# PhD Fellowships for Health Professionals

**Funder:** Wellcome
**Budget:** Stipend + fees + research costs
**Duration:** 3-4 years
**Consortium:** No - individual applicant applies to a host PhD programme
**Application:** Single stage
**TRL:** Fundamental
**Frequency:** Annual
**Eligible countries:** GB
**Official call:** https://wellcome.org/research-funding/schemes/phd-fellowships-health-professionals
**Last updated:** 2 Sept 2026

## Eligibility & scope

PhD training fellowships for health professionals, delivered through 12 named UK university programmes (e.g. 4Ward North, ECAT-I, GW4-CAT, HARP, King's Mental Health, LHIIP, Liverpool Global South, Midlands MH&N, Multimorbidity, Cambridge/UEA, Primary Care, Global Health Africa). Applicants must apply directly to the relevant programme, not to Wellcome. UK-based host institutions only.

## Summary

The Wellcome PhD Fellowships for Health Professionals fund UK-based clinical professionals to undertake a doctorate, with stipend, fees and research costs totaling €100,000-€300,000 over 3-4 years. The scheme is open to doctors, dentists, nurses and allied health practitioners pursuing fundamental or applied research while maintaining their professional registration. Funding is awarded on a rolling basis, with no fixed deadlines.

## Who should apply

- Clinical professionals (doctors, dentists, nurses, allied health practitioners) registered to practise in the UK
- Early-career researchers undertaking or planning a PhD
- Candidates based at a UK research-active institution
- Research spanning fundamental and applied health science

## Key dates

- Rolling deadline: apply at any time
- Single-stage evaluation
- 3-4 year fellowship duration

## Tips for applicants

- Wellcome weights the coherence between your clinical background and research question heavily, avoid proposing work unrelated to your professional discipline.
- Frame your research plan as building research skills and independence, not as a career break; the panel assesses your return-to-practice intent.
- A named supervisor with prior Wellcome funding or clinical-research credibility strengthens the implementation score.

## Frequently asked questions

### How much does a Wellcome PhD Fellowship for Health Professionals pay?

€100,000-€300,000 covering stipend, fees and research costs over 3-4 years.

### Who can apply for Wellcome PhD Fellowships for Health Professionals?

UK-registered clinical professionals (doctors, dentists, nurses, allied health practitioners) planning or undertaking a PhD at a UK institution.

### Is there a deadline for Wellcome PhD Fellowships for Health Professionals?

No fixed deadline; the scheme operates on a rolling basis, so you can apply at any time.

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

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