Fees (Home) , Maintenance , Other (see below)
Course length
Prospective applicant
PhD
Full Time, Part Time
Same as funding deadline for the course
March - April
2026/27

About

The Leverhulme Centre for Life in the Universe (LCLU) brings together researchers from across the University to enable cross-disciplinary research on the origin, nature, and distribution of life in the Universe.

The Leverhulme Centre for Life in the Universe and the University of Cambridge are committed to supporting applicants who have faced disadvantage to access postgraduate study at Cambridge. It is reserved for applicants who meet at least one of the following criteria:

  • have been in receipt of free school meals at secondary school
  • be in the first generation of your family to study at undergraduate level  
  • have been a young carer under the age of 18 or have/ had caring responsibilities during your undergraduate study (providing unpaid support for a family who has a physical or mental health condition, or misuses substances)
  • have entered university at undergraduate level from a care background or as a Foyer resident
  • be estranged from your parents/guardians
  • receive/ received the maximum Maintenance Loan for undergraduate study
  • have refugee status

This award will cover a 4 year PhD studentship for a home student and research costs.

Award details

Course length
Fees (Home) Maintenance Other (see below)

This studentship will cover fees and stipend for home students at the UKRI + LCLU uplift of £1,000 per year for 4 years and research cost of up to £10,000. 

1
2026/27
No
Academic merit Other (see below)

Students must fulfil at least one of the widening-participation eligibility requirements.

The student will be expect to participate in LCLU events including our annual science day.

Eligibility

Prospective applicant
PhD
Full Time Part Time
Home

The research proposal must fall under the remit of the Leverhulme Centre for Life in the Universe. Research within the Centre aims to develop a deeper understanding of life, its emergence, and its distribution in the Universe by addressing four research themes:

  • What are the chemical pathways which led to the origins of life that are compatible with benign conditions for life in different planetary environments?
  • How do we characterise the environments on Earth and other planets that could act as the cradle of prebiotic chemistry and life?
  • What observational facilities and methods will allow investigation of bodies beyond the Solar System, the remote sensing of their atmospheres and the search for signatures of geological and biological evolution?
  • How can philosophical and mathematical concepts refine our understanding of what we mean by life, leading to new interdisciplinary collaborations and modes of scientific enquiry?


Application Process

Yes

Key dates

Same as funding deadline for the course
March - April
Last updated: 06 Jan 2026 14:55:18