What we don't fund
Although we fund a wide range of grants, there are some things we don't fund.
In general, we do not fund:
- scientific research outside our discovery research remit or the remit for our funding calls
- project or research costs you've already incurred
- costs to top up individual grants already awarded by another funder
- standalone travel or conference costs (although you can ask for them as part of a wider grant application)
- small grants to support short-term projects
- healthcare for patients
- the building of hospitals
- other charities if their sole intention is to redistribute the funds
- humanitarian aid or charities who give out humanitarian aid
- people who are applying for, hold, or are employed on a research grant from the tobacco industry.
Undergraduate courses
We do not fund undergraduate courses. Our only scheme for undergraduates is the Biomedical Vacation Scholarship.
Master's courses
We do not fund Master's studentships unless you're applying for a Master's Studentships in Humanities and Social Science.
We will fund Research Master's fees on these schemes:
- Wellcome Early-Career Awards – for the grantholder, if required and for a research assistant employed on the grant if their contract is long enough to cover the start and end of the course
- Wellcome Career Development Awards – for a research assistant employed on the grant
- Wellcome Discovery Awards – for research assistants employed on the grant
We do not provide:
- funding for taught Master's courses
- additional funding to complete a Master's if you've already started your course
- contributions towards the cost of a Research Master's that isn't funded by us, such as living costs, travel and conference fees, and research costs.
PhD courses
We do not fund PhD studentships or fellowships directly unless you're applying for one of these schemes:
We will fund PhD fees on these schemes:
- Wellcome Early-Career Awards – for the grantholder only, if required
- Wellcome Career Development Awards – for a research assistant employed on the grant
- Wellcome Discovery Awards – for research assistants employed on the grant
We do not provide:
- additional funding to complete a PhD if you've already started your course
- contributions towards the cost of a PhD that isn't funded by us, such as living costs, travel and conference fees, and research costs.
Public engagement funding
We have closed our Public Engagement Fund. Instead, we are focusing on targeted investments that have specific aims. Read about our approach and how we're providing funds for public engagement.
Contact us
Contact our information officers if you have a question about funding.
Related content
- Discovery research funding remit
- Eligibility information for grant applicants
- Flexible research careers
- Funded people and projects
- Grant conditions
- Grant funding policies
- Low- and middle-income countries
- Mental health funding remit
- Wellcome funding applicants
- Wellcome Mental Health Data Prize
- What we don't fund