Leeds Opportunity Research Scholarship 2026 at University of Leeds

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 in Session 2026/27.

Table of Content

• Summary
• Benefits
• Requirements
• Interview Process
• Application Deadline
• How To Apply

Summary

• Application DeadlineApril 1, 2026
• Study LevelPhD
• SponsorUniversity of Leeds
• City to studyLeeds
• School to studyUniversity of Leeds
• Eligible CountryUnited Kingdom

Benefits

• The award provides full academic fees and a maintenance grant (£20,780 in Session 2025/26) 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).

Requirements

• Applicants must identify as belonging to one of the minoritised ethnic groups – Black or Black British-Caribbean; Black or Black British-African; Other Black background; Asian or Asian British-Indian; Asian or Asian British-Pakistani; Asian or Asian British-Bangladeshi; Chinese; or Other Asian background; Mixed-White and Black Caribbean; Mixed-White and Black African; Mixed-White and Asian; Other Mixed background; Arab, or other minoritised ethnic background. 
• 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.
• Applicants must not have already been awarded or be currently studying for a doctoral degree 

If you are unsure whether you meet any of the eligibility criteria listed above, please contact the PGR Diversity Team ([email protected]) with the subject ‘LORS application query’.

Entry requirements

• 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 your 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 (eg in industry or business, or – for a practice-based PhD – in the creative arts).

English language requirements

• 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.
• Examples of an acceptable English Language standard can be found at https://www.leeds.ac.uk/international-admissions/doc/entry-requirements

Selection Process

• Admissions Teams select a shortlist of applicants who they wish to nominate for the award.  Applications are then assessed by the University of Leeds LORS Scholarship Selection Panel on the basis of your information about your personal circumstances, your personal statement and financial declaration.  '
• The LORS 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 scholarship applications are assessed. 
• Your suitability for the proposed research project is therefore evidenced by your offer to study and the supporting statement provided by your proposed supervisor(s) or Director of Postgraduate Research Studies.  Where necessary, the LORS selection panel may also use contextual information provided by your application ( in particular details that may indicate you belong to one or more groups that are underrepresented in higher education) and institutional data related to current PGR cohort representation to reach a decision.
• The Postgraduate Scholarships Office 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.

Check also:
Wits-Edinburgh Programme in Sustainable African Futures by Mastercard Foundation 2026-2027
Department of Aeronautics MSc Scholarship at Imperial College London 2026

Application Deadline

How To Apply

1. First of all apply for a research programme of study by completing the application form

   • In order to be considered for the scholarship you must submit all the required supporting documents for your application for study*. Any study applications that are not accompanied by the documents requested by the scholarship deadline will not be considered for the award. 
   • Please note that an unsuccessful application for this scholarship does not exclude you from applying for other research study opportunities or scholarships offered by the University of Leeds. 
   • *The supporting documents you need to provide with your study application are listed on website for the School/Faculty in which you are applying to study. 

2. Once you are in receipt of your 9 digit Student Application ID complete the online application form. 

   • You are advised to read the ‘Guidance for applicants’ available on website https://www.leeds.ac.uk/research-funding/doc/scholarships-under-represented-groups before completing your scholarship application form.
   • If you have any questions about your LORS application, or the support available, please contact the PGR Diversity Team ([email protected]).
   • 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.

For more details, visit University of Leeds Scholarship webpage