PhD Training Fellowships for Clinicians (Closed)
This scheme offers clinicians the opportunity to undertake a PhD within a structured and mentored training environment.
We’re changing our funding schemes
The way we fund research is changing to support our new strategy.
Current clinical PhD programmes will continue to recruit students up to their end dates in 2021.
Scheme at a glance
This scheme is now closed
- Lead applicant career stage:
- Administering organisation location:
- UK, Republic of Ireland
- Funding amount:
Salary and research expenses covered
- Funding duration:
Usually 3 years
Key dates
Individual PhD programmes recruit students annually.
Who can apply
You can apply for a PhD Training Fellowship for Clinicians if you've demonstrated the potential to pursue a career as an academic clinician.
Our programmes are based in centres of excellence throughout the UK. These programmes provide research opportunities for clinicians from a range of specialties. Each programme is structured to reflect the expertise of the organisation in which it’s based.
Find out more about eligibility for these programmes by visiting the university websites.
Programmes: currently recruiting
The following organisations have clinical PhD programmes that are currently recruiting:
- Wellcome Trust PhD Programme for Clinicians - University of Cambridge, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute and University of East Anglia.
- UCL Clinical Academic Training - University College London.
- Edinburgh Clinical Academic Training - University of Edinburgh.
- Clinical PhD Programme in Global Health - University of Liverpool and Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.
- Doctoral Training Fellowship Scheme for Clinicians - University of Oxford, Pirbright Institute and the Royal Veterinary College.
- Wellcome 4ward North Clinical PhD Academy - University of Manchester, University of Leeds, University of Newcastle and University of Sheffield.
- Wellcome GW4 Clinical Academic Training Programme - University of Bristol, Cardiff University, University of Exeter.
- Wellcome Imperial Immunity, Inflammation, Infection and Informatics (4i) Clinician Scientist Programme - Imperial College London.
- Wellcome Clinical PhD Programme in Global Health Research - London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine; University College London; King's College London; Queen Mary, University of London; St George's, University of London; Brighton and Sussex Medical School.
- Wellcome PhD Programme for Primary Care Clinicians - Keele University, University of Cambridge, University of Oxford and University of Southampton.
- Wellcome Clinical PhD Programme in Cancer Research - The Institute of Cancer Research.
- Wellcome - Health Research Board Irish Clinical Academic Training Programme - Trinity College Dublin; University College Dublin; National University of Ireland, Galway; University College Cork; Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland; Queen's University Belfast.
Who can't apply
You can't apply to carry out activities that involve the transfer of grant funds into mainland China.
A PhD undertaken on one of our clinical programmes is usually for three years, and can be held on a part-time basis. Each programme includes support for:
- a clinical salary
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Nationals of the UK and Republic of Ireland are eligible to pay home fees.
Nationals of all other high-income countries will need to pay international fees. From 1 January 2021, this also includes EU and EEA nationals.
We recommend that you check with the relevant programme to see what fees you will need to pay.
- college fees (where required)
- research expenses
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Find out about claiming the costs to offset the carbon emissions of your travel and cover childcare or any other caring responsibilities.
- general training costs.
What we don’t offer
We don't fund overheads.
To apply for a PhD Training Fellowship, please contact the relevant programme directly.
Please don’t apply to the Wellcome Trust.
Dates
Individual PhD programmes recruit students annually.
More information
Find out about how we've worked with the funding community to develop principles and obligations setting out what we expect from those responsible for clinical training, trainees and funders across the UK.
Contact us
If you have a question about your application, contact the relevant university PhD programme.
Researcher stories
Read about the career journeys of some of our researchers.
Ben's story: clinician, scientist and entrepreneur
Ben has always had a strong sense of what he wants to do. But as a clinician, he had to find ways to balance research with medical training and clinical practice.