Wellcome Early-Career Awards

This scheme provides funding for early-career researchers from any discipline who are ready to develop their research identity. Through innovative projects, they will deliver shifts in understanding that could improve human life, health and wellbeing. By the end of the award, they will be ready to lead their own independent research programme. 

Scheme at a glance 

Where your host organisation is based:
Level of funding:

Your salary and up to £400,000 for research expenses. If eligible, you may also request additional funding for overseas allowances and overheads. 

Duration of funding:

Usually 5 years, but may be less for some disciplines, and may only be longer if held on a part-time basis.

Deadline for new applications

Calculating next key date…
View all key dates

Eligibility and suitability 

What we offer 

How to apply 

Log in to our online grants system (Grant Tracker). You can save your application and return to it any time.

Watch our webinar for early-career researchers to hear about our goals for Discovery Research at Wellcome.

Key dates 

You must submit your application by 17:00 (GMT/BST) on the deadline day. We don’t accept late applications.

October 2022 round

Opening soon

  1. 22 June 2022

    Applications open

  2. 18 October 2022, 17:00 BST

    Application deadline

  3. January 2023

    Shortlisting

  4. 28-30 March 2023

    Interviews

February 2023 round

Opening soon

  1. 19 October 2022

    Applications open

  2. 21 February 2023, 17:00 GMT

    Application deadline

    Check with your research office if the industrial action announced at UK universities will affect their approval of your application. We are unable to offer deadline extensions in relation to this action, so you should agree when you’ll need to submit your application for them to approve it by the deadline.

  3. May 2023

    Shortlisting

  4. 18-20 July 2023

    Interviews

May 2023 round

Opening soon

  1. 28 March 2023

    Applications open

  2. 18 May 2023, 17:00 GMT

    Application deadline

  3. July 2023

    Shortlisting

  4. 17-19 October 2023

    Interviews

Useful documents 

Contact us 

If you have a question about eligibility, what we offer or our funding remit, contact our funding information advisers:

Send us a message

Phone us on(0)20 7611 5757

We do not answer questions on the scope or competitiveness of proposals.