LECF 2026: Information for Cambridge Applicants

The Internal Competition at Cambridge

Cambridge receives large numbers of applications across many subject areas for the Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship competition. Each candidate entering the national competition must have the support of the host institution and hold an offer of matching funding for 50% of the salary costs for Years 2 and 3 of the Fellowship and any salary costs exceeding £56k in any year of their fellowship.

Eligibility

The first step is to check that you are eligible for the Competition. The Leverhulme Trust determines the eligibility rules and sets the requirements for application materials – so you need to follow the instructions set by the Leverhulme Trust. All research subjects are eligible except Clinical Medicine, and the studies of disease, illness or disability in animals or humans. Please also note the strict criteria regarding the submission of your PhD thesis. Any queries regarding eligibility should be addressed to the Leverhulme Trust.

If you are eligible to make an application and want to apply to undertake your Fellowship at Cambridge, you will need to enter the University’s internal competition.

Candidates apply to their chosen host department at Cambridge

The deadline for applying is set by the host Faculty or Department but is likely to be by the end of October 2025. You will need to contact your intended host institutions (department or faculty) for details – see list of Cambridge Host Institutions.

Host Institutions will ask candidates to submit an INT Internal Competition Coversheet, CV, list of publications and two statements of research (a statement of current research, and a summary of the research the candidate intends to undertake as an LECF at Cambridge). 

Candidates will also need to arrange for two references to be sent to the host institution to include within any application sent on to INT. When nominating referees, please note:

• only one referee can be from Cambridge (and can be the proposed mentor)
• referees cannot be from the same institution
• the head of department of your proposed host department cannot be a referee

Note: You will see that the application materials are the same as those required by the Leverhulme Trust, except that the internal competition requires applicants to complete an Internal Competition Coversheet, and, only two references are required. Our requirements regarding the formatting of application documents are not specific but you might find it useful to adopt those required by the Leverhulme Trust. CVs for the internal competition must not exceed two sides of A4.

Do check the application process with your chosen host institution to see if they require any further information.

What happens next?

Host Departments will select up to 2 shortlisted candidates and forward their applications for consideration by academic panels approved by the Schools by 13 November 2025, 5pm. These panels in turn will nominate candidates to receive offers of INT matching funding.

INT will notify selected candidates by the end of December 2025 that the INT and/or Host Institution can offer them matching funding should they be successful in the national round. INT issues letters guaranteeing matched funds which can be included in the application to the national competition. 40 offers are typically made in principle and there is usually a short list of reserves - INT will let reserves know if an offer becomes available. 

Selected candidates will work with their host department to make the application to the national competition by 19 February 2026, 4pm. Please note that all applications to the Leverhulme Trust will need to be assessed by the University's Research Operations Office (ROO) beforehand (17 February 2026 is the last day by which applications can be assessed by ROO). 

The Leverhulme Trust will notify candidates who have been successful in the national competition with effect from mid-May 2026.

The LECF 2026 Timetable: