Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellowship 2026

The Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies invites expressions of interest for the Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellowship (supported by John Fell Fund) from suitably qualified researchers in the early stages of an academic career who wish to base their research in the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Oxford. 

Applications are welcome in all areas of Asian, Middle Eastern and related studies.  Fellowships are tenable for three years on a full-time basis.

We encourage prospective Early Career Fellows from outside Oxford to consider applying. Applicants currently at Oxford University who have not already moved institutions in the course of their academic career (e.g. between their undergraduate and postgraduation studies) should, however, nominate a new host university, unless they can demonstrate clear evidence of the academic and/or personal reasons for remaining at Oxford, such as access to specialist materials, or family commitments.

 

  • Applicants must have submitted their doctoral thesis for examination by the closing date, and no more than four years before the closing date, i.e. not before 20 February 2022, unless they have had a career break.

  • Applicants must not hold or have held a permanent academic position in a UK university or comparable institution, and must have a doctorate or equivalent research experience.

  • Applicants must either hold a degree (any degree) from a UK University at the time of taking up the fellowship, or at the time of the application deadline have been in continuous UK academic employment for more than 4 months.

  • Candidates who have held or currently hold postdoc positions to pursue their own research totalling 3 or more years are not eligible to apply.

 

The eligibility rules for the fellowship are complex, and applicants should check these carefully. Read the eligibility rules here:  https://www.leverhulme.ac.uk/funding/grant-schemes/early-career-fellowships

 

The Faculty will normally be able to support one application. Selection by the Faculty does not guarantee award of a Fellowship, but selected applicants will receive guidance in preparing a full submission.

Applicants must identify a named mentor from among the permanent members of the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, who must provide a statement of support. When a potential mentor has been identified and their support secured, you must ask them to complete a Mentor Statement.

Once they have agreed, follow the application process: 

  1. Apply to the Faculty 

  1. If put forward by the Faculty, enter into discussion with our Research Facilitator to strengthen your application 

  1. submit your application to Leverhulme for consideration. 

Please note that you cannot apply to Leverhulme identifying Oxford as your place for holding the Fellowship without first applying through the Faculty.  

Applications should be sent to research.support@humanities.ox.ac.uk with the subject line Leverhulme ECF 2026. Each application should include:

Applicants may include details of any circumstances that have affected their research progress (for example, illness or parental leave).

 

Application deadline: 4:00pm Friday 5 December 2025

 

All applications received will be reviewed by the Faculty. Recommendations will then be forwarded to the Humanities Division, which will confirm which candidates it can support.

Applicants selected by the Division will receive support from the Faculty’s Research Facilitator to finalise their proposal before submission to the Leverhulme Trust by 19 February 2026.