countries where more than 90% of global road fatalities occur. The project addresses the growing road safety concerns associated with the gig economy and the urban delivery business, examining risky behaviours of commercial PTW riders including helmet use, mobile phone usage, red light running, and speeding. The research aims to compare delivery and private PTW riders and investigate work pressures associated with delivery riding that encourage risky behaviours on the road. Study variables include electric bikes versus pedal bikes, gender differences, trip purpose, age, socioeconomic status, infrastructure, location, education level, and presence of law enforcement. Findings will be used for devising policies to reduce crashes of motorcycle taxis and couriers, complementing safety measures for other road users. Results will inform targeted interventions as online delivery services have become increasingly popular in recent years. Stakeholders include governments, transport authorities, delivery companies, and infrastructure designers who can apply findings to develop appropriate countermeasures in legislation, rider training, employment obligations, and road space design. The project is supervised by Professor Oliver Carsten and Dr Yue Huang at the Institute for Transport Studies, University of Leeds, with a project start date of October 1, 2026.

JJ/WBGSP Scholarship

The Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP) scholarship is available for students who receive an unconditional offer on the Sustainable Cities MSc or Sustainable Food Systems and Food Security MSc programs at the University of Leeds. The scholarship is designed to support professionals from developing countries pursuing graduate education in development-related fields. The program provides comprehensive funding including economy class air travel between the recipient's home country and the host university, full tuition coverage for the graduate program, basic medical insurance through the university, and a monthly subsistence allowance to cover all living expenses while on campus during the scholarship period. Eligible candidates must be employed in development-related work and have at least three years of professional experience since earning their bachelor's degree. The scholarship is specifically targeted at nationals of eligible developing countries who do not hold dual citizenship of a developed country.

International Excellence Scholarships

The International Excellence Scholarships at the University of Leeds School of Earth and Environment recognise and reward high academic achievement for students who have applied to study a taught Masters course. The scholarships are offered to international students starting their studies in the 2026-27 academic year. The program provides fee reduction scholarships at three different levels: £3,000, £6,000, and £16,000. These scholarships are designed to make postgraduate education more accessible to high-achieving international students pursuing taught Masters degrees within the School of Earth and Environment. The scholarships aim to attract talented students from around the world to study at the Faculty of Environment at the University of Leeds, which holds Athena SWAN silver award status and is part of the Russell Group of universities. Students interested in applying should visit the university's international Masters scholarships webpage to check eligibility criteria and learn about the application process.

Stipend for Children without Glasses

The Stipend for Children without Glasses (SCWG) is a charitable foundation established in 2012 dedicated to supporting youth who have maintained natural visual acuity throughout their developmental years. Founded by optometrist Dr. Helena Brightwell, the organization awards annual grants of $500–$2,000 to children ages 8–17 who demonstrate both exceptional uncorrected vision and academic achievement. The foundation's somewhat tongue-in-cheek mission arose from Dr. Brightwell's observation that while numerous programs exist to provide corrective eyewear to those in need, no recognition existed for children whose genetic fortune and eye-care habits preserved their natural sight. Recipients must submit proof of 20/20 vision or better from a licensed eye care professional, along with a short essay on eye health awareness. The SCWG distributes approximately $150,000 annually across 200 grants and has funded vision health education programs in over 40 schools nationwide.