Leeds Access To Research Scholarship 2027

Up to 5 Leeds Access to Research Scholarships (LARS) are available to prospective postgraduate researchers from Black, Asian and other minoritised ethnic groups for study in any Faculty in Session 2027/28.

<p>These scholarships are part of our wider commitment to postgraduate diversity and inclusion as outlined by the <a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/student-success/doc/access-student-success-strategy" target="_blank">Access and Student Success Strategy (2025)</a>, including involvement with the Yorkshire Consortium for Equity in Doctoral Education (<a href="https://ycede.ac.uk" target="_blank">YCEDE</a>) and <a href="https://generationdelta.leeds.ac.uk/" target="_blank">Generation Delta</a>. We continue to offer opportunities to home-rated applicants from BAME to support submitting an application, as well as additional engagement and mentoring, whilst undertaking the PhD studentship via our <a href="https://students.leeds.ac.uk/postgraduate-research/doc/postgraduate-research-diversity" target="_blank">PGR Diversity Team</a>.</p> <p>Closing Date for Application forms 17:00 (UK time) Tuesday 23 March 2027</p> <h4>Duration and Value of the Award</h4> <ul> <li> <p>The award provides full academic fees and a maintenance grant (£21,805 in Session 2026/27) for full-time study, part-time will be pro-rata.  This amount increases per annum in line with the UKRI rate.  Full-time awards provide full fees for 3 years and a maintenance award for 3.5 years (Part-time awards are pro-rata).</p> </li> </ul> <h4>Eligibility Criteria</h4> <ul> <li>Applicants must identify as belonging to one of the minoritised ethnic groups – Asian - Bangladeshi or Bangladeshi British; Asian - Chinese or Chinese British; Asian - Filipino or Filipino British; Asian - Indian or Indian British; Asian - Pakistani or Pakistani British; Any other Asian background; Black - African or African British; Black - Caribbean or Caribbean British; Any other Black background; White and Asian; White and Black African; White and Black Caribbean; Any other Mixed or Multiple ethnic background; White - Gypsy, Roma, or Traveller subgroups; Arab.</li> <li>Applicants must be eligible to pay fees at the Home (UK) rate or have been recognised (or be the partner or child of someone who has been recognised) as a refugee or asylum seeker, or been granted humanitarian protection status by the UK Government.</li> <li>Applicants must not have already been awarded or be currently studying for a doctoral degree </li> </ul> <p>If you are unsure whether you meet any of the eligibility criteria listed above, please contact the PGR Diversity Team (<a href="mailto:pgrdiversity@leeds.ac.uk">pgrdiversity@leeds.ac.uk</a>) with the subject ‘LARS application query’.</p> <h4>Other Conditions</h4> <ul> <li>Awards must be taken up by 1 October 2027</li> <li>Applicants who have previously been awarded a PhD or are currently registered on a PhD are excluded from applying.  Those who were previously studying for a PhD but did not complete may be considered.</li> <li>Applicants must live within a reasonable distance of the University of Leeds whilst in receipt of this Scholarship.</li> </ul> <h4>Selection Process</h4> <p>Once the scholarship application deadline has passed, all submitted applications that meet the LARS eligibility requirements will be considered. The relevant Admissions team then selects a shortlist of applicants who they wish to nominate for the award. </p> <p>Applications are then assessed by the University of Leeds LARS Selection Panel on the basis of your Personal Statement.</p> <p>The LARS selection process acknowledges historic awarding gaps and barriers often faced by those from minoritised ethnic groups to accessing the extra/co-curricular or professional activities by which many other doctoral scholarships are assessed. Your suitability for doctoral study is therefore evidenced by your offer to study and the Supporting Statement provided by your supervisor(s) or the Director of Postgraduate Research Studies (DPGRS) in the School from which you have received an offer. </p> <p>Guidance on what to include in your Supporting Statement will be available to your supervisor(s) and/or DPGRS.  Please ensure that they are aware of this guidance before writing your Supporting Statement.  Any questions about the Supporting Statement can be directed to <a href="mailto:pgrdiversity@leeds.ac.uk">pgrdiversity@leeds.ac.uk</a>.</p> <p>Where necessary, the LARS Selection Panel may also use the contextual information provided by your applications (in particular, details that may indicate you belong to one or more groups underrepresented in higher education) and data related to current doctoral cohort representation to reach a decision. </p> <p>Doctoral College Operations will not enter into any communication regarding the progress of your application form.  Unsuccessful applicants will be informed of their application outcome approximately 4 weeks after the application closing date.  Shortlisted applicants will be informed of the outcome of their application within 10 weeks of the application closing date.</p>

<p>Disabled students – If you have a disability that means you require reasonable adjustments throughout the admissions and scholarships selection process, please contact the relevant <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.leeds.ac.uk%2Fresearch-applying%2Fdoc%2Fpostgraduate-research-admissions-contacts&data=05%7C02%7CS.E.Fabron%40adm.leeds.ac.uk%7C192d8839087844f9a34c08df0d9e09d7%7Cbdeaeda8c81d45ce863e5232a535b7cb%7C0%7C0%7C639244645522128857%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=ZP%2BmywyLR4yPsEQnPfEgw7yzMoHtdmwU%2FoL1Xf%2F3MW4%3D&reserved=0">postgraduate research admissions team</a> to discuss your needs.This support should be sought as soon as possible, if relevant, as the scholarship deadline cannot be extended.</p> <p>Stage 1 </p> <ul> <li> <p>First of all apply for a <a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/research-applying/doc/applying-research-degrees" target="_blank">research programme of study</a> by completing the application form</p> </li> </ul> <p paraeid="{1cb12a88-4c7f-4a7c-9a2b-534fa11ffa74}{162}" paraid="617466781">Supporting documents required by the relevant Admissions team to process your study application may vary. <a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/research-applying/doc/applying-research-degrees">See the Applying for Research Degrees webpage for more information</a>.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px">Applicants who feel they may be unable to provide the required documentation should <a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/research-applying/doc/postgraduate-research-admissions-contacts">contact the relevant postgraduate research admissions team</a> as soon as possible.</p> <p paraeid="{1cb12a88-4c7f-4a7c-9a2b-534fa11ffa74}{172}" paraid="101257157">Stage 2</p> <ul> <li> <p>Once you are in receipt of your 9 digit Student Application ID complete the <a href="https://app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/leeds/leeds-opportunity-research-scholarships-2026" target="_blank">online scholarship application form.</a> </p> </li> <li> <p><strong>No other documents are required to be submitted with your scholarship application form.</strong></p> </li> </ul> <p>You are advised to read the ‘Guidance for applicants’ available on website <a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/research-funding/doc/scholarships-under-represented-groups" target="_blank">https://www.leeds.ac.uk/research-funding/doc/scholarships-under-represented-groups</a> before completing your scholarship application form.</p> <p>The PGR Diversity Team is offering <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Faccessandoutreach.leeds.ac.uk%2Fforstudents%2Fpostgraduate-research%2Faccess-to-research%2Fone-to-one-support%2F&data=05%7C02%7CS.E.Fabron%40adm.leeds.ac.uk%7C192d8839087844f9a34c08df0d9e09d7%7Cbdeaeda8c81d45ce863e5232a535b7cb%7C0%7C0%7C639244645522066569%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Mu2VvCAXdsZ9k5Tqc5AfOv0KK1YLHgvz3eXnnO106EU%3D&reserved=0">one-to-one support</a> and a <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Faccessandoutreach.leeds.ac.uk%2Fforstudents%2Fpostgraduate-research%2Faccess-to-research%2Finformation-sessions-and-webinars%2F&data=05%7C02%7CS.E.Fabron%40adm.leeds.ac.uk%7C192d8839087844f9a34c08df0d9e09d7%7Cbdeaeda8c81d45ce863e5232a535b7cb%7C0%7C0%7C639244645522089272%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=aWXHYnNwVzZwzjbRAJ37SHefUvRnpiAlLm1oiuFRHJs%3D&reserved=0">series of webinars</a> giving guidance on the application stages and deadlines, how you will be assessed etc. If you have any questions about your LARS application, the support available and advice on how to complete your Supporting Statement, please contact the PGR Diversity Team (<a href="mailto:pgrdiversity@leeds.ac.uk">pgrdiversity@leeds.ac.uk</a>).</p> <p>Please note that, due to the large volume of applications, the Postgraduate Scholarships Office will not enter into any correspondence regarding the progress of an application until the outcome is known.</p> <p><em>As an international research-intensive university, we welcome students from all walks of life and from across the world. We foster an inclusive environment where all can flourish and prosper, and we are proud of our strong commitment to student education.  Across all Faculties we are dedicated to diversifying our community and we welcome the unique contributions that individuals can bring, and particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to Black, Asian, people who belong to a minority ethnic community, people who identify as LGBT+; and people with disabilities. Applicants will always be selected based on merit and ability. </em></p>

Applicants must hold a First Degree at undergraduate level equivalent to at least a UK Upper Second Class Honours degree (some Faculties may also require a Masters degree). You should either have graduated with the appropriate First Degree or be in the final year of study. If you have a lower mark in your undergraduate degree, you may be considered if you can demonstrate relevant alternative experience (e.g., in industry or business, or – for a practice-based PhD – in the creative arts.)<br />

If your first language is not English, you must meet the University’s English language requirements prior to or at registration. If the School/Faculty to which you have applied has a higher English language entry requirement, you must meet this higher requirement. You should have a valid test result, which is no more than two years old by your official start date at the University of Leeds.

<p>If you are unsure whether you meet any of the eligibility criteria listed above please contact the <a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/research-applying/doc/postgraduate-research-admissions-contacts">Postgraduate Research Admissions Team</a> in the Faculty you intend to study OR <a href="mailto:pg_scholarships@leeds.ac.uk?subject=LORS%20Scholarship%20Query%20">email Postgraduate Scholarships</a>.</p> <p>The Leeds Access to Research Scholarship is available for research degree study across all Faculties.  Applicants are welcome to submit their own research proposal of apply for any of the linked projects (if available).</p>