# Early-Career Awards

**Funder:** Wellcome
**Budget:** Salary + up to £400,000 for research expenses
**Duration:** Usually 5 years (may be less for some disciplines; may be longer if part-time)
**Consortium:** No - individual applicant; co-applicants not accepted
**Application:** Single stage; rolling submission
**TRL:** Any
**Frequency:** Continuous
**Eligible countries:** GB, IE
**Official call:** https://wellcome.org/research-funding/schemes/wellcome-early-career-awards
**Last updated:** 2 Sept 2026

> **Recently updated:** catalog cleanup 2026-07-04: duplicate row (canonical sibling kept)

## Eligibility & scope

For early-career researchers (up to ~3 years post-PhD) at UK, Republic of Ireland, or LMIC (excl. India and mainland China) not-for-profit organisations. Applicant must contribute ≥80% research time. Covers salary plus up to £400k research expenses; overheads and overseas allowances excluded from the £400k cap. No co-applicants permitted. Research must relate to human health within Wellcome's Discovery Research remit.

## Summary

The Wellcome Early Career Award funds researchers with a PhD and up to three years of postdoctoral experience to develop their independent research identity, with grants of £200,000 to £1.2 million over up to five years. The call is open to applicants based in the UK, Republic of Ireland, or OECD-defined low- and middle-income countries, covering both salary and research costs. Wellcome runs three rolling application rounds per fiscal year, making it more accessible than single-deadline schemes.

## Who should apply

- Postdoctoral researchers with a PhD and up to 3 years full-time postdoctoral experience
- Applicants based in the UK, Republic of Ireland, or OECD low- and middle-income countries
- Researchers ready to establish independent research identity and leadership
- Projects that do not involve large-scale clinical trials

## Key dates

- Three rolling application rounds per fiscal year; check Wellcome website for each round's deadline
- Single-stage application and review process
- Grants fund projects of up to five years duration

## Tips for applicants

- The rolling-round format means you can apply whenever your idea is ready, not locked to an annual deadline, use this to your advantage by submitting polished proposals rather than rushing to a single date.
- Wellcome explicitly funds salary as well as research costs; frame your funding request to cover a portion of your own position and team salaries, not only bench costs.
- Avoid large-scale clinical trials; this call funds proof-of-concept and early-stage work, emphasise feasibility and the leap from postdoctoral work to independence.

## Frequently asked questions

### How much can I apply for in the Wellcome Early Career Award?

Between £200,000 and £1.2 million over up to five years, covering both salary and research costs (up to £400,000 in research costs).

### Who is eligible for the Wellcome Early Career Award?

Researchers with a PhD or equivalent and no more than three years full-time postdoctoral experience, based in the UK, Republic of Ireland, or OECD low- and middle-income countries (excluding China and India).

### How often can I apply to the Wellcome Early Career Award?

Wellcome runs three rolling application rounds per fiscal year, so you can submit whenever your proposal is ready.

### Can I apply if I'm planning a large clinical trial?

No, the Wellcome Early Career Award does not fund large-scale clinical trials.

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

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