A group of postgraduate students sat on a bench outside on campus chatting

Leverhulme Trade Charities Trust Postgraduate Grant

The Trust awards bursaries of up to £5,000 for students in financial need & have a parent/spouse/employed as a commercial traveller, pharmacist or grocer.
A group of postgraduate students sat on a bench outside on campus chatting

Award details

    • Award type
      External
    • Award value
      Up to £5,000 per year
    • Application deadline
      Applications will reopen on 1 June 2026
    • Study level
      Postgraduate Research
      Postgraduate Taught
    • Qualification level
      Doctorate, Masters, Research Masters
    • Campus
      Birmingham (Edgbaston)

The Leverhulme Trade Charities Trust award bursaries of up to £5,000 a year for UK university students, who are in financial need and have a parent or spouse or are employed themselves, as a commercial traveller, pharmacist or grocer.

The most that students can apply for is £5,000 a year. However, the amount that is received depends on financial need and the total amount of funding we have available to distribute each year.

Students can use the grant for any reasonable costs connected with going to university, including tuition fees, accommodation costs, living expenses, or equipment to help them study.

Students can apply for a bursary for each year of their degree course. Unfortunately, we can’t offer grants for previous years of study that have already been completed.

Who can apply?

To be eligible to apply, students need to be:

  • a resident of the United Kingdom;
  • studying for a full-time postgraduate degree at a recognised UK university;
  • the child, spouse, widow, widower or personally employed as a commercial traveller, pharmacist or grocer, and;
  • in ‘financial need’.

Before applying, students should check that they are eligible by reading our detailed guidance on eligibility.

Eligible Nationalities:

Applicants must be nationals of the United Kingdom (UK).

How to Apply

Our application round will open on 1 June before each academic year. When the round is open, please log in to the grant application system to apply.

The closing date for applications is 1 September at 5pm.

We aim to make decisions on applications within four to six weeks after each closing date. Decisions on applications are taken by the Trustees of the Leverhulme Trade Charities Trust. All decisions are final.

Successful applicants will receive payments for their remaining time at university. We do not backdate payments for any time at university prior to your application.

You do not need to re-apply each year if you are successful. We expect to continue awarding you a grant for as long as your postgraduate degree continues, provided that:

  • you continue to study full-time, at the same university and on the same course;
  • your university confirms that your academic performance is satisfactory each year;
  • you progress on to the next year of your course when expected;
  • there is no significant change in your financial situation.

Your university is responsible for sending us this information in a yearly report.

Ask a Question

If you have any further questions about the Leverhulme Trade Charities Trust Postgraduate Grant please contact Katie Moore at grants@leverhulme-trade.org.uk

Alternatively you can find more information on the Leverhulme Trade Charities Trust website.