The Philip Leverhulme Prize is a £100k award for researchers at an early stage of their careers whose work has had international impact and whose future research career is exceptionally promising. Please note it is a prize and not funding for a research project.
Thirty prizes are awarded in total each year across all relevant subject areas, as such it is a highly competitive field. See previous successful award holders. The 2021 prize covered Politics and International Relations, and Psychology.
It is open to those with permanent posts (or long-term fellowships) who were awarded their PhD after May 2014. The scheme allows for distinct career breaks due to caring responsibilities or illness.
Subject areas are broadly defined but exclusions apply for work that studies disease, illness or disabilities. Research intended to inform clinical practice is also excluded.
Individuals can only apply once in every three-year cycle of subject areas so please consider the most logical subject for you and apply in the correct year. Topic areas for 2025 and 2026 are highlighted on the prize website. Chosen topic areas should be led by your research interests as opposed to departmental affiliations.
Selection process
To be considered as a University of Bath candidate for this prize, you must:
- consider carefully whether you are a competitive candidate for this scheme given the Leverhulme criteria for the prize (ask others for feedback on your career path to date)
- secure the support of your Head of Department or equivalent (they will ultimately be making the nomination to Leverhulme and as such you need their agreement to move on in the process)
- pitch to an online panel – a five-minute presentation focused on a) your significant achievements to date and b) your future research plans, followed by five minutes of Q and A. The panels are scheduled for:
- Politics and International Relations – 18 March, 13.30-15.00
- Psychology – 25 March, 11.00-13.00
Email your intent to pitch to: fac-hss-research@bath.ac.uk together with your CV and copy in your HoD. Within your CV you should asterisk your four most significant publications or outputs and make reference to these within your five-minute pitch to explain the influence they have had on your subject area and/or your career path.
Deadline for submitting interest: 10am Monday 4 March
Any questions about the scheme or the process should be directed to Sarah Jones, Research Strategy Business Partner in RIS: s.jones3@bath.ac.uk
For applicants to the other 2024 prize subjects, please speak to your HoD in the first instance.