# Career Development Awards

**Funder:** Wellcome
**Budget:** Usually below £250k/year (excluding applicant salary); ask for resources needed
**Deadline:** 28 July 2026 (July 2026 deadline; next deadline 17 November 2026. Three deadlines per year.)
**Duration:** Usually 8 years (may be less for some disciplines; may be longer if part-time)
**Consortium:** No
**Application:** Single stage
**Frequency:** Three times a year
**Next round:** 2026-11
**Eligible countries:** GB, IE
**Official call:** https://wellcome.org/research-funding/schemes/wellcome-career-development-awards
**Last updated:** 27 Sept 2026

> **Recently updated:** catalog cleanup 2026-07-04: budget copied from duplicate sibling

## Eligibility & scope

Mid-career researchers at UK, Republic of Ireland, or LMIC (excl. India & mainland China) not-for-profit institutions. Must contribute ≥80% research time. Covers salary (if eligible), staff costs (up to 4 FTE), and research expenses. Annual expenditure usually below £250k excl. applicant salary. No co-applicants accepted. Research must fit Wellcome Discovery Research scope and have potential to improve human health.

## Summary

Wellcome Career Development Awards support researchers transitioning to independent roles with grants usually below £250,000 per year, excluding salary, across biomedical, clinical, social sciences, arts & humanities, and data sciences. The award is open globally and runs on an annual cycle with a single-stage application leading to shortlisting and interviews. UK-based awardees may be eligible for Global Talent visa endorsement, making this a flexible scheme for establishing independent research programmes at any institution.

## Who should apply

- Researchers at the career development stage transitioning to independence
- All nationalities welcome, hosted at institutions globally
- Researchers across biomedical, clinical, social sciences, arts & humanities, or data sciences
- UK-based applicants eligible for Global Talent visa endorsement support

## Key dates

- Deadline 28 July 2026, 15:00 BST (July 2026 round)
- Shortlisting October 2026; interviews 19-21 January 2027
- Single-stage full application process

## Tips for applicants

- Wellcome runs this scheme annually; if you miss the July deadline, the next round will open with notice; plan resubmission timing accordingly.
- Your host institution must be willing to administer the grant, confirm this and secure a named commitment letter before submission.
- Frame your application around independence and career transition, not just the science; reviewers assess readiness for leadership.

## Frequently asked questions

### How much can I request in a Wellcome Career Development Award?

Grants are usually below £250,000 per year, excluding your own salary costs.

### Who is eligible for a Wellcome Career Development Award?

Researchers at the career development stage across any discipline (biomedical, clinical, social sciences, arts & humanities, data sciences) are eligible globally.

### What is the Wellcome Career Development Award application process?

Single-stage process: submit a full application by 28 July 2026; shortlisting occurs in October 2026; interviews are held 19-21 January 2027.

### Can I apply for a Wellcome Career Development Award if I am based outside the UK?

Yes, the award is open to researchers and host institutions globally; applications are managed in English via the Wellcome Funding platform.

---

Source: [The Great Grantsby](https://grantsby.eu/grants/wellcome-career-development-awards-2026-07) — EU grant monitoring for academic researchers. Always verify details on the funder's website before applying.

**See which EU calls match your profile.** [Preview your matches in 30 seconds, no signup](https://grantsby.eu/demo?ref=llm_grant_md&grant=wellcome-career-development-awards-2026-07).