Leverhulme Trust Visiting Professorships

Faculty EOI: 21 March 2024

Funder deadline: 2 May 2024

Awarded to UK institutions that wish to invite an eminent researcher from overseas for an extended stay in the UK to enhance the knowledge and skills of academic staff or the student body within the host institution. The scheme covers maintenance, travel expenses and research costs. Visiting Professorships last for between 3 and 12 months and tenures of 6 months or more can be spread over 2 or more visits.  For further guidance please go to the Leverhulme Trust's website.

The objective of these awards is to enable distinguished academics based overseas to spend between 3 and 12 months inclusive at a UK university, primarily in order to enhance the skills of academic staff or the student body within the host institution. It is recognised that Visiting Professors may also wish to use the opportunity to further their own academic interests. The over-riding criteria for selection are first the academic standing and achievements of the visitor in terms of research and teaching, and secondly the ability of the receiving institution to benefit from the imported skills and expertise. Priority will be given to new or recent collaborative ventures.

Value
Applications are invited for a minimum of £10,000 and a maximum of £150,000. The sum requested should reflect the individual circumstances of the visitor and the nature and duration of the proposed activities. A maintenance grant up to a level commensurate with the salary of a professor in the relevant field at the receiving institution may be requested. Economy travel costs to and from the UK will also be met. Requests for associated costs, if justified by the programme, may include, for example, travel within the UK, laboratory consumables, and essential technical assistance.

Eligibility
The over-riding criteria for selection are:

• the academic standing and achievements of the visitors in terms of their research and/or teaching
• their potential for making a substantial contribution to skills in the host institution
• the specific and systematic nature of the proposed programme while in the UK
• Collaborative research alone will not be a sufficient justification for a grant. The emphasis should be on the diffusion of skills and expertise. Priority will be given to new or recent collaborative ventures. 
• Where a visit builds on an existing collaboration, the host should explain what the visit(s) will achieve over and above past outcomes. 
• It is the intention that the visitor will provide a degree of expertise that is not otherwise available within the UK research base. 

Eligible fields of study
Applications will be considered in all subject areas except:

• Studies of disease, illness and disabilities in humans and animals
• Research that is intended to inform clinical practice or the development of medical application.

The Trusts always excludes these areas because substantial funding is available from other sources for applied medical research and the Trust’s priority is to support investigations of a fundamental nature. 

Funder deadline: 2nd May 2024

Research Services deadline:  25th April 2024

Law Faculty deadline for first draft for review: 4th April 2024 

Law Faculty deadline for initial expression of interest: 21st March 2024